Subhashini Devi
Daughter of Bhakt Phool Singh Mahra Sonipat village in Sonipat district of Haryana.
Bio
Ms. Subhashini Devi, daughter of Bhagat Phool Singh -- one of the pioneers of Gurukul education in Haryana -- laid the foundation of a Kanya Gurukul at Khanpur near Sonepat as desired by her father. Despite all odds, the Gurukul pioneered the cause of women's education and reforms in an area where child marriage was still prevalent and widow re-marriage was taboo. Born on February 24,1885 in Mahra village of Sonipat district, Shri Bhagat Phool Singh ji was a visionary noble soul. Not withstanding vehement opposition, he was determined to promote womens education, especially in rural Haryana. Bhagat Phool Singh ji's firm belief in empowermentof women through education led him to establish a Gurukul with just 03 girls at Khanpur Kalan in 1936.The anti social elements did not support Bhagat Phool Singh ji's seminal idea of women's education and assassinated him on August 14,1942. Bhagat Phool Singhji's assassination could not diminish his idea of women's education. His legacy and philosophy was continued by his dynamic daughter Padam Shri Subhashini ji. True to his father, Subhashini ji was determined to promote social reform through women's education. But it was not easy to do so. The major problems in fronts of her were :- i) she didn’t have funds/money for that ii) and initially parents were reluctant to educate their girls. She didn’t lose her hope, she started collecting charity from the people in order to raise the funds. It was the villagers who helped her in raising funds to sustain the institution. She went from village to village championing the cause of girl's education. Despite the many obstacles in her path, Ms. Subhashini moved ahead with an undaunting spirit to make the Gurukul the largest Centre of girls education in Northern India.She established various present day constituent Institutes of BPSMV through donation and philanthropic means. Ms. Subhashini has also done a great deal for women's rights and empowerment and inspired rural women to achieve a sense of independence. Nurtured by a mother's love, the institution stands tall among rural education institutes in the country and the 88-year-old Subhashini, who in 1976 was awarded the Padmashri for the pioneering work she has done, still toils to bring comfort to the 2000-odd girls studying there.
External Links
https://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php/5868-Subhashini-Devi-dead
References
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