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India is one of the world’s most enigmatic and vibrant countries. The knowledge and spiritual awakening India has to offer are unparalleled and is home to some of the greatest minds the world has ever seen. One such person was Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, one of India’s great social reformers who dedicated his life to empowering the poor and improving the status of women in Indian society.
Who was Jyotiba Phule?
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule is well known for being a social reformer and writer who fought for the lower castes (mainly the Shudra caste and the Dalits or untouchables) and women of Indian society. His discernment of the existing corruption within the caste system led him to become one of the protectors of the discriminated. He spoke about the importance of education and how it can bring about a sense of equality within society. Along with this, his fight towards the empowerment of women brought some remarkable changes to the Indian social construct, fighting against age-old practices like child marriage and also setting up the first school for women in India in the year 1848.
Early Life of Jyotiba Phule
Born on 11th April 1827 in Katgun (Mumbai Providence) or what is now known as the state of Maharashtra, Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was born in a Mali family which was part of the Shudra caste (which is a lower caste within the system).
As a child, Jyotiba Phule was a brilliant student, but societal norms back in the day were such that kids from lower castes usually wouldn’t pursue a higher education. After much convincing from Jyotiba’s uncle, his father finally agreed to send him to secondary school.
Influences That Shaped His Ideology
Jyotiba Phule spent his teenage years studying in a Scottish Missionary school where he came across works of Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln and Gautam Buddha. Thomas Paine’s book “The Rights of Man ” had a great impact on him as he understood the government’s role within society as the protector of human rights. Jyotiba was also very intrigued by the American and French revolutions and the impact it had in setting up new societal norms and understandings.
Jyotiba Phule’s Ideology
Jyotiba Phule’s fight against the Indian caste system mainly began after he was insulted by his friend’s parents for belonging to the lower caste and attending the rituals of a Brahmin wedding. His comprehension of the existing discrimination within the caste system and the status quo of women within the Indian society led him to understand the importance of education which in turn led him to set up educational institutions for children from the lower castes and women of the society. Since he was from a Mali background, his education helped in understanding the shortcomings in the farming techniques used in India at that time which also steered him to set up agricultural reforms to better India’s agrarian scope.
Jyotiba Phule’s Contribution to the Society
Jyotiba Phule is considered one of the greatest social reformers in India who not only fought for the rights of the underprivileged but also set up educational institutions to educate them and reintroduce them into society with the ability to build and lead a better life. He set up schools not only for children of the lower castes but also for women so that they could take their place within society and the Indian workforce.
Major Contributions to Women’s Rights
Since India was a dominantly patriarchal society, women often found themselves powerless and unvoiced. Jyotiba Phule spent a great deal of his life fighting for the empowerment of women in India. Some of his contributions have been mentioned below.
1. Establishment of the First School for Girls in India (1848)
Jyotiba Phule with the help of his wife Savitribai established the first girl school in India in Bhide wada located in Pune in the year 1848. Savitribai was also the first female teacher in that school as well as in India.
2. Advocacy for Widow Remarriage and Abolition of Child Marriage
Understanding the plight of women in Indian society due to the existence of age old practices like child marriage and the prejudice towards widows, Jyotiba Phule dedicated his life to abolishing child marriage and helping widows attain a status quo in society to live peacefully.
3. Formation of the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers)
Founded in the year 1873, the Satyashodhak Samaj was a community established to protect the rights of the Dalit community and help appease the plight of women in India during the late 19th century.
Educational Reforms and Empowerment
Some of the educational reforms brought about by Jyotiba Phule have been mentioned below:
- He founded the Poona Library in the year 1852
- Set up the first school for girls in the year 1848
- Established the first school for Dalits in the year 1852.
- Founded the first adult night school in 1858.
- He founded the Mandali in 1853 to educate social groups like Mangs and Mahars.
- He established many centres to prevent infanticide.
Contribution Towards Elimination of Caste Discrimination
Jyotiba Phule launched many anti-athauratarian campaigns which include the Satyashodhak samaj to protect the rights of the lower castes and target the hypocrisy existing in the system.
Published Works
Jyotiba Phule was a well-established writer and some of his works have been mentioned below:
- Gulamgiri was released in 1873.
- Shetkaryacha Asud was released in 1881.
- Sarvajanik satya dharma aur ishara.
- Trutiya Ratna, which was a play written by Jyotiba Phule.
Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule
Jyotiba Phule got married to Savitribai at the age of 12. They too were the at the incidence of child marriage. Still together they became one of India’s most influential couples who managed to dismantle and reconstruct certain fragments of our Indian society. Together they set up India’s first girl school in 1848 where Savitribai was appointed as India’s first female teacher. Together they battled the brunt of societal hypocrisy and came out victorious as they changed the landscape of India’s social strata.
Title Of Mahatma To Jyotiba Phule
On May 11th, 1888, Jyotiba Phule was honored with the title of Mahatma by Rao Bahadur Wadekar at a ceremony in Koliwada in Mumbai. His unfettered battle against the evils of Indian society, protection of Shudras and Dalits and the empowerment of women is in itself a spectacle of greatness.
Death Of Jyotiba Phule
Jyohetiba Phule died on November 28th, 1890, due to a stroke. The great Indian writer and social activist will always be remembered as he continues to inspire people till today who are fighting for justice and equality.
Jyotiba Phule Legacy
Even after bearing the brunt of social stigma within Indian society, Jyotiba Phule proved to the world that “When there is a will, there is a way”. His contributions and legacy are an undying example of the true power of the mind.
FAQs about Jyotiba Phule
Q1. How did Jyotiba Phule view the caste system?
Jyotiba Phule saw right through the hypocrisy of the caste system and condemned it outrightly.
Q2. What was Jyotiba Phule’s full name?
Jyotiba Phule’s full name was Jyotirao Govindrao Phule
Q3. Who was Savitribai Phule?
Savitribai Phule was India’s first female teacher in India’s first-ever established girl school. She was the wife of Jyotiba Phule and together they managed to bring about a massive change in India’s social construct.
Q4. How did Jyotiba Phule contribute to agricultural reform?
Jyotiba Phule set up camps for farmers and students who suffered the perils of drought.His education institutions were set up to educate people of lower castes which included members of the Mali caste who were essential in agriculture.
Q5. How did Jyotiba Phule influence future social reform movements?
Jyotiba Phule’s undying passion to improve Indian society and abolish backward age-old practices not only improved the status of women in society but also effectively worked towards educating the lower castes and giving them opportunities to improve their living standards either through acts of philanthropy or by providing them with the means to better themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the works and contributions of Jyotiba Phule to Indian society are of great value for which he and his wife Savitribai Phule are very respected. Without such great minds, India would have been truly lost in the bitter politics of our social constructs.
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