About Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
- Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (1827–1890) was a pioneering Indian social reformer, educator, and writer from Maharashtra, renowned for his relentless fight against caste discrimination and gender inequality.
- Born on April 11, 1827, in Pune, Maharashtra, Jyotirao Govindrao Phule belonged to the Mali caste.
- Despite societal barriers, he pursued education at the Scottish Mission High School in Pune, which exposed him to progressive Western ideas that shaped his reformist vision.
- A personal experience of caste-based discrimination at a friend’s wedding in 1848 profoundly impacted him and inspired his lifelong fight against social injustices.
- His wife, Savitribai Phule, became India's first female teacher and an equal partner in his reforms. Together, they championed women's education and opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848.
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Contributions
- Education:
- Established schools for girls and marginalised communities when educating them was considered taboo.
- Founded night schools for working-class individuals to ensure access to education irrespective of caste or gender.
- Social Reforms: Satyashodhak Samaj (1873): Founded this "Society of Truth Seekers" to promote social equality and challenge caste oppression. It was open to people from all religions and castes.
- Women's Rights: Advocated for widow remarriage and fought against child marriage and female infanticide.
- Literary Contributions: Authored works like Gulamgiri (Slavery) critiquing caste oppression and Shetkaryacha Asud (Cultivator’s Whip) highlighting farmer exploitation by upper-caste landlords.
- Critique of Brahmanical Orthodoxy: Strongly opposed the caste system perpetuated by Brahmanical traditions and called for its abolition to achieve true social justice.
