Andhra Pradesh: BCY chief demands Bharat Ratna for Savitribai Phule; slams govt silence

VIJAYAWADA: BCY Party national president Bode Ramachandra Yadav has strongly demanded that the Bharat Ratna be conferred on Savitribai Phule, India’s first woman teacher and a pioneering social reformer who transformed the lives of millions of girls through education. He criticised successive governments for failing to formally honour Savitribai Phule, calling it a historic injustice that must be corrected without delay.Ramachandra Yadav was speaking after attending the Savitribai Phule birth anniversary celebrations and a best teachers’ awards ceremony organised by the Guruchaitanya Teachers’ Association at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada. He attended the event as the chief guest, felicitated outstanding teachers and presented awards in recognition of their contribution to the education sector.Recalling the campaign launched by the BCY Party last year demanding the Bharat Ratna for Savitribai Phule, Ramachandra Yadav said the appeal had sparked a nationwide debate. Responding to the demand, the Maharashtra government had unanimously passed a resolution in the state assembly and forwarded it to the Centre. He said this move reflected the state’s respect for Savitribai Phule’s legacy and appreciated the initiative taken by Maharashtra.However, he expressed deep disappointment over what he described as the silence of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments. Despite many leaders in the Telugu states having risen to prominent positions inspired by Savitribai Phule’s ideals and her emphasis on education, no similar resolutions had been passed and her contributions had not been formally acknowledged. Such indifference, he said, was unacceptable.Ramachandra Yadav said it was the responsibility of governments to officially organise Savitribai Phule’s birth anniversary. He said her portrait should be garlanded in schools and government offices, and her sacrifices and struggles should be remembered through official programmes. Leaving such commemorations solely to social organisations and political parties, and then failing to recognise those efforts, reflected arrogance on the part of the ruling establishments, he alleged.He also stressed the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the education system. Teachers, he said, were facing several challenges and required stronger institutional support. Assuring continued backing, Ramachandra Yadav said the BCY Party would remain at the forefront of struggles to protect teachers’ rights and strengthen the education system. He praised the work of the Guruchaitanya Teachers’ Association and reaffirmed the party’s solidarity with the teaching community.