Sarada Devi

Revolutionized rural education in India by establishing over 100 schools and empowering marginalized communities through literacy programs.

Sarada Devi (1910–1987) was an Indian social reformer whose grassroots initiatives transformed education access in rural Bengal. Born into a family of village teachers, she witnessed firsthand the systemic exclusion of girls and lower-caste children from schools. At age 22, she began secretly teaching girls in her backyard, defying local norms that restricted women’s education. By 1935, her efforts evolved into the Bhagini Samiti, a network of 150 informal schools across 20 districts.

Devi’s pedagogy emphasized practical skills alongside literacy, training girls in agriculture, healthcare, and financial literacy. Her 1948 Education for Liberation manifesto argued that education must address caste and gender disparities simultaneously. She famously clashed with government officials who wanted to restrict her schools to 'basic literacy,' insisting that girls needed full academic curricula to compete in society.

In 1955, Devi pioneered India’s first mobile education units, using bicycles to transport teachers to remote villages. Her collaboration with the All India Women’s Conference led to the 1961 Women’s Education Act, mandating primary schools within 2km of every village. By her death, over 50,000 children had passed through her schools, with 80% of graduates becoming teachers or community leaders.

Devi’s legacy endures through the Sarada Devi Foundation, which operates 300+ schools in eastern India. Her 1972 book Breaking the Chains: A Teacher’s Journey documents her struggles and strategies. In 2015, Google honored her with a doodle commemorating her centenary, recognizing her as a pioneer of inclusive education.