JYOTIBA
PHULE & SAVITRIBAI PHULE : HISTORY
NEWS
: After row over dropping ‘shudra’, couplet
pulled down from Jyotiba Phule memorial
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
A political controversy erupted after a
key line referring to the word ‘Shudra’ from Jyotiba Phule’s seminal
work Shetkaryacha Asud was omitted from an inscription at
the newly inaugurated Phule memorial in Nasik.
Memorial: Inaugurated by CM Eknath Shinde, the memorial features
an 18-foot bronze statue of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule.
Jyotiba
Phule:
- Born: 11
April 1827 in Maharashtra.
- Work:
Jyotiba Phule was a social reformer who fought against the caste system
and untouchability. He worked for the education of women and oppressed
communities.
- Education
Pioneer: In 1848, he started the first school for
girls in Pune, with support from his wife, Savitribai Phule.
- Satyashodhak
Samaj: In 1873, he founded this society to fight for
equality and rights for lower castes.
- Influences: He
was inspired by the Marathi saint Tukaram and the ideas of Thomas Paine,
especially on human rights.
Key
Works:
1.
Tritiya Ratna (1855) – a play promoting
equality and education.
2.
Brahmananche Kasab (1869) –
a critique of Brahmin dominance.
3.
Powada (1869) – a ballad encouraging
the upliftment of the oppressed.
4.
Gulamgiri (1873) – a comparison of caste
oppression with slavery.
5.
Shetkarayacha Aasud (1881) –
highlighting farmers’ struggles.
6.
Manav Mahammand (Muhammad) – a
collection of spiritual songs.
·
Dalit: He is believed to be one of the
first to use the term "Dalit" for the oppressed classes.
·
Mahatma: Phule was given the title
"Mahatma" in 1888 for his contributions to social reform.
Savitribai
Phule:
- Born: 3
January 1831 in Maharashtra.
- Work:
Savitribai Phule was the first female teacher in India and a social
reformer.
- Education: She
and Jyotiba started the first school for girls in Pune in 1848 and worked
for the education of marginalized communities.
- Women’s
Rights: She campaigned against child marriage,
supported widow remarriage, and fought for women’s rights.
Key
Works:
- Kavya
Phule (1854) – a collection of her poems urging
education for the oppressed.
- Bavan
Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892) – essays on social reform.
- Go,
Get Education – a poem encouraging education for the
downtrodden.
·
Mahila Seva Mandal: In 1852,
she started this group to promote women's rights and gender equality.
·
Together, Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule
worked tirelessly for education, social equality, and the rights of women and
the oppressed. Their legacy continues to inspire social change in India.