Women activists who pushed boundaries and helped equate gender

9. Savitribai Phule

Savitribai Jyotirao Phule was born on Jan 3, 1831, and was a social reformer and poet. She fought for women's rights in India during British rule, gaining the title "one of the first-generation modern Indian feminists."

Phule helped women who were victims of sexual exploitation and started a care center, the "Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha" (infanticide prohibition house), for pregnant rape victims and helped the birthing process.

She also fought caste and gender discrimination working hard in a country and a time that certainly was harsh to try and even accomplish what she did. For instance, she opened a well in her house in 1868 for the poor refused.

She died after contracting the third pandemic of the bubonic plague while she took care of its victims, according to India Today.