Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Mahatma Jotirao Phule (1827–1890) was a revolutionary 19th-century social reformer from Maharashtra whose vision was remarkably inclusive, focusing on the emancipation of all marginalized sections collectively referred to as the subaltern. Unlike contemporaries who often focused on single issues, Phule’s writings and activism provided a holistic critique of the hierarchical social structure, encompassing caste, class, and gender exploitation. His work aimed at dismantling Brahmanical dominance and establishing an egalitarian social order for the downtrodden, making his reform agenda extraordinarily broad-based in its concern for the oppressed.
Phule's Comprehensive Reach to Subaltern Classes
Phule’s efforts systematically addressed the grievances of nearly every marginalized group through powerful writings and concrete institutional action, primarily channeled through the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers), founded in 1873.
1. Emancipation of Shudras and Ati-Shudras (Dalits)
- Writings: In his seminal work, Gulamgiri (Slavery, 1873), he powerfully equated caste-based subjugation in India with American slavery, challenging the mythological basis of the Varna system.
- Efforts: He sought to liberate these groups from social and religious bondage by promoting rationalism and rejecting priestly authority.
2. Women's Empowerment and Gender Justice
- Pioneering Education: Alongside his wife Savitribai Phule, he established India’s first school for girls in Pune in 1848, actively challenging taboos against female literacy.
- Social Evils: He vehemently advocated for widow remarriage and established a home for pregnant widows to ensure safe delivery, directly combating patriarchal norms.
3. Agrarian and Labor Exploitation
- Critique of Landlords: His book, Shetkaryacha Asud (The Cultivator's Whipcord, 1881), detailed the multi-layered exploitation of peasants by landlords, moneylenders, and colonial revenue policies.
- Call for Dignity: He linked the economic plight of the peasantry directly to the social oppression of the lower castes, advocating for their rights over land and power.
Phule's genius lay in interconnecting these struggles, viewing caste oppression, gender injustice, and agrarian distress as facets of the same oppressive structure maintained by Brahmanical ideology.
Conclusion
Mahatma Phule’s legacy is defined by his holistic recognition that the subaltern condition is intersectional, demanding simultaneous reform across caste, class, and gender lines. Through the Satyashodhak Samaj, he provided a vehicle for self-respect and rational inquiry for the oppressed. His writings laid the ideological bedrock for subsequent social justice movements in India, most notably inspiring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and remain foundational to India’s contemporary pursuit of distributive justice and inclusive development.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.