Jyotiba Phule: Architect of Societal Revolution in 19th-Century India

Abstract

Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890) instigated a profound societal revolution in nineteenth-century India, specifically in Maharashtra, by his altruistic actions and philosophical beliefs. Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890) spearheaded social reform in nineteenth-century India, namely in Maharashtra, by advocating for human rights. The nineteenth century was characterised by societal critique and revolution, with a particular focus on nationalism, caste, and gender. Reformers directed their attention towards several concerns related to women, such as the practice of killing female infants, early marriage of girls, limitations on women's access to education, the tradition of Sati (widow self-immolation), the act of shaving widows' heads, and the prohibition on widows remarrying, among other difficulties. Concurrently, he advocated for change directed their attention towards modifying the structures of family and marriage, placing particular importance on the rights and social standing of women. Jyotiba tackled the concerns of gender and caste. He rebelled against the unjust caste system and human rights abuses that had subjugated countless individuals for a thousand years. His defiance of the caste system was accompanied by social and religious changes rooted in principles of equality and kindness. He rose to prominence as the foremost figure representing the marginalised social groups in Maharashtra and was widely recognised as the leader of India's marginalised classes across the nation. He found inspiration in the ideas presented in Thomas Paine's Rights of Man, a work by the American philosopher. This article focuses on Jyotiba as one of the pioneers who gained much prominence as a social reformer in India.