PUNE: Thousands of people had gathered at Bhidewada to mark the historic day when Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule started India’s first girls’ school here in Pune on January 1, 1848. As the foundation of school completed 171 years, Mali Mahasangh had organised a rally from and to Bhidewada on Tuesday.

Members from Mali community, promoters of Phule’s ideology, social activists, those of similar ideology from across the state had participated in the rally. It started from Bhidewada and passed through Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, Shivaji Road, Mandai Chowk, Maharana Pratap Road and ended at Bhidewada.

The organisation marked the day ‘Phule Dampati Sanman Diwas’ (Honour day for Phule couple). 

President of Mali Mahasangh, Avinash Thakare, President of All India Mali Mahasangh, Govind Dake, President of Mahatma Phule Hostel, Deepak Jagtap, heads of the community, Jagannath Ladkat, Rajabhau Raikar, Pune co-ordinator, Ashwin Girme, state co-ordinator of west zone, Atul Kshirsagar, district co-ordinator, Chandrashekhar Darwade, Praveen Bansode, Anil Salunke, Head of Mahatma Phule Mandal, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hanumant Mali were among several other members who participated in the rally.

Besides creating social awareness about India’s first girl school, the objective was also to draw the attention towards the dilapidated state of the school which is a historic site and has a lot of importance in shaping Pune’s history. The community has also insisted on conferring the heritage status on the site, said Thakare.