Satyashodhak Samaj

Jyotirao or Jyotirao Phule (1827-90), born in Satara, Maharashtra, belonged to the mali (gardener) community and organized a powerful movement against upper caste domination and brahminical supremacy. Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers' Society) in 1873, with the leadership of the samaj coming from the backward classes, malis, telis, kunbis, saris, and dhangars. The main amis of the movement were:

(i) Social service

(ii) Spread of education among women and lower caste people.

Phule wanted social transformation, not just social reform. He was of the view that until the oppressed classes or the masses were educated, there would be no mass awakening, and social revolution would not be possible. Jyotiba wanted a society free of exploitation. Many believe that Phule introduced the Marathi word 'dalit' to describe those outside the varna system. He propagated what came to be called the Satyashodhak marriage ceremony-simple and inexpensive, besides making the services of the brahmin priest redundant.

Phule's works, Sarvajanik Satyadharma and Gulamgiri, became sources of inspiration for the common masses. Phule used the symbol of Rajah Bali as opposed to the brahmins' symbol of Rama. Phule aimed at the complete abolition of the caste system and socio-economic inequalities; he was against Sanskritic Hinduism. This movement gave a sense of identity to the depressed communities as a class against those brahmins who used religion and the blind faith of the masses to exploit the masses for personal monetary gain. Jyotiba Phule was given the title of Mahatma in 1888 by another Maharashtrian social reformer, Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.

Jyotiba was not allowed to continue schooling because of his caste. However, with help and encouragement from the Persian scholar Ghaffar Baig Munshi and a British official, Lizit Sahab, Jyotiba was admitted in a Scottish missionary school. The society of the day was against education of girls as well. Yet, he along with his wife, Savitribai, were instrumental in opening a school for girls in Pune. The school syllabus included mathematics, science, and social studies.

Savitribai, also of the mali community, was born in 1831 at Naigaon in Maharashtra's Satara district and was married to Jyotiba Phule when a childof nine. Jyotiba, a firm believer in education fo all, including women, taught his wife at home. Later, she took a teacher's training course. She faced abuse and humiliation from the people along the way when she walked to the school to teach, but she braved it to persist with her vocation. Savitribai also began to teach women and children from the downtrodden castes including Mang and Mahar. She and her husband established two educational trusts, namely the Native Female School, Pune, and the Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs, and others. Savitribai went on from girls' education to question many social evils and work towards eradicating them. She started the Mahila Seva Mandal to raise awareness about women's rights. She and her husband rigorously campaigned against the dehumanisation of widows and advocated widow remarriage. Savitribai is said to have organized a successful barbers' strike to denounce the inhumane practice of shaving widows' heads. With her husband, she set up a home called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (home to prevent infanticide) in 1863, where unwed mothers and widows who became pregnant under unfortunate circumstances could have safe deliveries instead of resorting to killing the infants or themselves. Savitribai is said to have organized a successful barbers' strike to denounce the inhumane practice of shaving widows' heads. She and her husband set an example against the evil of untouchability by opening their own water storage to everyone.

After Jyotiba's death, Savitribai took over the Satya Shodhak Samaj, presiding over the meeting, guiding the workers, and woking for plague victims. She died in 1897, getting infected by the plague while caring for a patient. Savitribai wrote poetry, and two of her collections are Kavyaphule and Bavankashi Subodh Ratnakar.