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| Tribute on the eve of his 187th birthday falling today | | | Er. H. R. Phonsa | 4/10/2014 11:01:04 PM |
| Ever since the Hindu religion got divided into castes rigidities it divided society into low and upper castes. It increased the miseries of the low caste people termed as untouchables or Dalits. All doors of progress, social, economical, educational, cultural were closed for the Dalits. They were denied the normal human rights, so their dignities by their own Hindu religious brothers and sisters. The all powerful Hindus Brahmins claimed all comforts of life for them selves but denied even minimum Human Rights to Dalits. The Hindus offered milk to snakes; rice with sugar to ants; worshipped tress like Tulsi, Pipal, stone idols and animals like cows but got polluted by the shadow of a Dalit, who are non-else but the creation of the same God .For their self made gods and goddesses realization Hindus observe extreme austere like living in lonely forests, undertake long journeys to 68 places of pilgrimage, observe fasts etc. But universal creator is great . This extreme natural authority emanates its messages through its missionaries from time to time to show the masses the just path of love for all and hate to none. Similar social worker and revolutionary was born in a downtrodden family in Pune. His name was Mahatama Jyotirao Phuley, to whom Dr. Ambedkar accepted his "Master-One of the Gurus". Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar wrote "Mahatama Phule-The Greatest Shudra of Modern India who made the lower classes of Hindus conscious of their slavery to the higher classes and who preached the gospel that for India Social democracy was more vital than independence from the foreign rule".
This b social reformist personality took birth on 11TH April,1827 to revered couple Gobindarao and Chimnabai in village Khanbari of Poona. This child was named Jyotiba. Later he earned the title of Mahatma . Since Gobindarao and his two brothers served as florists under the Pashwas, so they were called Phules. Chimnabai died when Jyotiba was 9 months old. Gobindrao wanted his son to get a higher education so as to spread the Gyan Jyoti for the humanity at large and Dalits in particular. But all relatives of Gobindarao were against the education of Jyotiba and so Jyotiba was taken out of school after he passed his primary school at the age of 9 years. Despite this Jyotiba continued working in fields during day and reading at night by lighting kerosene lamp. Late Goffar Beig Munshi ( A Muslim) and Latiz Sahib (A Christian) had great influence on Gobindarao. They insisted Gobindarao to get admitted his son in Scottish Mission High School at Poona in 1843.Jyotirao completed his secondary education in 1847 and decided not to accept any government job .He decided to work for the upliftment of downtrodden and deprived section of society and to spread education among them. Jyotirao was early riser, lover of good health and cleaniness. One day Jyotibrao accompanied a Barat of his Brahmin friend. Jyotirao was insulted and abused by relatives of his friend as how a Dalit dared to take part in Barat (Marriage procession to bride's house) of a Brahmin. After this incident Jyotiba made up his mind to defy the caste system and decided to serve the shudras and women who were deprived of all of their human rights under the caste system. Jyotiba was married in 1840 to Savitribai. Madam Savitribai Phule worked as the true disciple and co-missionary of her husband. They changed the history by opening a school on 1-1-1848 for girls in Poona where Savitirbai was admitted as first Student along with four Brahmin girls, one Maratha girl and sixth a shepherd family girl. Jyotirao Phule continued this school despite opposition form orthodox Hindus, who considered this act against their religion, as Hindu scriptures considered educating girls and Dalits as a great sin. Savitirbai received more education at home from his husband, who appointed her Headmistress of one of his schools. Even parents of Jyotiba did not co-operated and they turned him along with Savitribai out of their parental house, when the couple did not agree to desist from their chosen path. They opened 18 such schools including some having co-education. He got nominated as a member of Poona ( Now Pune) municipal corporation in 1876. During his tenure in this corporation he always opposed lavish wasteful expenditure, may be on welcome party of the Viceroy of India in November 1880 or construction of a market ( Now Phuley Market). He pleaded that money so saved may be distributed among poor's. He was only one among thirty two members of Municipality to vote against the official resolution.
Feeling pity on the condition of orphans Jyotiba Phule opened orphanage, perhaps first such Institution by a Hindu. Jyotiba Phule gave protection to widows and assured them that orphanage shall take care of their children. A Poona young Brahmin widow Kashibai was living in the house of Kesopant Sindhi of Ganjpeth. She got pregnant and so wanted to suicide by jumping into water to save her and her child from the religious superstitious society . Jyotirao Phuley stopped her taking such an extreme step. He brought her to his residence where Mata Savitribai Phuley heped her in pregnancy time. Kashibai gave birth to a male child in1873 and Phule couple adopted him as their son naming him Jaswant Phule and educated him to become a qualified doctor. During 1876-77 famine Dr. Jaswant feed and cared about 200 children with the help of his mother. They also helped free of cost suffering people when plague spread in Poona area. Phuley couple also opened an orphanage, first of its kind in Poona to help poor widows and new born children.
To earn his livelihood and to run his schools and other institutions Jyotirao Phule worked as contractor in PWD. Some of the bridges constructed by Jyotirao as contractor were land mark in Pune road system. But he termed PWD as hotbed of corruption. The PWD had majority officers and other staff from among Brahmins. He pleaded for fair wages to the workers which was realier denied to them. As untouchable were denied drawing water from common wells, so to mitigate their sufferings, he built a well in his house premises (Phuleywara) and opened it to all irrespective of caste affiliations similarly a bathing ghat near his house was opened for all. Jyotirao also called Jyotiba was against child marriage and polygamy. He was against practice of untouchability but supported cleanliness and clean professions. He was against huge expenditure on social functions including marriage parties and last rights of persons after their death. Jyotiba Phule published his controversial book "Gulamgiri (Slavery)," in 1873. In this book besides describing the condition of the society then he declared his manifesto that he was willing to dine with all irrespective of their caste, creed, or country of origin. Jyotirao Phule formed " Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) on 24 th September 1873 with 8 members but their number rose to 316 in 1876. The main objectives of this organization were to liberate the Shudras, Ati Shudras and to prevent their exploitation by the Upper caste Hindus. He refused to regard Vedas as sacrosanct and denounced Chaturverna and instead published his book "Satya Dharma Pustak in 1891. According to him all men and women were equal and entitled to enjoy equal rights It was a sin to discriminate between human beings on the basis of sex, caste or creed. In Hindus scriptures widow remarriage were was banned and child marriage was very common among the Hindus Society Jyotirao opposed both and worked to benefit them .He got re married one Shayani caste widow on 8th march 1890 against strong religious protests. The grand son of Queen Victoria of England Duke of Connaught and Duchess of Connaught visited India in 1889. He is reported to have came to Poona also. A grand welcome was arranged for the prince by Poona peoples. Many had come in their best attires. Jyotiba Phule was also invited by Harirao Chaploonkar one of the organizers. Jyotirao came bearing worn out, clothes, and shoes including head gear. Jyotiba was stopped at the gate for his unfit clothes despite his showing the invitation card. Harirao Ji Chiplunkar came to his rescue and took Jyotiba inside. Jyotiba was also allotted sometime to address the gatherings. Jyitirao in his brief address asked the Duke to convey his message to the Queen that majority of her Indian subjects have been reduced to position as his clothes show. Jyotirao said that his attire depicts the picture of general masses including farmers. He asked to convey the Queen to arrange for education of poor Dalits,whose condition was most pitiable. This created a stir in the meeting. He opposed the evil customs so on the death of his father he did not call his caste people for meal instead he distributed meals in beggars, distributed pencils, writing wooden planks ( Patties ) used to write on them and books to children which became annual function to remember his father.
He opposed the tyranny of landlords and money lenders on poor, so he organized a protest Dharna in Poona District where farmers joined in large number .Here he burnt the records of the money lenders. He got a marriage ceremonised on 25 th December 1873 without the participation of any Prohit (Brahmin priest). In the marriage feast only Pan and Supary (Betel and Betel nut) were offered, nothing else. He edited a weekly news paper "DEEN BANDU," from 1st January 1877. This became a very popular paper and Jyotirao Phule varied through it his mission of guiding his fellow persons against the evils of the society Jyotirao Phule helped getting released in1881 from jail Lok Manaiya Ganga Dhar Tilk and Goda Adkar who were sentenced for writing in their papers " The Kesri and the Maratha ," against the policies of the British Govt. For the life long service to the Dalits and other deprived section of the society Jyotirao Phule was awarded the unique Title of MAHATAMA on 19 th May 1888 by another great social reformer from Mumbai, Rao Bahadur Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar. The function was attended by dignitaries like Justice Ranade, Dr. Bhandarkar , Tukaram Tatiya , Lokhande, Dholey and Bharkar besides . Jyotirao Phule was addressed by Maharaja Bikaner Siya Ji Rao Gaikward as Booker T Washington of Maharashtra in his letter Jyotirao Phule . Maharaja Baroda Siya Ji Rao Gaikward was to attend the function, but could not, so he proposed through a Royal letter , the title Booker T. Washington of Maharashtra . Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 - November 14, 1915) was the dominant leader in the African-American community. He was a great leader against acts of slavery and apartheid. Washington argued that the surest way for blacks to gain equal social rights was to demonstrate "industry, thrift, intelligence and property. Washington was generally perceived as a supporter of education for freedmen . Washington was for black progress through education and entrepreneurship. Jyotirao Phule had completed 60 years of his age and 40 years of social service fighting for the rights of the 'Bahujans'.
Jyotirao Phule' right hand got incapacitated in an illness, so he stated writing with his left hand and wrote a book titled as " SARIVJANIK SATYA DHARAM , " After ceaselessly working for over 63 years Jyotirao Phule fell ill and passed away on 28 th November 1890 about 138 days before the birth of Dr. BR Ambedkar another luminary, Father of free India's Constitution who worked lifelong for the emancipation of Dalits , depressed, week and women . As Brahmins had banned education to the untouchable, this degraded them to the state even lower than animals. Jyotirao analyzed this curse as:-
With out education Dalits lost intellect, and with out intellect there is no moral. With out morals Dalits lost motion, and with out motion no finances. With out finance untouchables were ruined, it was due to illiteracy. Jyotiba firmly believed that if you want to create a new social system based on freedom, equality, brotherhood, human dignity, economic justice and value devoid of exploitation, you will have to overthrow the old, unequal and exploitative social system and the values on which it is based. Knowing this well, Jyotirao attacked blind faith and faith in what is given in religious books and the so-called god's words. He tore to pieces the misleading myths that were ruling over the minds of women, shudras and ati-shudras. Yielding to god or fate, astrology and other such rituals, sacredness, god-men, etc. was deemed irrational and absurd. The greatest tributes to this social, educationist and democratic reformist shall be to follow his ideals of social equality simultaneously with economic equality. Jyotirao Phule shall be long remembered for the coming centuries for the good work he did for the Dalits and Depressed peoples of society.
[email protected] Mobile 9419134060
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