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Why in News: Jyotiba Phule’s birth anniversary was observed on April 11th.
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Birth and Background: Born April 11, 1827, in the Mali caste. An incident at a Brahmin wedding motivated him to fight caste oppression.
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Educational Reforms:
- Cofounded India’s first school for girls with his wife Savitribai in 1848.
- Established 18 more schools in the following three years.
- Started night schools for workers, farmers, and women in Pune by 1855.
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Social Reforms & Opposition to Orthodoxy:
- Opposed caste system and criticized figures like Chiplunkar and Tilak.
- Favored working with the British government for the upliftment of oppressed castes and women.
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Satyashodhak Samaj:
- Founded in 1873 as an alternative to upper-caste dominated reform movements like Brahmo Samaj.
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Critique of 1857 Revolt: Viewed it as an upper-caste effort to restore Brahmin rule.
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Views on Slavery: Compared caste oppression in India to American slavery in Gulamgiri.
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Economic Upliftment: Advocated compulsory education and economic empowerment for lower castes.
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Religious Freedom: Defended Pandita Ramabai’s right to convert to Christianity in Satsar.
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Farming Reforms: Critiqued the exploitation of peasantry in Shetkaryanche Asud, advocating for constructive governmental approaches and farmers education.
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Rationalism: Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak promoted a just society with a rational view of God, rejecting sectarianism. He stated that the caste is a human invention.
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Influence: Inspired by Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man and Age of Reason.
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Recognition: Bestowed with the title “Mahatma” in 1888.
