Hyderabad:Telangana celebrated the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule with enthusiasm, particularly at educational institutions, following the state government’s official declaration of January 3 as Women Teachers’ Day. The announcement, made on Thursday, is to honour Phule’s work in promoting education among women and the underprivileged. The government has instructed schools and colleges to hold annual celebrations across the state.
In response, numerous institutions commemorated the occasion with events and tributes. Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women’s University organised a gathering where vice-chancellor Prof. Surya Dhanunjaya spoke about the importance of Phule’s work. Staff and students attended in large numbers to pay their respects. At Osmania University, Geography professor Dr. Akhter Ali called Phule the “mother of education” and acknowledged her influence on generations of educators.
In another tribute, at Sarojini Naidu Vanitha Maha Vidyalaya in Nampally, former High Court Judge Justice Vaman Rao described Savitribai as a courageous reformer who dedicated her life to advancing women’s education. During the event, Dr D. Shobhana, the college’s principal, was also recognised with the Savitribai Phule Excellence Award 2025 for her decades of service to education.
The RBVRR Telangana Police Academy, led by director Abhilasha Bisht, celebrated Phule’s birth anniversary. Staff members expressed their commitment to promoting the values of Phule in their own work.
Elsewhere in the state, several educational institutions enthusiastically celebrated the day. In Akkannapet mandal, minister Ponnam Prabhakar paid floral tributes to Phule and called for young women to draw inspiration from her life. At Visvesvaraya Bhavan, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao attended an event where the Telangana Agri Doctors Association launched their 2025 diary and calendar, dedicating the day to Phule’s memory.
Speaking at the event, association representatives mentioned several challenges faced by agriculture officers. They mentioned the long-pending issue of promotions in the agriculture department which led to a lack of motivation among officers. Additionally, field officers are struggling due to non-disbursement of vehicle rental reimbursements, and women officers are facing difficulties due to the lack of basic facilities and proper office infrastructure.
