Fatima Sheikh Birth Anniversary: On the occasion of 191st birth anniversary of Fatima Sheikh – an Indian educator and feminist icon of modern India, search engine Google has paid tributes to Fatima Sheikh – one of India’s foremost educators with a Doodle today i.e. January 9, 2022.

“She lived with her brother Usman, and the siblings opened their home to the Phules after the couple was evicted for attempting to educate people in lower castes. The Indigenous Library opened under the Sheikhs’ roof. Here, Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh taught communities of marginalised Dalit and Muslim women and children who were denied education based on class, religion, or gender,” Google said.

“It takes a woman and her unflinching will Flexed biceps to bring about reform in the face of resistance. Our #GoogleDoodle, celebrating the 191st birthday of #FatimaSheikh, honours her efforts to educate the underprivileged community,” – Google India tweeted.

It takes a woman and her unflinching will 💪 to bring about reform in the face of resistance.

Our #GoogleDoodle, celebrating the 191st birthday of #FatimaSheikh, honours her efforts to educate the underprivileged community 💗 Know more: https://t.co.GhSDhFMO6X. pic.twitter.com.Xyg1UBSgP9

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) January 9, 2022

A Google Doodle in the honour of late Fatima Sheikh only adds to her honour as a feminist icon, educationist and champion of the oppressed.

Let’s know some facts related to this amazing personality:

• Fatima Sheikh was born on January 9, 1831 in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

• She was the sister of Mian Usman Sheikh, in whose house Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule had taken residence.

• Fatima Sheikh emerged as one of the first Muslim women teachers of modern India.

• Fatima Sheikh along with fellow pioneers and social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, co-founded the Indigenous Library in 1848, one of India’s first schools for girls and took charge of spreading education among the downtrodden communities.

• Fatima Sheikh taught at all five schools that the Phules went on to establish.

• Fatima Sheikh took part in the founding of two schools in Bombay in 1851.

• Indian government featured Fatima Sheikh’s profile and achievements in Urdu textbooks in the year 2014 alongside other Indian educators.