Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (Aged 63) also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, was born in 1827 in Maharashtra, India. He was a social activist, anti-caste social reformer, thinker, and writer. Phule’s work focused on eradicating the caste system and untouchability and educating women and oppressed caste people. In 1848, Phule established his first school for girls in Pune at Tatyasaheb Bhide’s residence, also known as Bhidewada.
Phule and his followers formed the Satyashodhak Samaj, which worked towards equal rights for people from lower castes. The association was open to people of all religions and castes and aimed to uplift oppressed classes. Phule is considered an important figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra and was honored with the title Mahātmā (Sanskrit: “great-souled”, “venerable”) by Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888.
At the age of 21, in 1848, Phule visited a girls’ school in Ahmadnagar, run by Christian missionaries. He read Thomas Paine’s book, Rights of Man, and developed a sense of social justice. Phule observed the disadvantaged position of exploited castes and women in Indian society and recognized that education was essential for their emancipation. He witnessed how untouchables were not allowed to pollute anyone with their shadows, how young widows shaved their heads, and how untouchable women were forced to dance naked. These social evils motivated him to educate women, and he began teaching his wife, Savitribai, to read and write. Together, they started India’s first indigenously run school for girls in Pune.
Phule faced opposition from the conservative upper-caste society of Pune, but he received support from many Indians and Europeans. The conservative group forced Phule’s family and community to ostracize them, but their friend Usman Sheikh and his sister Fatima Sheikh provided them with shelter and helped them start the school on their premises. Later, the Phules established schools for children from the then-untouchable castes, such as Mahar and Mang.
Every afternoon, Jyotirao sat with Savitribai and educated her when she brought his meal to the farms where he worked. He sent his wife to get trained at a school, and the couple set up India’s first girls’ school in Vishrambag Wada, Pune, in 1848. By 1852, there were three Phule schools in operation, and 273 girls were pursuing education in these schools. However, by 1858, all the schools had closed due to private European donations drying up, the Indian Mutiny of 1857, withdrawal of government support, and Jyotirao resigning from the school management committee due to disagreements regarding the curriculum.
In 1873, on September 24th, Phule established the Satyashodhak Samaj with a focus on the rights of marginalized groups such as women, Shudras, and Dalits. Through this organization, he opposed idolatry and denounced the caste system, promoting rational thinking and rejecting the need for priests. The samaj had a diverse membership that included Muslims, Brahmins, and government officials, although leading members and financial supporters were from Phule’s own Mali caste. Phule passed away around 1890.
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule
(1827 – 1890) – (Maharashtra)
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (Aged 63) also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, was born in 1827 in Maharashtra, India. He was a social activist, anti-caste social reformer, thinker, and writer. Phule’s work focused on eradicating the caste system and untouchability and educating women and oppressed caste people. In 1848, Phule established his first school for girls in Pune at Tatyasaheb Bhide’s residence, also known as Bhidewada.
Phule and his followers formed the Satyashodhak Samaj, which worked towards equal rights for people from lower castes. The association was open to people of all religions and castes and aimed to uplift oppressed classes. Phule is considered an important figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra and was honored with the title Mahātmā (Sanskrit: “great-souled”, “venerable”) by Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888.
At the age of 21, in 1848, Phule visited a girls’ school in Ahmadnagar, run by Christian missionaries. He read Thomas Paine’s book, Rights of Man, and developed a sense of social justice. Phule observed the disadvantaged position of exploited castes and women in Indian society and recognized that education was essential for their emancipation. He witnessed how untouchables were not allowed to pollute anyone with their shadows, how young widows shaved their heads, and how untouchable women were forced to dance naked. These social evils motivated him to educate women, and he began teaching his wife, Savitribai, to read and write. Together, they started India’s first indigenously run school for girls in Pune.
Phule faced opposition from the conservative upper-caste society of Pune, but he received support from many Indians and Europeans. The conservative group forced Phule’s family and community to ostracize them, but their friend Usman Sheikh and his sister Fatima Sheikh provided them with shelter and helped them start the school on their premises. Later, the Phules established schools for children from the then-untouchable castes, such as Mahar and Mang.
Every afternoon, Jyotirao sat with Savitribai and educated her when she brought his meal to the farms where he worked. He sent his wife to get trained at a school, and the couple set up India’s first girls’ school in Vishrambag Wada, Pune, in 1848. By 1852, there were three Phule schools in operation, and 273 girls were pursuing education in these schools. However, by 1858, all the schools had closed due to private European donations drying up, the Indian Mutiny of 1857, withdrawal of government support, and Jyotirao resigning from the school management committee due to disagreements regarding the curriculum.
In 1873, on September 24th, Phule established the Satyashodhak Samaj with a focus on the rights of marginalized groups such as women, Shudras, and Dalits. Through this organization, he opposed idolatry and denounced the caste system, promoting rational thinking and rejecting the need for priests. The samaj had a diverse membership that included Muslims, Brahmins, and government officials, although leading members and financial supporters were from Phule’s own Mali caste. Phule passed away around 1890.
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