Jyotirao Phule birth anniversary: Tributes pour in for social reformer and champion of women rights

Born in 1827 to a family of florists in Pune, Jyotirao Phule experienced discrimination early on in his life. These struggles made him more determined to challenge the caste system and work for the upliftment of Dalits and women. 11 April, 2020, marks the reformer’s 193rd birth anniversary. [caption id=“attachment_5633261” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  FIle image of Jyotiba Phule. Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Phule had to drop out of school and help out his father at his farm, but he did complete his education later.  Phule was married to Savitribai when he was only 13. After reading Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’, he realised how important women’s education was for a society. Phule taught his wife how to read and write, after which both of them continued to teach girls and Dalits. They strongly opposed social evils like child marriage and stigmatization of widows. Phule propagated his reforms and his idea of the caste system in the books that he wrote – Gulamgiri and Shetkarayacha Aasud. Another propagator of Dalit emancipation movement, BR Ambedkar considered Phule to be his guru. Many paid tribute to the social reformer on his birth anniversary on Saturday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to Twitter to salute Jyotirao Phule for his many contributions.

महान भारतीय विचारक, समाज सुधारक, लेखक एवं दार्शनिक महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले जी की जयंती पर शत्-शत् नमन। pic.twitter.com/M9vxanYJJ5

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 11, 2020

The Congress posted about Phule’s “visionary efforts” and his “tenacity to fight” against all forms of oppression.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s tenacity to fight against oppression of caste, gender & religion has been a source of inspiration for countless Indians who strive to achieve an equal society. Today, on his birth anniversary, we pay tribute to him for his visionary efforts. pic.twitter.com/fvm3rojbq1

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 11, 2020

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Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis remembered the reformer and his works through a montage of pictures incorporated in a video clip.

वंचितांचा आवाज, स्त्रियांना शिक्षण आणि त्यांचे अधिकार पुन्हा मिळवून देणारे थोर समाजसुधारक महात्मा जोतिबा फुले! pic.twitter.com/k805ls5qsm

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) April 11, 2020

NCP chief Sharad Pawar also tweeted to pay tributes to the social reformer.

कुप्रथा व अविद्येच्या गर्तेतील भारतीय समाजासाठी समतेची पहाट आणणाऱ्या क्रांतिसूर्य महात्मा जोतिबा फुले यांना जयंतीदिनी विनम्र अभिवादन!

कोरोनाच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर घरीच सुरक्षित राहून आज त्यांच्या जयंती निमित्त #एकदिवाज्ञानाचा लावू या व त्यांच्या कार्याचे स्मरण करू या. pic.twitter.com/LhAhzOgezU

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) April 11, 2020

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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee too paid homage to the Pune-born leader.

Homage to Jyotiba Phule, social reformer, on his birth anniversary

সমাজ সংস্কারক জ্যোতিবা ফুলের জন্মবার্ষিকীতে শ্রদ্ধা জানাই

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 11, 2020

Phule’s contributions were hailed by Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in a tweet.

Humble tributes to #MahatmaJyotibaPhule ji on his birth anniversary. He was one of the most prominent champions of social justice, who dedicated his life for upliftment of the downtrodden & for women's education.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 11, 2020