Mahatma Phule- The greatest Social Reformer

Post date: Apr 10, 2018 11:56:31 AM

In the social and educational history of India, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule & his wife Savitribai Phule stand out as an extraordinary couple. One hundred and sixty years ago, they launched a passionate struggle to create equality between the genders and for social justice.

Recognising that knowledge is power and that the progress of women and Dalit-Bahujanas was impossible without it, both Jyotirao & Savitribai dedicated their entire life for the spread of education. Moreover, they started the Literacy Mission in India in 1854-55 as well as the first native school for girls in the country.

This visionary couple undertook the historic work of building a holistic and integrated revolutionary cultural, social and educational movement for the first time, for the women of our country. This work thus marked the beginning of a new era, in the history of Indian culture.

Jyotirao Phule educated Savitribai at home after their marriage. She then went on to take teachers training at Ms. Farar’s Institution at Ahmednagar and in Ms. Mitchell’s School, thus making her the First Indian Woman Teacher and Head Mistress. And this stepping across the threshold of the home to teach, marks the beginning of the public life of modern Indian woman.

In fact, many instances go on to prove that Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a visionary social reformer. As far as education is concerned, he told the Hunter Education Commission in 1882, that, “There was no indigenous school for girls at the time in Poona. I, therefore, was induced about the year 1848, to establish such a school, in which, my wife and I worked together for many years. A year after the institution of the former school, I also established an indigenous mixed school, for the lower classes especially the Mahars and Mangs. Two more schools for these classes were subsequently added.” Their work was so commendable that the then Chairperson of the Education board visited the girls’ school established by Jyotirao & Savitribai and expressed satisfaction about this new movement in the field of education.

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule started his education mission when he was just 21 years old; while his wife, Savitribai who supported him in every way, was merely 18 years old. This couple kindled by passion pursued their goal, despite the fact that as a result they had to leave their house. Jyotirao then worked part-time in a missionary school for his livelihood, and dedicated the rest of the time to the school. On the other hand, Savitribai worked full-time, without any remuneration at the school.

Jyotirao Phule then established an institution called as a Mandali (मंडळी), so that people, who shared his vision, could come together and work. This resulted in developing institutional networks that later proved to be the foundation of modern India.

Jyotirao & Savitribai Phule started two institutions - a Native Female School at Pune and a Society for Promoting the Education of Scheduled Castes. Through these two institutions, they then built a network of schools in the Pune region. In these schools, there were four, three & one teachers, and forty eight, fifty one & thirty three girl students respectively. Savitribai Phule was the Head Mistress in the first of their schools. There were eight girl students on the first day of the school. Soon there numbers went up to more than forty eight. This was a revolution in times, when there were strong social restrictions on women.

Jyotirao & Savitribai focussed on providing girls and boys with education that was vocational and trade-oriented in nature to make the students self-reliant and capable of independent thinking.

In fact, the issue of drop-outs in schools was even graver in those times. Jyotirao found a viable & practical solution to solve this problem. Both, Jyotirao and Savitribai found that the main reason for a high drop-out rate in schools, was poverty, as well as, disinterest in education. The couple made provisions to give salary to the students and planned a syllabus which was geared to serve the interests of girls and boys of the poorer section of the society. Jyotirao & Savitribai took up an awareness mission among the Dalit & Bahujanas to introduce them to the advantages and joys of education. They also started literacy for parents and through this, built a holistic educational project. The ways, which Jyotirao adopted to overcome issues like drop-outs, caste panchayats, jatra khetra, etc. have proven to be a guiding force even today.

The revolutionary activities of Jyotirao & Savitribai were not limited to education. Jyotirao established the Satya Shodhak Samaj (The Truth-Seeker’s Society) in September, 1873. Savitribai Phule was an extremely dedicated and passionate activist of this Samaj. This Samaj undertook the programme of arranging marriages without a priest, without dowry and at minimum cost. Savitribai was the inspiration behind these revolutionary initiatives of constructive revolt to reject centuries old religious traditions. This type of marriage, similar to a registered marriage, is still prevalent in many parts of India. Savitribai and Jyotirao had to face severe difficulties in introducing this type of marriage in the society, but that did not deter them from their path.

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule also wrote a book entitled गुलामगिरी (Slavery). He dedicated this book to the Afro-Americans who were fighting against the slavery system. Jyotirao Phule was the lone visionary of the last century, who established relations with America. It is really astonishing as to how Jyotirao came to know the struggle of Afro-Americans, which was launched to eliminate slavery from the society, especially since there were no effective communication systems like the T.V., Telephone, Mobile etc.

Moreover, his vision is also reflected through his introduction of the Tri-Bhasha Sootra (त्रि-भाषा सूत्र), which is largely used all over India by the Central Government even today. Jyotirao was even then confident that through this, Tri-Bhasha Sootra every Indian will be well versed to communicate with any person across the country.

Mahatma Phule was a multi-faceted personality. Since he has made immense contribution as a social reformer, he is referred to as the Path Finder of a New Social System. So too, Mahatma Phule was the Managing Director of the Pune Commercial and Contracting Company. As a Contractor, the credit of building the Khadak Wasala Dam and Katraj Tunnel on the Pune-Satara Road, and the Bund Garden Bridge on the Pune- Nagar Road goes to Jyotirao Phule. He was the Commissioner of the then Poona City for six years from 1876 to 1882. During this tenure, he concentrated on solving problems related to drinking water, internal roads, schools, etc. Considering these facts one can realize that Mahatma Phule was not only a Social reformer but also an active Infrastructure developer.

Mahatama Jyotirao Phule was a strong supporter of the hard working farmer community. He aptly described the pathetic state of farmers, who were exploited by the traders. In his book, the Cultivators’ Whip Cord (i.e. शेतकऱ्याचा असूड), he brought the sorrows of the cultivators, into public attention.

Additionally, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule also had knowledge of the share market. He guided the people how to and how not to invest in share market asking them to be very much keen and careful in such kind of investments. So he wrote poems on the share market. As a publisher he also published a few books.

It is as a tribute to this greatness reflected through his contribution and vision for the emancipation of school drop-outs, technical education, women empowerment, irrigation, water management and compulsory education which we are implementing after 160 years. We should keep recalling and preserve the unique contribution of the couple, to the cause of removal of illiteracy and women empowerment, for centuries to come.