‘Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it’
– Thomas Paine
On 11 April, 1827, Jyotirao was born in a vegetable–vendor family from the Mali caste, in Pune. His sharp intellect was noted by his neighbours who convinced his father to admit him at the Scottish Mission's High School. Here, Jyotirao Phule was influenced by Thomas Paine's book 'Rights of Man'. He developed an impeccable sense of social justice and grew passionately critical of the oppressive caste system.
His relentless struggle to reclaim justice and equal rights for farmers and Dalits, made Phule the most significant figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra. Along with his wife Savitribai and others, he initiated positive transformations in the spheres of education, agriculture, caste system and social empowerment of women.
He educated his wife, Savitribai and opened the first school for girls in India in August 1848. He vehemently advocated widow-remarriage and even got a home built for housing widows during 1854. Leading by example, he opened his own house and let all make use of the well water without any prejudice.
He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to prevent exploitation and abuse of the Bahujan Samaj by the upper castes. Phule felt reason alone would empower society to be better at reclaiming human dignity and social responsibility. His life remains inspirational in our situation where truth suffers treason in the maze of modern superstition and hatred mongering against humanity itself.
Jyotiba Phule inspires us to BE BETTER at reason…
Humanity is abused when truth suffers treason!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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