MAHATMA JYOTIBA PHULE: HISTORY
NEWS: Phule: A constant gardener of social revolution
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Mahatma Jyotiba Phule continues to be a source of inspiration to many radicals even today; we look back at his actions and opinions from his own life and writings, where he envisions a society liberated of its orthodox shell
About Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
• Full Name: Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, popularly revered as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule for his pioneering work in social reform.
• Birth: Born on 11 April 1827 in Pune, Maharashtra, into a Mali (gardener) caste family categorized as Shudra in the traditional Varna system.
• Marriage: At the age of 13, he married Savitribai Phule, who later became India’s first female teacher and his lifelong partner in education and social reform.
Education and Ideological Awakening
• He studied at the Scottish Mission High School in Pune, where he was introduced to liberal Western thinkers.
• His reading of Thomas Paine (e.g., Age of Reason) and John Stuart Mill instilled in him the values of liberty, rationality, and social justice.
• A significant moment came in 1848, when Phule was insulted at a Brahmin friend’s wedding due to his caste status. This incident awakened his consciousness to systemic caste-based discrimination.
• He concluded that education and social awareness among the oppressed were key to dismantling hierarchical caste structures.
Jyotiba Phule’s Ideology
• Equality and Justice: Believed in the dignity of every human being, regardless of caste or gender. He consistently worked to eliminate caste and patriarchal oppression.
• Rationalism: Rejected Brahmanical authority, religious dogma, and superstition. Promoted a society based on scientific temper and logic.
• Social Justice: Advocated for the upliftment of the downtrodden, especially Dalits, women, and peasants, through systemic reform and inclusive education.
• He was conferred the title "Mahatma" (Great Soul) on 11 May 1888 by social reformer Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar, in recognition of his moral courage and service to humanity.
Major Social Contributions
• Critique of the Caste System:
• He launched a sustained attack on Brahmanical dominance and the exploitative caste order.
• Called for complete abolition of caste hierarchy through rational thought and universal education.
• Voice Against Nationalist Orthodoxy:
• He clashed ideologically with contemporaries like Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who upheld aspects of caste and religious orthodoxy.
• Instead of aligning with dominant nationalist figures, he worked with the British administration to secure legal and educational rights for oppressed communities.
• Women’s Empowerment:
• Along with Savitribai Phule, he fought for girl child education, widow remarriage, and abolition of child marriage and Sati.
• Actively opposed patriarchal traditions that reduced women to subservient roles.
• Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth-Seekers):
• Founded in September 1873, it was a reformist movement aimed at social equality and anti-caste ideology.
• Offered an alternative to upper-caste dominated reform movements like Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, and Arya Samaj.
• Welcomed lower castes and women into its fold, challenging Brahmanical supremacy.
• Educational Reforms:
• First Girls’ School (1848): Phule and Savitribai started the first formal school for girls in India at Bhide Wada, Pune.
• The curriculum included science, mathematics, practical skills, and moral training.
• Schools for Marginalised Communities: He opened schools for Dalits, backward castes, and those excluded from traditional education.
• Night Schools: Established by 1855, catered to working-class adults, farmers, and women, allowing them to learn after work hours.
Major Literary Contributions
• Gulamgiri (Slavery) – Written in 1873, it is a landmark anti-caste text, comparing Brahmanical oppression in India to slavery in America.
• Shetkaryacha Asud (Farmer’s Whip) – Published in 1881, this book critiques exploitative landlords, moneylenders, and highlights the plight of Indian farmers.
• Satsar (The Essence of Truth) – A defense of Pandita Ramabai’s religious conversion, it challenges Brahmanical monopoly over knowledge and faith.
• Manav Mahammand (Muhammad the Man) – A poetic tribute to Prophet Muhammad, whom Phule admired for liberating oppressed people from religious orthodoxy and blind faith.
• Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak – Considered Phule’s philosophical manifesto, it proposes a universal religion of truth, based on rationalism, human equality, and anti-caste ethics.
• Trutyache Bhashan – A speech that encapsulates his critique of religious authority, social exclusion, and demand for inclusive reform.
Legacy and Conclusion
• Mahatma Phule was one of India’s earliest and most radical voices against caste discrimination and gender inequality.
• Through his rationalist worldview, institution-building, and grassroots reform, he laid the foundation for later anti-caste movements, including those of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• His life’s work represents the conscience of social justice in India, and continues to inspire Dalit, feminist, and human rights movements today.
• His call for truth-seeking, equality, and universal brotherhood remains a timeless guide in the struggle against social injustice.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/books/phule-a-constant-gardener-of-social-revolution/article69435103.ece#:~:text=Jyotiba%20Phule%20was%20born%20on,to%20his%20'lower'%20caste.