Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule

The Governor of Maharashtra faced criticism for supposedly making fun of the 19th-century social reformers Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule for “tying the knot at a young age.” Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule were an exceptional couple in India’s social and educational history. They played a crucial role in advancing female education and empowerment, as well as combating discrimination based on caste and gender.

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Who were Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule?

In 1840, Savitri got married to Jyotirao when she was just ten years old. Jyotirao, her husband, was thirteen at the time.
As they grew older, the couple actively worked against the prevailing practice of child marriages.
Additionally, Savitri and Jyotirao took steps to support and organize remarriages for widows, challenging societal norms.

Jyotirao Phule

Jyotiba Phule, also known as Mahatma Phule, was a remarkable Indian social activist, thinker, and writer from Maharashtra.

Education: Back in 1841, he started his education journey at the Scottish Missionary High School in Pune and successfully completed his studies there.

Ideology: His beliefs were grounded in principles like liberty, egalitarianism, and socialism. He drew inspiration from Thomas Paine’s “The Rights of Man” and firmly believed that enlightening women and lower-caste members was the key to addressing social issues.

Major Publications: Among his notable works are “Tritiya Ratna” (1855), “Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha” (1869), “Gulamgiri” (1873), and “Shetkarayacha Aasud” (1881).

Title of Mahatma: On 11th May 1888, he was honored with the title of Mahatma by a fellow Maharashtrian social activist named Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.

Social Reforms: Jyotirao Phule, driven by a revolutionary spirit, noticed the lack of educational opportunities for young girls and women.

He began teaching his wife at home and turned her into a teacher.
Realizing how tough life was for widows, he set up a home for young widows and strongly supported the idea of allowing widows to remarry.
He wasn’t afraid to challenge traditional beliefs, taking on orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes, calling them “hypocrites.”
In 1868, he built a communal bathing tank outside his home to show his inclusive attitude toward all people. He even expressed a desire to eat with everyone, regardless of their caste.
He launched awareness campaigns that inspired future leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, who later took significant steps against caste discrimination.

Savitribai Phule

In 1852, Savitribai kickstarted the Mahila Seva Mandal to spread the word about women’s rights.
She organized a women’s gathering where people from all castes were invited, breaking barriers by having everyone sit on the same mattress.
Savitribai showcased her literary prowess by publishing Kavya Phule in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1892.
Her poem, “Go, Get Education,” passionately encouraged oppressed communities to embrace education as a means of breaking free from the chains of oppression.
Simultaneously, she boldly campaigned against child marriage, advocating for the right to widow remarriage.
In a groundbreaking move in 1873, Savitribai initiated the first Satyashodhak marriage, challenging traditional norms by eliminating dowries, Brahmin priests, and Brahminical rituals from the ceremony.

What is their Legacy?

In 1848, the Phule couple, Jyotirao and Savitribai, took a bold step by establishing a school in Poona that welcomed girls, Shudras, and Ati-Shudras.
Recognizing the importance of education, they set up two educational trusts in the 1850s: the Native Female School in Pune and The Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs, and others.
A significant milestone in their social reform efforts occurred in 1853 when they opened a care center in their own home to support pregnant widows, aiming to put an end to the harmful practice of infanticide rooted in societal norms.
The Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (Home for the Prevention of Infanticide) started as a compassionate initiative in their own residence.
On September 24, 1873, Jyotirao-Savitribai and like-minded individuals came together to establish the Satyashodhak Samaj, also known as The Truth-Seeker’s Society.
The Samaj advocated for progressive social changes, challenging prevailing traditions. This included promoting economical weddings, encouraging inter-caste marriages, fighting against child marriages, and supporting the remarriage of widows.