- Born: April 11, 1827, in the Mali caste (traditionally gardeners and florists).
- Experienced caste-based humiliation at a Brahmin friend’s wedding in 1848, sparking his resolve to challenge social hierarchies.
- Influenced by:
- Cynthia Farrar’s girls’ school in Ahmednagar.
- Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason, which critiqued religious orthodoxy.
Pioneering Educational Reforms
- 1848: Phule and Savitribai Phule co-founded India’s first school for girls.
- Opened 18 schools in 3 years; night schools followed by 1855 for workers and women.
- Faced opposition from orthodox society for promoting education among oppressed groups.
Social and Political Stance
- Advocated for women’s emancipation and Dalit upliftment through collaboration with the British administration.
- Clashed ideologically with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar.
- Despite ideological differences, bailed out Tilak and Agarkar from jail, showcasing moral integrity.
Satyashodhak Samaj (1873)
- Founded the Society of Truth Seekers to challenge Brahminical hegemony.
- Provided a non-upper caste alternative to existing reform movements like:
- Brahmo Samaj
- Prarthana Samaj
- Arya Samaj
Views on the 1857 Revolt
- Opposed the Sepoy Mutiny, seeing it as a reactionary movement favoring Peshwa theocracy.
- Believed that social reform and education were more vital than militant resistance.
Key Writings and Ideas
Gulamgiri (Slavery, 1873):
- Compared caste oppression in India to slavery in America.
- Highlighted the brutality of Brahminical domination during Peshwa rule.
Shetkaryanche Asud (Farmer’s Whip)
- Called for:
- Use of military manpower in rural infrastructure (dams, bunds).
- Return of cow pastures to farmers.
- Abolition of forest department oppression.
- Pragmatic solutions to cow slaughter, suggesting goat/sheep consumption or cattle imports.
Educational Reforms:
- Proposed compulsory primary education till age 12.
- Suggested scholarships and prizes to motivate marginalized families.
- Called for inclusion of working-class children in education.
Religious Rationalism
- Defended Pandita Ramabai’s right to religious conversion.
- Advocated religious freedom and rational spirituality.
- Argued against sectarianism, emphasized universal humanity.
Philosophy & Legacy
- Emphasized:
- Equality of all humans, regardless of caste.
- Critique of religious orthodoxy, polygamy, and patriarchy.
- Wrote Manav Mahammand, admiring Prophet Muhammad’s fight against superstition.
- Final work: Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak – advocated rational, inclusive humanism.
- Rejected the idea of any one religion or caste having divine superiority.
Impact
- Phule’s life remains a beacon of social justice, rational thought, and compassion.
- Continues to inspire anti-caste movements, educational reformers, and progressive thinkers in India.
