The book on Savitribai Phule, a “low-caste” or Shudra social reformer of the 19th century, will explore her political poetry and thoughts on various subjects, including religion, caste, gender, and history, slavery, colonialism, and education.
2017-2018 Society of Scholars Fellow, Christian Lee Novetzke (The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies) has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for 2022. The fellowship supports Novetzke in completing his current book, “A Flower of Fire: Religion, Caste, and Gender in the Political Poetry of Savitribai Phule (1831–1897).” The book on Savitribai Phule, a “low-caste” or Shudra social reformer of the 19th century, will explore her political poetry and thoughts on various subjects, including religion, caste, gender, and history, slavery, colonialism, and education. You can read more about Novetzke's research into Savitribai Phule in his public essay, in Scroll.in, "Savitribai Phule: The Firebrand Intellectual Who Powerfully Used the Term ‘Dalit’ in Her Poetry" (2021). The Simpson Center offers additional support for faculty who have received major external fellowship awards and is proud to offer this support to Novetzke.
Learn about Novetzke's Society of Scholars work in our cohort archives, as well as about Novetzke himself through his faculty profile page. You can also learn more about Simpson Center support for faculty who receive major external fellowship awards under Support & Funding.
Photo by Dennis Wise