Jyoti Rao Phule, pioneer activist.

28th November is celebrated as Jyotirao Phule's death anniversary. This article elaborates on the great soul's contribution to social reform in the country.

Jyotiba Phule ; Source: Google Images

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, commonly known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, is a pioneer in the field of women's education. He is a humanitarian, author, philosopher, revolutionary and has long fought social problems. Born in Maharashtra on April 11, 1827, he is known for speaking out against caste inequality. His contribution to girls' education and women's empowerment is immeasurable.

Jyotiba Phule died on November 28, 1890. He worked for the abolition of untouchable rights and the caste system and the emancipation of women. Phule is best known for educating women and people of lower castes.

Jyotiba Phule, He graduated from school in 1847. He married Savitribai in his 1840. The duo was pioneers in India when it came to women's education. Jyotiba Phule trained her wife and advised her to teach girls. Thanks to his encouragement, Savitri Bai became the country's first female teacher.

In 1848, at the age of 21, Pule attended a girls' school in Ahmednagar run by Christian missionaries. She also acquired her keen sense of social justice when she read Thomas Paine's book Rights of Man in 1848. He recognized that exploited castes and women were disadvantaged in Indian society and that the formation of these groups was essential to their liberation. She taught Savitribai to read and write and in the same year established the first indigenous girls' school in Pune. He also taught Sagunabai Kshirsagar (daughter of his maternal aunt) to write Marathi along with Savitribai. Pune's upper-caste, conservative society did not approve of his work. However, many Indians and Europeans generously helped him. Conservatives in Pune also forced his own family and community into exile.

In August 1848, he founded the first girls' school in India, followed by a school for the children of his class, Mahal and Mandarit. In 1873, Phule and his followers founded the Satyashodak Samaj (Truth Seekers Society) to fight for equal rights for the poor and lower castes.

Jyotiba Phule advocated for widows to remarry and in 1854 established a home for widows of upper and lower castes. He also opened a home for newborns to combat female infanticide. By opening his home and making water available to lower caste people, Jyotiba Phule sought to remove the stigma of social inviolability surrounding lower castes.

Leaders of all factions paid tribute to Jyotiba on the anniversary of his death.