Jyotirao Phule

"Mahatma Phule" redirects here. For 1954 film, see Mahatma Phule (film).

Mahātmā
Jyotiba Phule
Born(1827-04-11)11 April 1827
Poona, Bombay Presidency, British India
(present Pune, Maharashtra, India)
Died28 November 1890(1890-11-28) (aged 63)
Pune, Bombay Presidency, British India(Maharashtra, India)
Other names
  • Jyotiba Phule[2]
  • Mahatma Phule[2]
Alma materScottish Mission highschool, Poona (1842)[2]
Notable work
SpouseSavitribai Phule
Era1827- 1891
LanguageMarathi
Main interests

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890), also known as Jyotiba Phule, was an Indian social activist, businessman, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.[3][4]

His work extended to many fields, including eradication of untouchability and the caste system and for his efforts in educating women and oppressed caste people.[5] He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India.[5][6] Phule started his first school for girls in 1848 in Pune at Tatyasaheb Bhide's residence or Bhidewada.[7] He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) to attain equal rights for people from lower castes. People from all religions and castes could become a part of this association which worked for the upliftment of the oppressed classes.

Phule is regarded as an important figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra. The honorific Mahātmā (Sanskrit: "great-souled", "venerable"), was first applied to him in 1888 at a special program honoring him in Mumbai.[8][9][10]

  1. ^ "The Polemics of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on His Birth Anniversary". 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference MT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Remembering Jyotirao Phule: The Pioneer Of Girls' Education In India". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Mahatma Jyotirao Phule: Reformer far ahead of his time". Hindustan Times. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Remembering the pioneer of women's education in India: Contributions by Jyotirao Phule". India Today. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Savitribai Phule: The pioneer of women's education in India". The Week. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  7. ^ Jill Sperandio (11 December 2018). Pioneering Education for Girls across the Globe: Advocates and Entrepreneurs, 1742-1910. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-4985-2488-9.
  8. ^ Keer (1974), p. 247.
  9. ^ "Who was Jyotirao Phule?". The Indian Express. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  10. ^ "जोतिबा फुले 'महात्मा' कसे बनले?". BBC News मराठी (in Marathi). Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.