Among the Maharashtra social reformers of the 1800s, Jyotirao Phule stands out from the others. While other reformers focused more on changing the social structures of marriage and the family, with particular attention to women's status and rights, Jyotiba Phule rebelled against the unfair caste system that had caused centuries of suffering for millions of people and developed a critical analysis of Hinduism and Indian society as a whole. Many social and political intellectuals launched a movement against these structures and practices during this time. The goal of these intellectuals was to improve women's standing in society, the economy, politics, and education.
Mahatma Phule spearheaded campaigns to advance women's, dalit, and lower class equality. Mahatma Phule was the first leader to vehemently condemn gender discrimination as a result. He was genuinely a brilliant thinker and truth-seeker. He believed that for human society to continue to be happy, each individual must seek the truth and adjust accordingly. According to him, the opportunity facilitated by British administration allowed the masses to free themselves from the Brahmins' enslavement. However, he also attacked the British bureaucracy for its inclination to depend on Brahmin subordinates and for encouraging higher education.
It's interesting to note that Mahatma Phule had a positive view of British rule in India since, in his opinion, it at least brought contemporary ideas of fairness and equality into Indian society. He also said that the British government's economic policies were detrimental to the underprivileged peasantry in many ways. He made several recommendations to enhance the state of the agriculture industry. Phule desired to replace the exploitative Indian social structure with a society based on the values of individual liberty and equality. He also sought to replace Hinduism with a global religion that does not have caste discrimination that makes the dalit untouchables, the most exploited caste of people both socially and economically.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyotirao_Phule
The works uploaded are:
- Slavery by Jyotirao Phule
- Education as Tritya Ratna By Journal of Indian Education
- Collected Works of Mahatma Jotirao Phule (Vol-II)1991
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