Social Reform Movement and Jyotiba Phule

Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890), a mali by caste was a leading social reformer, educationist, peasant and Dalit Leader of the 19th century. Being a Shudra, he was a victim of Hindu orthodoxy, untouchability and caste barriers, in his youth at Pune. A Pioneer of anti-caste movement, he started the non-Brahmin movement in Maharashtra, which awakened the dehumanized and socially abused classes. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj and carried out the movement of social transformation of society. He was the first Dalit who stared a chain of Girls Schools at Pune in 1850 for untouchables education. In 1863 he founded a fondling home to care for the unwanted children of Brahmin widows, a shelter home for neglected widows and orphanage for the poor women. He also condemned child marriage, sati tradition and favoured widow-remarriage. Phule led the struggle against rigid caste distinctions, age old practice of untouchability and advocated the grievances of the exploited peasants. His educational efforts, movement of social transformation and writings were highly appreciated among the leading social reformers, educationists and social thinkers of the day. He was greatly assisted by his upper caste friends and wife Savitribai Phule. The present study is all about his entire social and educational contribution. He became a legend and pioneer of social transformation and dalit liberation in his lifetime.