Jyotiba Phule

Jyotiba Phule - Miscellaneous, Timeline and Life

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Jyotiba Phule's Personal Details

Jyotiba Phule was a 19th century social reformer who was a pioneer of women’s education in India

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 11, 1827
Died onNovember 28, 1890
NationalityIndian
FamousPhilanthropists, Miscellaneous, Social Reformers
SpousesSavitribai Phule
Known asMahatma Jyotirao Phule
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Satya Shodhak Samaj
Birth PlaceSatara, Maharashtra, India
ReligionPune, Maharashtra, India
GenderMale
FatherGovindrao Phule
MotherChimana
Sun SignAries
Born inSatara, Maharashtra, India
Famous asSocial Reformer
Died at Age63

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Jyotiba Phule's photo

Who is Jyotiba Phule?

In the 19th century India no one would have dreamt of educating their girls. But Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was a visionary much ahead of his times. A pioneer in the field of women’s education, he is the one who opened the first ever girls’ school in India. He was also much pained by the atrocities meted out on the people in the name of caste. Since he had been born into a so-called lower caste family, he had experienced the tortures and injustices rooting out of the caste system first hand. An intelligent and idealistic man, he refused to tolerate any unjustified behavior from others and set his mind on reforming the society for the better. He realized the importance of education; married at a young age, he began teaching his wife how to read and write. Fortunately, his wife Savitribai, was a like-minded soul who supported and helped her husband whole-heartedly in his social endeavors. Highly distressed by the malpractices prevalent due to the caste system, he formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj with the aim of protecting the so-called lower castes from exploitation and injustices. His unrelenting efforts to eradicate social inequalities earned him the title of “Father of Indian Social Revolution”.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Jyotirao Phule in Satara district of Maharashtra. His father Govindrao worked as a vegetable vendor and his family belonged to the “Mali” caste, considered inferior to the Brahmins. His mother’s name was Chimana and he had one brother.

His mother died when Jyotiba was just nine months old. Heart-broken, his father refused to remarry and appointed a nurse to look after his two boys. Fortunately, the nurse was a kind lady and took good care of the children.

He attended primary school but left his studies to work in the farms. However, his neighbors who recognized the child’s intelligence convinced his father to let him continue his education.

His father arranged his marriage when he was around 13 years of age as was the custom during those days.

Jyotiba went to the local Scottish Mission’s High School and passed out in 1847. While in school he read the biographies of Shivaji and George Washington which inspired him. He was also greatly influenced by Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’.

Once he went to attend the wedding of a Brahmin friend where he was insulted as he belonged to a so-called lower caste. This incident made him realize the absurdity of the caste system and he resolved to fight inequality.

He was distressed by the inequalities and injustices prevalent in the Indian society and decided to fight for the right to equality for all irrespective of religion, caste or gender.

Later Years

Jyotiba realized the importance of education and felt that the society can emerge out of darkness only when every individual has access to education. He began educating his wife at home. Fortunately, his wife shared his idealistic beliefs.

In 1848, he gave a concrete shape to his aspirations and opened the first ever school for girls. He asked his wife to teach the girls for which she gladly agreed. But the society was not ready to accept this and Jyotiba and his wife were made to leave their house.

The school was open to girls from all sections of the society. Girls from different religions, castes, and socio-economic background would come to study. However, the school was temporarily closed due to shortage of funds.

Even though his social endeavors made him unpopular among the conservative Brahmins, there were several Brahmins, Christians and Muslims who were impressed by his efforts to eradicate inequality and supported him wholeheartedly.

In 1851, he started a bigger girls’ school where he also taught. The girls were taught reading, mathematics, geography, history, etc. The growing popularity of the school motivated him to open more such schools.

A visionary much ahead of his time, he was against child-marriage and supported widow remarriage. These initiatives did not go too well with the orthodox community.

He was very saddened by the plight of widows, especially the treatment meted out to widows who unfortunately became pregnant after the death of their husbands due to exploitation by other men. He opened a home where such widows could safely give birth and care for the infants.

In order to oppose the practice of untouchability, Jyotiba and his wife let the so-called lower caste people openly into their house and let them draw water from their well. This angered people of his own caste, but he never bothered about what others thought.

He was also a poet and in his writings he would criticize the narrow-mindedness of the society and the cunningness of Brahmins who exploited the gullibility of the farmers and other classes.

In 1873, he established the ‘Satya Shodhak Samaj’ which was a group which aimed to liberate the so-called lower castes from exploitation. He wanted to create a society based on equality, unity and human values.

Major Works

He was a pioneer in the field of women’s education. At a time when women were among the most downtrodden sections of the society, Jyotiba’s endeavor to educate them came as a shock to everyone. But he persisted and built many schools for girls from different backgrounds.

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married as a young boy to Savitribai who was just nine years old. His wife fully supported his idealistic views and became a feminist and social activist in her own right.

The couple did not have any biological children. They adopted one of the infants, a boy, from the home they ran for pregnant widows. The boy grew up to be a doctor and carried forward his parents’ legacy of social service.

The great reformer from Mumbai, Rao Bahadur Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar gave Jyotirao Phule the title of “Mahatma” in May 1888 in recognition of his selfless services to humanity.

He suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1888. His health worsened over the next couple of years and he died in November 1890, surrounded by family and friends.

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Jyotiba Phule biography timelines

  • // 11th Apr 1827
    He was born as Jyotirao Phule in Satara district of Maharashtra. His father Govindrao worked as a vegetable vendor and his family belonged to the “Mali” caste, considered inferior to the Brahmins. His mother’s name was Chimana and he had one brother.
  • // 1847
    Jyotiba went to the local Scottish Mission’s High School and passed out in 1847. While in school he read the biographies of Shivaji and George Washington which inspired him. He was also greatly influenced by Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’.
  • // 1848
    In 1848, he gave a concrete shape to his aspirations and opened the first ever school for girls. He asked his wife to teach the girls for which she gladly agreed. But the society was not ready to accept this and Jyotiba and his wife were made to leave their house.
  • // 1851
    In 1851, he started a bigger girls’ school where he also taught. The girls were taught reading, mathematics, geography, history, etc. The growing popularity of the school motivated him to open more such schools.
  • // 1873
    In 1873, he established the ‘Satya Shodhak Samaj’ which was a group which aimed to liberate the so-called lower castes from exploitation. He wanted to create a society based on equality, unity and human values.
  • // 28th Nov 1890
    He suffered a paralytic stroke in July 1888. His health worsened over the next couple of years and he died in November 1890, surrounded by family and friends.

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Jyotiba Phule's FAQ

  • What is Jyotiba Phule birthday?

    Jyotiba Phule was born at 1827-04-11

  • When was Jyotiba Phule died?

    Jyotiba Phule was died at 1890-11-28

  • Which age was Jyotiba Phule died?

    Jyotiba Phule was died at age 63

  • Where is Jyotiba Phule's birth place?

    Jyotiba Phule was born in Satara, Maharashtra, India

  • What is Jyotiba Phule nationalities?

    Jyotiba Phule's nationalities is Indian

  • Who is Jyotiba Phule spouses?

    Jyotiba Phule's spouses is Savitribai Phule

  • Which company or organization was founded by Jyotiba Phule?

    Jyotiba Phule was the founder/co-founder of Satya Shodhak Samaj

  • What is Jyotiba Phule's religion?

    Jyotiba Phule's religion is Pune, Maharashtra, India

  • Who is Jyotiba Phule's father?

    Jyotiba Phule's father is Govindrao Phule

  • Who is Jyotiba Phule's mother?

    Jyotiba Phule's mother is Chimana

  • What is Jyotiba Phule's sun sign?

    Jyotiba Phule is Aries

  • How famous is Jyotiba Phule?

    Jyotiba Phule is famouse as Social Reformer