Contribution of Jyotiba Rao Phule to Indian Society

Jyotiba Phule initiatives included eradicating untouchability and the caste system, as well as educating women and caste members who were being exploited. The following are Jyotiba Rao Phule’s primary contributions to Indian society.

Jyotiba Rao Phule’s Contribution Towards Elimination of Caste Discrimination

Jyotirao attacked the Orthodox Brahmin and other high-ranking castes, calling them “hypocrites”. He fought the authoritarianism of upper castes and called on “farmers” and “proletariats” to resist the restrictions imposed on them. He believed that religious icons such as ‘Rama’ or ‘Krishna’ were used by the Brahmin as a means of conquering lower castes.

The orthodox Brahmin of society was furious at Jyotirao’s activities. They accused him of violating social norms and regulations. Many had accused him of acting on behalf of  Christian missionaries. However, Jyotirao remained firm and resistant to them and decided to continue the movement started by him. Interestingly, Jyotirao was assisted by some of his Brahmin friends who expanded their support for the success of his movement.

Jyotiba Rao Phule’s Contribution Towards Women’s Education

He believed in gender equality and embodied his belief by involving his wife in all social reform activities. He witnessed how a young widow had to shave his hair and had to reject all kinds of joy in her life. He saw how untouchable women were forced to dance naked. And then, he decided to educate women by witnessing all these social illnesses that promote inequality.

Jyotirao’s quest to give women and girls the right to education was supported by his wife, Savitribai Phule. One of the few educated women of the time, Savitribai, received her literacy instruction from her husband, Jyotirao. In 1851, Jyotirao founded a girls’ school and asked her wife to teach girls at school. He later opened two more schools for girls and indigenous schools for lower castes, especially for Mahar and Mang caste.

Jyotiba Rao Phule’s Efforts Toward Stopping Child Marriage and Jauhar Pratha

In his time, society was patriarchal and the status of women was particularly dire. Female infanticide and child marriage were two main stigmas in society. Girls were sometimes married to much older men. These women often became widowed before even reaching puberty and were left without family support. Suffering from their plight, Jyotirao founded an orphanage or ashram in 1854 to protect these unfortunate souls from the cruel hands of society. And eventually became an advocate of the widow’s remarriage idea.

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was born in Pune in 1827. His father’s name was Govindrao Phule and his mother was Chimnabai. He was born to a family that belonged to the Mali Caste. In the four varna system caste, they were placed within the Sudras or the lower ranking class. Jyotiba Phule died on November 28, 1890.

The turning point in his life came in 1848 when he attended the wedding of a friend who was a Brahmin. Jyotiba Phule attended a regular wedding procession but was later accused and insulted by his friend’s parents. They told him, that as part of Shudra’s caste, he should be wise enough to leave these rituals and should leave the ceremony. This case was unfair in the caste system and had a profound effect on Jyotiba Phule.