Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Anniversary - The noble social reformer

 

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the noble social reformer, thinker and prominent contributor to the society upliftment was a florist by birth who went on to become the harbinger of unheard ideas for social reforms during the nineteenth century and dedicatedly worked towards the betterment of the downtrodden and discriminated. In the nineteenth century, people were used to accepting discriminatory practices as social norms that needed to be enforced without question but Jyotiba fought a big battle against such discriminations based on caste, class and color. He is believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children and who opened the first school for women education in India.

 

 

Though often blamed for vitiating the norms and regulations of the society, Jyotiba continued with his firm belief and actions towards welfare of the people and nothing stopped him from working committedly and steadily for the concerned cause. On his birth anniversary today, India's greatest thinker, philanthropist, writer and philosopher, Jyotirao Jyotiba Govindrao Phule is remembered for his selfless efforts towards social justice and betterment of people.

 

 

Born on 11 April 1827 in Satara district of Maharashtra, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's father Govind Rao was a vegetable vendor at Pune. His family belonged to the ‘maali’ caste and were considered as an inferior caste by the Brahmins. Jyotiba’s father and extended family served as florists so the family came to be known as ‘Phule’. Though he lost his mother at a very young age, he pursued studies in local language Marathi for a while but also left it midway. He got married to Savitribai when he was only 13 yrs old, thereafter he completed his seventh grade in English at the age of 21 and was also amongst the brightest students. After completing his education in 1847, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a brahmin who also remained his close friend throughout his life.

 

 

 

 

Jyotiba Phule devoted his entire life for the liberation of untouchables from the exploitation of Brahmins and led the movement against the prevailing caste restrictions in India. He presented the concept of a society based on the values of justice and equality. Apart from being a social activist and reformer, he was also a businessman. He was also a cultivator and contractor for the Municipal Corporation. He served as Commissioner of the Poona Municipality between 1876 and 1883.

 

 

 

 

Jyotiba Phule was against caste-based division and discrimination in Indian society from the beginning. Among big achievements to his credit, one was that he opened the country's first women's education school so that women could be educated equal to men. He opened the school in 1854 to help women improve their position and earn their own identity. It was the first school in the country which was opened for girls. However, he could not find any female teacher to teach in the school so he taught his wife Savitri and made her qualified so she could teach others. One of the few literate women of the time, Savitribai was taught to read and write by her husband Jyotirao. Some people tried to become barriers to his efforts for the upliftment of women and even tried to stop their women stepping out to gain education but it couldn’t bring down Jyotiba’s spirit or his determination and he went on to open three more girls’ schools.

 

 

 

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. Around his time, society was completely patriarchal, and the position of women was especially abysmal. Female infanticide was a common occurrence and so was child marriage, with children sometimes being married to men much older. Affected by the plight of young girls he also established an orphanage in 1854 to shelter the unfortunate ones. And all this while, Jyotiba’s quest for providing women and girls with the right to education was supported by his wife Savitribai Phule.

 

 

 

 

Jyotiba opened his home to people from all castes and backgrounds. He was a believer in gender equality, and he exemplified his beliefs by involving his wife in all his social reform activities. Though many accused him of acting on behalf of the Christian Missionaries, Jyotirao was firm and decided to continue the movement. Interestingly, Jyotirao was supported by some Brahmin friends who extended their support to make the movement successful.

 

 

In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth). He undertook a systematic deconstruction of existing beliefs and history, only to reconstruct an equality promoting version. Jyotirao vehemently condemned the Vedas, the ancient holy scriptures of the Hindus. In 1868, Jyotirao decided to construct 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.

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of the Satya Shodhak Samaj was to decontaminate the society from caste discrimination and liberate the oppressed lower-caste people from the stigmas inflicted by the Brahmins. Jyotirao Phule was the first person to coin the term ‘Dalits’ to apply to all people considered lower caste and untouchables by the Brahmins. Membership to the Samaj was open to all irrespective of caste and class.

 

 

 

 

“Man is superior among all beings. And women are superior among all human beings. Women and men are free from birth. Therefore, both should get an opportunity to enjoy all rights equally.”

 

 

“Selfishness takes different forms. Sometimes it takes the form of caste and sometimes religion.”

 

 

“Due to economic inequality, the lives of the farmers become disrupted.”

 

 

“In India, the feeling of nationalism will not develop as long as ethnic bonding will remain on food and marital relations.”

 

 

Jyotiba was greatly influenced by the famous book “The rights of Man” written by Thomas Paine. He believed that enlightenment of the women and lower caste people was the only solution to combat the social evils.

 

 

Jyotiba had penned a number of literary articles and books in his lifetime and most were based on his ideology of social reforms like the ‘Shetkarayacha Aasud’. He also penned some stories like ‘Tritiya Ratna’, ‘Brahmananche Kasab’, ‘Ishara’. He wrote dramas like ‘Satsar’ Ank 1 and 2, which were enacted under his directives to spread awareness against social injustice. He also wrote books for the Satyashodhak Samaj that dealt with the history of Brahminism and outlined Puja protocols that the lower caste people were not allowed to learn.

 

 

On his name, the Mahatma Phule Museum in Pune was set-up to honour the great reformer. In his honour, the Government of Maharashtra too introduced the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jeevandayeeni Yojana which is a cashless treatment scheme for the poor. There are a number of statues on his name across the streets and educational institutes in the state.