Q. Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.

Model Answer:

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s Social Reform for Subaltern Classes

Mahatma Jotirao Phule (1827-1890) emerged as a revolutionary social reformer who challenged the deeply entrenched social hierarchies of 19th century India. His radical vision encompassed the struggles of all marginalized sections – women, Shudras, Ati-Shudras (Dalits), and peasants – marking a departure from the limited reformist agendas of his contemporaries.

Women’s Emancipation and Education

Phule pioneered women’s liberation through concrete actions that directly challenged patriarchal norms:

• Educational Revolution: Established India’s first girls’ school in Pune (1848) with wife Savitribai, breaking the monopoly over knowledge that confined women to domestic spheres

• Social Protection: Founded homes for pregnant widows, opposed child marriage, and advocated widow remarriage despite severe social backlash

• Ideological Challenge: Through his writings, linked women’s subjugation to Brahmanical dominance, exposing the interconnection between patriarchy and caste hierarchy

Liberation of Shudras and Ati-Shudras

Phule’s most significant contribution lay in his systematic deconstruction of caste oppression. His seminal work “Gulamgiri” (Slavery, 1873) drew powerful parallels between Indian lower castes and American slaves. He argued that Shudras and Ati-Shudras were original inhabitants subjugated by Aryan invaders, challenging mythological foundations of caste hierarchy.

The Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers’ Society, 1873) became his institutional vehicle for change:

• Religious Reform: Rejected Brahmanical priesthood, promoted rational thought, and encouraged direct worship without intermediaries

• Social Mobilization: Introduced the term “Dalit” (broken, crushed), giving identity and voice to the most oppressed

• Equal Rights: Worked for equality across castes and religions through education and awareness

Peasant Advocacy

“Shetkaryacha Asud” (Cultivator’s Whipcord) exposed multi-layered exploitation of farmers by landlords, moneylenders, and colonial bureaucracy. Phule demanded practical solutions:

• Investment in irrigation infrastructure
• Scientific agricultural techniques promotion
• Fair taxation policies implementation
• Protection from moneylender exploitation

By linking peasant struggles with broader anti-caste movements, he highlighted economic dimensions of social oppression.

Conclusion: Phule’s holistic approach addressing intersectional oppression of all subaltern classes laid foundations for India’s modern social justice movements.