Former Union Minister and veteran leader Sharad Pawar released a Marathi book written by me in Pune on July 3, 2025
The book is entitled ‘Savitribai, Jotibanche Shikshak Mitchell Dampatya Aani Stree Shikshanatil Purwasuri ( The Mitchell couple who taught Savitribai and Jotiba Phule and pioneers in female education).
Savitribai and Jotiba Phule had studied in schools run by the American and Scottish missionaries at Ahilyanagar and Pune.
The first few scenes of the Marathi film “Satyashodhak’ include young Jotiba studying in the Pune-based school run by Scottish missionary James Mitchell (1800-1866).
Incidentally Jotiba Phule in his memorandum to the Sir William Hunter Education Commission in 1882 has described his long association with the Christian missionaries.
Jotiba says the schools run by missionaries inspired him to start schools for girls and untouchables.
He says one of his schools is now run by Mrs (Margaret Shaw) Mitchell, wife of Rev. James Mitchell.
Jotiba also says that he has also been as a teacher in a mission female boarding school.
Let us see this information in Jotiba’s words:
The very first paragraph of the memorandum to the Hunter Commission states:
‘’My experience in educational matters is principally confined to Poona and the surrounding villages.
About 25 years ago, the missionaries had established a female school at Poona, but no indigenous school for girls existed at the time.
I, therefore, was induced, about the year 1851, to establish such a school, and in which I and my wife worked together for many years.
After some time I placed this school under the management of a committee of educated natives. Under their auspices two more schools were opened in different parts of the town.
A year after the institution of the female schools, I also established an indigenous mixed school for the lower classes, especially the Mahars and Mangs.
Two more schools for these classes were subsequently added, Sir Erskine Perry, the president of the late Educational Board, and Mr. Lumsdain, the then Secretary to Government, visited the female schools and were much pleased with the movement set on foot, and presented me with a pair of shawls.
I continued to work in them for nearly 9 to 10 years, but owing to circumstances, which it is needless here to detail, I seceded from the work.
These female schools still exist, having been made over by the committee to the Educational Department under the management of Mrs. Mitchell.
A school for the lower classes, Mahars and Mangs, also exists at the present day, but not in a satisfactory condition.
I have also been a teacher for some years in a mission female boarding school. My principal experience was gained in connection with these schools. ''
However, there is little information on the lives and works of Cynthia Farrar, James Mitchell, his wife Margaret Shaw Mitchell, Principal of the Pune-based Sanskrit College (now Deccan College) John Murray Mitchell who shaped the lives of Savitribai and Jotiba Phule.
My new book throws light on the lives of this great missionaries.
The book, published by Chetak Books, Pune, is available online.
(Photo Caption: Deepak Girme, Sharad Pawar, Camil Parkhe, former Pune Mayor Ankush Kakade, Former MLC Jaideo Gaikwad and senior journalist Arun Khore
Camil Parkhe July 4
