Why in the News?
On April 11, 2025, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 199th birth anniversary.
About Mahatma Phule
- Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, born on April 11, 1827, near Pune, was from the Mali caste.
- His father was a vegetable vendor, and his mother died when he was young.
- He pursued education at the Scottish Mission High School in Pune despite caste-based discrimination.
- He was inspired by Western thinkers like Thomas Paine and John Stuart Mill, fuelling his social justice dedication.
- At 13, he married Savitribai Phule, who became his partner in social reforms, particularly promoting education for women and marginalized communities.
His Contributions as a Social Reformer:
Educational Reforms:
- In 1848, Phule and his wife established India’s first girls’ school in Pune.
- He focused on educating Dalits and lower-caste groups, traditionally excluded from education.
- He founded night schools for working-class individuals, especially women.
Fighting Caste Discrimination:
- Phule criticized the caste system, calling it a means of oppression.
- In 1873, Phule’s book Gulamgiri condemned caste discrimination, comparing Dalits’ plight to slavery.
- Phule coined the term ‘Dalit’ to describe those outside the caste system.
Women’s Welfare and Empowerment:
- Phule advocated for widow remarriage and provided a dignified life for widows.
- In 1863, he opened homes to help pregnant widows.
- He co-founded an infanticide prevention center, tackling the killing of female infants.
Social Justice and Equality:
- Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to promote social equality, rational thinking, and religious reform.
- The Samaj rejected idolatry and supported a more rational spiritual approach.
- He broke the social stigma of untouchability by opening his house and water-well to the oppressed.
Religious and Philosophical Contributions:
- Phule was an advocate for critical thinking of religion, rejecting superstition and blind faith.
- He believed in equality and justice across religions and cultures.
- He was influenced by Bhakti saints like Sant Kabir and Sant Tukaram in his fight against social oppression.
His Literary Contributions:
- Gulamgiri (Slavery) (1873): Critiqued the caste system and called for Dalit liberation.
- Shetkaryacha Asud (Farmer’s Whip) (1881): Addressed the exploitation of farmers and advocated for land reforms.
- Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Poostak: Promoted rationalist thought and social justice.
- Tritiya Ratna (1855): A significant work in advocating for social equality.
- Brahmananche Kasab (1869): Criticized the exploitation by the Brahmin class.
- Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha (1869): A work celebrating the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj.
- Satsar Ank (1885): Another rationalist work addressing societal issues.
- Akhandadi Kavyarachana: A literary contribution reflecting Phule’s thoughts on social justice.
| [UPSC 2016] Satya Shodhak Samaj organized:
(a) a movement for the upliftment of tribals in Bihar’ (b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat (c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra (d) a peasant movement in Punjab |
