Introduction

Mahatma phule or Jyotirao govindrao phule was an activist,an anti cast social reformer and an writer
from Maharashtra. He along with his wife worked around educating the lower caste and women of the
society in the 1820s.

Phule’s background
Jyotirao Govindrao phule Was born on 11th April 1827 in Katgun a small village in Maharashtra . He born
in the mali caste which is considered to be placed within the shudras which was the lowest thsible
position in the varna system.For this education he attended the Scottish missionary high school and as
customary in the Mali cast he was married at the age of 13 two savitribai phule who was 8yrs old .

Since a young age he was very good in studies and showed imminet interest.This burning need caught
the eye of 2 gentlemen, specifically Persian scholar Gaffar Baig Munshi and British official Lizit Sahab.
Munshi according to them their caste shouldn’t be a hindrance to education. He explained to phule’s
father about the importance of phule’s education. Lizit Sahab, UN agency referred to as himself an
acquaintance of Jesus Christ, remarked that the notion of the British providing education to convert the
kids to Christianity is that the product of some crafty mind. If that were true, Sahab asked, why would an
oversized variety of Brahmins send their kids to government schools? When his conversations with
these gentlemen, his father realised that he had made a great mistake he shouldn’t have taken his son
out of faculty.however it wasn’t too late, as Jotirao was still a only 14, and Gaffar Baig Munshi and Lizit
Sahab helped him get admission during a mission college within the year 1841.

Turning point in his life

One day, Jotirao was invited to the marriage of one of his Brahmin buddies and he was obliged to attend
it . As changed into the practice, Jotirao joined the bridegroom`s celebration and started out on foot
with the crowd. Some of Brahmins who had outstanding pleasure of their reputation noticed Jotirao
mingling in andin conjunction with them. They couldn`t undergo to peer a lowered-caste character
along them. So the elders Insulted Jyotirao and made him realize his cast and his position that that he
shouldn’t be found anywhere near them.

In the same year he started reading books and literature and finding the root cause of the problem and
how he could help elevate and provide a staircase for the lower caste people. this period he was hugely
influnced by Thomas pine’s book “Rights of man”.

In 1848 he visited a girls school run by Christian missionary there he saw the lower caste girls many from
his community studying there seeing the teacher got Jyotirao thinking as she was a foreigner and not a
relative of the girls still she was teaching them with great affection and full intrest. Then he thought if
how she could teach with such love and on the other hand the Brahmins couldn’t even bear the sight of
them.
Phule’s realisation
Phule had in mind and was adamant to make sure the girls could get education as he thought that for
every gurlhe taught they would eventually become mother’s and teach their kids in doing this he would
be teaching generations to come.

As quoted by Brigham young

“you educate a man u educate a man u educate a woman u educate a generation”

He understood that the only way he could help his caste members was by educating them and make
them realise that equality is not something to ask for from the Brahmins but it is their right as humans to
have equal access to the resources of the earth .

Due to the unfair cast system at that time the ST/ST, OBC and other lower caste people weren’t allowed
to attend schools according to the laws laid down by the Brahmins. Still there used to be some gurukuls
run by pandits and scribes for the lower cast people but there was no way that women could attain
formal education they couldn’t even dream about learning basic reading and writing

He didn’t liked that education was reserved for the upper caste and lower caste people like him were
being exploited and being used as slaves and looked down by the upper caste people.

His career as a teacher

On August 1848 he started his first girl school in home of his friend on the very first day only 8 girls from
the lower class came. Hewould teach them basic reading writing, grammar, mathematics, personal
hygiene and other basic and important things. He developed fun ways toteach the girls he would narrate
stories to the girls give them sweets and encourage them now and then slowly the numbers started to
increase and Jyotirao couldn’t teach them all on his own So he taught his wife how to read and write
and other basic roles and have her the opportunity to teach the girls which her wife Savitribai phule took
with open arms she went on to be the first female teacher of modern India.

By 1848 the phule couple had total of 18 schools in and around Pune. He opened evening schools as
many of his students would spend the day farming and other activities to support their families.

His career wasn’t as easy as hindu extremists protested against him and spred fake agendas about him
as he was giving free education to the untouchables they said he would turn them into Christians. Other
allegations that he was degrading the hindu religion was also used against him.

He also set up this society of SATYASHODHAL SAMAJ (truth seekers) he including with his followers were
united and worked together to attain equal rights for the people from the lower caste

But his will power was stronger than their hatred he didn’t gave up easily and gave the untouchables an
opportunity as he uplifted them and saved them from being exploited and being used as mere slaves.

The report of government education gave Jyotirao recognition for opening the first schools for the
untouchables. He also opened the first library for the untouchables.
Effect of education on the lower caste and society
Influnced by phule many other people started opening such schools and some Brahmins also realised
that they were wrong all along.

This gave the untouchables an opportunity to not be exploited and have equal opportunity in says of the
society. The lower caste people had at last fought of their fears And with education they gained
knowledge as well as courage to speak up for themselves against the oppressors.

My personal views on works of phule.

As an individual growing up in the 21 st century and getting education in an institution where we never
looked to differentiate our fellow school students seems great that we have come a long way as an
Indian society.

Above is an example that phule’s work in the 1840s were totally worth it. Had he not taken the actions
he did at that time it would be unimaginable how we would be as a country.

I personally think about what phule did and had a realisation that education can be a huge factor in
solving many issues and help us eliminating so many issues faced by the common people in our society
we do not need to use violence everytime. Education and spreading awareness are very underrated
weapons it causes no damage and once given the right direction people can be taught to burn their
ego’s and grow.

Example: in the current situation where we see people refusing to take vaccines against the novel
coronavirus they are being forced to take vaccines or leave their job, pay fines. Many people are scared
that this vaccine may be harmful for them and all rumours bout how it hurts them rather protects them
against the virus in such a situation if like phule these people are educated and taught about how
vaccines work and how it protects them and keeps them away from danger.

Taking Mahatma phule into consideration I think had he not been born our society would be in turmoil
his work in educating the lower caste really helped them as we can clearly see many lower caste people
getting education and serving our country some examples are: Br Ambedkar, JP Narayan, mayawati,kr
Narayan and many more

Hence I come to the conclusion about what phule did being a major change in our Indian society and the
important thing is how he used education to uplift the depressed class of our society. Here we can learn
from phule that education is very very powerful weapon it is highly underrated it can change an entire
course of history and it’s effects are everlasting.

Conclusion
We come to the conclusion that education is an important weapon there ever is and the way phule used
it we can also use it. Educating people and spreading awareness must be the first method people should
try while bringing in positive and favorable changes in the society

We are highly blessed and grateful for what phule did and learn from him from his methods and use it in
our current lives he is an examplary example of selfless service towards the society and using education
to do it makes it even more important.