2016-11-28 Mon

Lack of education leads to lack of wisdom,
which leads to lack of morals,
which leads to lack of progress,
which leads to lack of money,
which leads to the oppression of the lower classes.
See what state of the society one lack of education can cause!
- Mahatma Jotirao Phule.

Nineteenth century India: when the political and economic reins of India were under East India Company. This period of Indian history is an illustrative event of social reform. Many social reformers and thinkers were born during this time, but with foremost exponents of modern humanitarian thought and belief was Mahatma Jotirao Phule.

The social structure of Indian society was challenged due to the modern form of education and thought process. This saw each individual in the same umbrella of a right to education without discriminating his or her cast, religion or gender.

Jotirao understood that India does not have the notion of slavery. But the problem faced by Indians lies in the root of its social structure the ‘Varna’ (cast system), which decided the social standing of an individual by its birth. This social evil was the main reason of that Jotirao introduced modern education to bring the social change.

He believed that in order to improve the social structure one has to educate women and people belonging to the lower caste. He educated his wife Savitribai Phule who became the first women Teacher and principle in this era of social reform .In 1873 is establish ‘Satyashodhak Samaj’ to free the lower castes and untouchables from the exploitation of social hierarchy.

He was one of first the Indian reforms who forcefully introduce the value of freedom, equality and fraternity in the Indian belief and thought process which was manifested by the French revolution. He was greatly influenced by the book written by Thomas Paine “Right of Man” which caused quite a stir around the continents.

To honour and respect this great social reformer India post issued this commemorative stamp of 25 paise in 1977. Jotirao believed that ‘the truth can be found in man's conscience because man inherited the reasoning powers. This is given by creator himself! Not in the scripture which is not given by him’.

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