Jyotirao Phule - Social and Anti-Caste Activist: Here we Remember Him on His 191st Birth Anniversary

Jyotirao Phule was an Indian social activist, a thinker, anti-caste social reformer and a writer from Maharashtra. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was born on April 11, 1827 in Satara district of Maharashtra. He led the movement against prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He protested against the domination of Brahmins and upper castes and struggled for the rights of peasants and low-caste people. He was married to Savitribai Phule at the age of 13 years. Also Known as Mahatma Phule, he along with his wife were pioneers of women education in India. They were among the first native Indians to open a school for girls in India in 1st January 1848.

Phule was born into a family that belonged to Mali caste, generally occupied as gardeners.  His family belonged to the shudra varna according to the caste system in hindu religion. Jyotirao was an intelligent boy but due to the poor financial condition at home, he had to stop his studies at an early age. He started helping his father by working on the family's farm. In 1841, Jyotirao got admission in the Scottish Mission's High School, Pune, and completed his education in 1847. There, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained his close friend throughout his life.

In 1848, Jyotirao faced discrimination at his Brahmin friend’s wedding. This incident sparked off Jyotiba’s quest against the social injustice of caste discrimination and incited a social revolution in the Indian society. Mahatma Phule challenged the prevailing caste-system and social restrictions. He worked tirelessly at the helms of social majoritarian domination and aimed at liberation of all human beings that were subjected to this social deprivation.

On September 24, 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj'. He undertook a systematic deconstruction of existing beliefs and history. He worked hard to reconstruct beliefs to promote equality. Jyotirao condemned the Vedas. Jyotirao Phule used to consider Britishers as enlightened community,

Jyotiba had written a number of literary articles and books and most were based on his ideology of social reforms like the ‘Shetkarayacha Aasud’. He also wrote some stories like ‘Tritiya Ratna’, ‘Brahmananche Kasab’, ‘Ishara’. He wrote dramas like ‘Satsar’ Ank 1 and 2, to spread awareness against social injustice.

Mahatma Phule was also a businessman. He owned 60 acres of farmland at Manjiri, near Pune. Phule was also appointed commissioner to the then Poona municipality in 1876 and served in this unelected position until 1883. Jyotiba suffered a stroke in 1888 and was rendered paralysed. On 28 November, 1890, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, passed away.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2018 12:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).