Teachers’ Day 2026: 9 Pioneers Who Fought for Education in India

Key facts

• Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule founded an institution for girl's education in Bhide Wada, Pune in 1848, with Savitribai becoming one of India's first female teachers in the modern era.
• Fatima Sheikh was an early Muslim woman educator who worked in tandem with Savitribai Phule and taught children from socially discriminated against communities.
• Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last Maharani to reign in Travancore, promoted women's education and involvement in social affairs.
• Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan taught philosophy at the Madras Presidency College, University of Mysore, and the University of Calcutta, and served as Vice-President of India between 1952 and 1962 and President between 1962 and 1967.
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India, resumed teaching after his tenure, and his birthday, 15 October, is celebrated as World Students' Day.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded Servants of India Society in 1905 and introduced a bill in the Imperial Legislative Council in 1911 for making primary education mandatory.
• Sarala Devi Chaudhurani formed Bharat Stree Mahamandal in 1910, which aimed at fostering the cause of women's education and development.
• Madan Mohan Malaviya contributed to the formation of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1916.
• Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain started a school for Muslim girls in Bhagalpur in 1909 and established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in Calcutta in 1911.