.social reformer Fatima Sheikh
Today Google made a doodle to honor social reformer Fatima Sheikh on her birthday. Many of you would like to know about Fatima Sheikh. Today we will learn about the life and works of this Fatima Sheikh.
Brief biography of Fatima Sheikh
Fatima Sheikh was born on 9 January 1831 in Pune, Maharashtra. He spread girl child education and education among Dalits.
The house in which Jyotiba Phule and Savitri Bai Phule lived on rent was a Muslim family. Usman Sheikh was the owner of that house and Fatima Sheikh was his sister. Jyotiba Phule was thrown out of the house by her father because he was angry with her works (work for the upliftment of Dalits and women). Fatima Sheikh also started educating Dalits and women along with Jyotiba Phule. Fatima Sheikh did the work of educating Dalit children in the school. Fatima Shaikh along with Jyotiba Phule and Savitri Bai Phule also worked to increase education among Dalits.
When a Muslim family gave shelter to Jyotiba Phule
When Jyotiba Phule and Savitri Bai Phule started educating women and Dalits, they were threatened with death by the local people (mostly Brahmins). Their families were also beaten up. They were told to either leave their homes or stop their activities. It is clear that Jyotiba left her house.
When Jyotiba and Savitri Bai started looking for a house for rent elsewhere, they were not given house on rent by any Hindu family even in their caste. He started looking for a new place for himself so that he could fulfill his social work.
There was a ray of hope for them when a Muslim, Usman Sheikh, offered to stay in his house. Usman Sheikh lived in Ganj Peth, Pune. Usman Sheikh asked him to open a school in his house.
Thus in 1848, the school was opened in the house of Osman Shaikh and his sister Fatima Shaikh.
Fatima Sheikh supported Savitri Bai Phule
Most of the upper castes of the Hindu community were against Fatima and Savitri Bai Phule. Hindus opposed him by calling his social work against religion. But it was Fatima Sheikh who strongly supported Savitri Bai Phule without any fear.
Fatima Sheikh also started teaching in Savitri Bai Phule’s school. Savitri Bai Phule and Fatima Sheikh got the support of Saguna Bai who later emerged as another famous leader of the education movement.
Historical records of that time tell that Osman Sheikh encouraged his sister Fatima to spread education in the society. Osman Sheikh was a big supporter of Jyotiba Phule and Savitri Bai Phule.
When Fatima Sheikh and Savitri Bai Phule used to go to school to teach, people would throw stones at them and sometimes even cow dung was thrown at them. Because the high caste people considered all this a sin.
On the birthday of Fatima Sheikh, on 9th January, Google honored her by making her a doodle. paid tribute to him today