Context
Jyotirao Phule was born on 11th April 1827. He was an anti-caste reformer and social activist who along with Savitribai Phule, his wife, worked for the upliftment of children and women of the marginalized communities, and encouraged women’s education.
About Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
- He was born in Pune, British India into a family belonging to the Mali caste, growing vegetables, and fruits for a living.
- The Mali caste was at the bottom of the caste hierarchy.
- He lost his mother at a young age. While growing up there wasn’t any scope of education but a man from the same caste recognizing his intelligence and skills requested his father to allow him to attend the Scottish Mission High School.
- In 1847 from this school he completed schooling in English.
- His Ideology was based on: Liberty; Egalitarianism; Socialism.
- Phule was influenced by Thomas Paine’s book titled The Rights of Man and believed that the only solution to combat the social evils was the enlightenment of women and members of the lower castes.
- Jyotirao Phule started his first girl’s school at Bhide Wada, Pune in 1848.
- The Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) was also formed by him along with his followers with the aim of fighting for basic rights for all those who belonged to the lower castes.
- In his association there were people from various castes and religions.
- He worked hard to eradicate caste oppression and untouchability.
- After getting recognition for his work he was acclaimed throughout the state of Maharashtra.
- At the young age of 13, he was married off.
- In 1848 he was rebuked for attending the wedding of a Brahmin friend as he was from a lower caste.
- Soon he realized that women are not treated properly in society and challenged this by first educating his wife Savitribai.
- Then, in Pune, he started a school for girls.
- The upper-caste society who were very conservative did not approve of the education of girls and the Phule couple were routinely attacked for their stance on female empowerment and education.
- Their friend Usman Sheikh along with his sister Fatima Sheikh who were also pioneers of female empowerment provided shelter to them and helped them to start a school on their premises.
- The title of ‘Mahatma’ (‘great soul’) was given to him in 1888 by another social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.
- In the social reform movement in Maharashtra, he is considered to be an important figure.
- Major Publications-
- Tritiya Ratna (1855)
- Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha (1869)
- Gulamgiri (1873)
- Shetkarayacha Aasud (1881).
