Jyotirao Phule

• 12 Apr 2022

For Prelims: Jyotrao Phule, Savitribai.

For Mains: Socio-cultural Reform Movements, Important Personalities.

Why in News?

The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the great social reformer, philosopher and writer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his birth anniversary (11^th April). He is also known as Jyotiba Phule.

Who was Jyotirao Phule?

• Brief Profile:
  • Birth: Phule was born on 11^th April, 1827 in present-day Maharashtra and belonged to the Mali caste of gardeners and vegetable farmers.
  • Education: In 1841, Phule was enrolled at the Scottish Missionary High School (Pune), where he completed education.
  • Ideology: 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.
  • Major Publications: Tritiya Ratna (1855), Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha (1869), Gulamgiri (1873), Shetkarayacha Aasud (1881).
  • Related Association: Phule along with his followers formed Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 which meant ‘Seekers of Truth’ in order to attain equal social and economic benefits for the lower castes in Maharashtra.
  • Municipal Council Member: He was appointed commissioner to the Poona municipality and served in the position until 1883.
  • Title of Mahatma: He was bestowed with the title of Mahatma on 11^th May, 1888 by a Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.
• Social Reformer:
  • In 1848, he taught his wife (Savitribai) how to read and write, after which the couple opened the first indigenously run school for girls in Pune where they both taught.
    • He was a believer in gender equality and he exemplified his beliefs by involving his wife in all his social reform activities.
  • By 1852, the Phules had established three schools but all of them had shut by 1858 due to the shortage of funds after the Revolt of 1857.
  • Jyotiba realised the pathetic conditions of widows and established an ashram for young widows and eventually became an advocate of the idea of Widow Remarriage.
  • Jyotirao attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes and termed them as "hypocrites".
  • In 1868, Jyotirao constructed a common bathing tank outside his house to exhibit his embracing attitude towards all human beings and wished to dine with everyone, regardless of their caste.
    • He started awareness campaigns that ultimately inspired the likes of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, stalwarts who undertook major initiatives against caste discrimination later.
  • It is believed by many that it was Phule who first used the term ‘Dalit’ for the depiction of oppressed masses often placed outside the ‘varna system’.
  • He worked for abolishment of untouchability and caste system in Maharashtra.
• Death: 28^th November, 1890. His memorial is built in Phule Wada, Pune, Maharashtra.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized (2016)

(a) a movement for 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

Ans: (c)

Source: PIB