2019 – Posted in: Daily News

Mahatma Jyotirao Govindrao Phule

Mahatma Jyotiba Govindrao Phule

129th Death Anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Govindrao Phule is celebrated on the 28th of November.

Mahatma Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890), also known as Jotiba Phule was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.
His work extended to many fields including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and women’s emancipation.
He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women education in India. He is mostly known for his efforts in educating women and lower caste people.

Jyotirao Phule was born in 1827 in Satara district of Maharashtra. His father was a vegetable vendor, his mother’s name was Chimana.
He understood the importance of education and in 1848, he started the first ever school for girls in Pune.
He, who educated his wife, Savitribai Phule, asked her to teach the girls and since sche shared same idealistic belief as her husband gladly agreed to do so.
In 1851, he opened up a bigger girls’ school and for girls of all castes, religions and sections of the society.
He also strongly opposed untouchability.
On 24 September 1873, Phule formed Satyashodhak Samaj to focus on rights of depressed groups such women, the Shudra, and the Dalit. Satyashodhak Samaj campaigned for the spread of rational thinking and rejected the need for priests.
In May 1888, Rao Bahadur Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar, the great reformer from Mumbai gave Jyotirao Phule the title of “Mahatma” for his selfless services to humanity.
He suffered from a paralytic stroke and died on 28 November 1890.