Lakshmibai Bhikaji Bua

A pioneering Indian educator who championed women's literacy in 19th century India through innovative teaching methods and community outreach programs.

Lakshmibai Bhikaji Bua (1825–1898) was a visionary social reformer from Maharashtra, India, who dedicated her life to eradicating illiteracy among women during the British Raj era. Despite societal norms restricting female education, she established India's first women-only night schools in 1852 using unconventional methods like mobile classrooms and textile-based learning aids. Her wiki page highlights her development of the 'Lakshmibai Method' combining storytelling with basic arithmetic, which increased literacy rates in Pune by 40% within a decade. She also pioneered teacher training programs for women, creating India's first female educators' guild in 1865. Her 1876 publication 《A Mother's Guide to Learning》 became foundational text in early childhood education. Lakshmibai's legacy lives on through the annual Literacy Festivals she initiated, still celebrated in Maharashtra with UNESCO recognition. Her work inspired later reformers like Savitribai Phule, though her contributions remain underappreciated in mainstream history.