NB In List | 9 lesser-known facts about Jyotirao Phule, a social reformer far ahead of his time-

NewsBharati    11-Apr-2023 11:01:01 AM
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"No person should tolerate injustice, whether it be against himself or against another."
 
A social reformer, thinker, writer, and activist, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was born on April 11, 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra. He has worked for the rights of Dalits as well as women which opened doors for them.
Lesser-known facts about Jyotirao Phule


On the special occasion of his birth anniversary, we bring you some lesser-known facts by the social reformer to know him-
 
1.Jyotirao's mother passed away when he was just nine months old.
 
 
2.
After reading Thomas Paine's famous book 'The Rights of Man', Jyotirao was greatly influenced by his ideas.
 
 
3.
In 1848, when Jyotirao Phule attended the wedding of one his friends from an upper caste, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted Phule over his social background. He left the venue, vowing to challenge the ills of the caste system.
 
 
4.
Jyotirao Phule opposed the practice of donating money to Brahmins in Dakshina by the British government. In 1848-49, the amount of Dakshina was around Rs. 4000. Jotiba Phule, 22 years old, stood against this practice and demanded that the money should be allocated for the education of untouchables. Brahmins of the time were already angry that the British government has lowered the amount and now 22 years of Shudra is challenging them. None till now had challenged Brahmins for their dominance. In the end, the British government allocated a part of that Dakshina for the education! It can be said the first funding for the education of untouchables!
 
 
5.After marrying Savitribai Phule, he taught her how to read and write, after which the couple opened the first indigenously run school for girls in Pune where they both taught.
 
 
6.By 1852, the Phules had established three schools but all of them had shut by 1858 due to the shortage of funds after the Revolt of 1857.
 
 
7. In 1863, he, along with his friend and wife, opened an infanticide prevention centre where pregnant widows could safely give birth and care for infants which runned until the mid-1880s.
 
8. It was Jyotirao Phule who had discovered the Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and initated the Shivaji Jayanti celebration.
 
9. Despite suffering a stroke in 1889 that paralyzed the right side of his body, Jyotirao Phule dedicatedly finished the writing of "Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak" (The Book of the True Faith) using his left hand.
 
These are just the tip of the iceberg of things that Jyotirao Phule did in his life. He dedicated his whole life for the betterment of Dalits and women that could hardly be seen now by anybody!
 
Jyotirao Phule Mahatma Phule Social Reformer NB In List Brahmins Caste System Mahatma Jyotirao Phule