Jotirao Phule (1827-1890)- Satya Shodhak Samaj, and Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj.



The socio-religious reform movements of the nineteenth century were led by the upper-caste Hindus who condemned the caste system and untouchability. But they achieved only limited success. Several factors and forces in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries created class consciousness among the lower castes who took it upon themselves to struggle for caste equality.

Their efforts led to the organization of several lower caste movements in southern and western India. These movements were encouraged by a combination of several factors such as the British policy of divide and rule, the growth of Western system of education, introduction of a common Indian Penal Code (1861), and Code of Criminal Procedure (1872), the extension of the railway network, growth of national consciousness, and the popularity of the modern political thought etc., created a social and political climate in which the caste system could not be defended.

Jotirao Phule (1827-1890)- Satya Shodhak Samaj:

Non-Brahmin movements played an important catalytic role in developing anti-caste or anti-Hindu movements in some parts of the country. The Satya Shodhak Samaj and the Self-Respect movements in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Non-Brahmin Movements in both Maharasthra and Tamil Nadu were dominated by the lower caste leaders. They had the common problems in the hands of Brahmin caste and argued that they were victims of Brahmin power. It was led by the social reformer who worked against social inequalities.

Jotirao Govindrao Phule pioneered the attack on the religious authority of Brahmins. His initiative set forth a very active movement of lower castes, which was to have a profound effect upon the growth of the political organisation in the Bombay Presidency and in the shaping of the nationalist movement towards the end of the last century. Phule said - "Untouchability is a blot on Hinduism and, unless that is abolished, Hinduism cannot be a true religion in the stricter sense of the term. He established "Satya SodhakSamaj" on 24th September, 1873. He wrote in the report of Satya SodhakSamaj - "To liberalise the law born from the thraldom of the sacerdotal authority and make the depressed classes conscious of their right by educating them.

The social reform movement or socio-religious movement laid the foundation of a new and modern India. It opposed the caste system, slavery, oppression of women and depressed classes. It organised the depressed people against the socio economic oppression by the upper caste people.

Gail Omvedt observes that "Phule's theory of exploitation was focused on cultural and ethnic factors rather than on economic or political ones". According to Phule's ideas, education and organisation were the means to create unity and a sense of identity among the non-Brahmin castes by returning to pre-Brahmin religious traditions. Through this, the Brahmanical ideological chains could be broken and a caste-free and just society be created.

Jotirao Phule’s biographer Dhanjay Keer has observed that he was the first Indian to
begin the new era of emancipation, dignity and liberation of the Untouchables, Shudras and the women in modern India. He was the first Indian to open a school for the Untouchables and girls.

He removed illiteracy and superstition from among the Shudras, Athishudras and women to unshackle them from slavery. His objective was to reconstruct the social system on the basis of social equality, justice and discretion. G.P. Deshpande had rightly termed it as the Shudra interpretation of history. Undoubtedly, Bahujan heroes had reinterpreted and reconstructed history
with a view to bring the Bahujans from darkness to light.

Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur
Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj was not son of a King. His father Abasaheb Ghatge was an
able Naieb and regent of the Kolhapur Kingdom. Shahu Maharaj grew as a very practical and rational man. His attitude towards the helpless and distressed people became naturally soft and considerate. When Shahu Maharaj ascended the power, three forces were working in Maharashtra. Social reformers led by Agarkar and Ranade, Satya ShodhakSamaj founded by Mahatma
Jotirao Phule and political workers led by Tilak.

In the year 1894 Kolhapur had 60 Brahmin officials while 11 officials were non Brahmins. Before the advent of Shahu Chatrapati on the scene, the Brahmins, had monopolized the administration. With a view to narrowing down the gulf between the Brahmin and non-Brahmin power lobby he decided to give some important Government jobs to the non-Brahmin men.
His Government 'declared in his state Gazette of July 26, 1902, that in pursuance of his policy of removing the backwardness of
the Backward Classes and a view to giving incentives to them to pursue higher education, he decided to reserve a larger share of employment in the State services.
He was therefore pleased 'to direct that from the date of his order fifty percent of the vacancies that may occur shall be filled by recruits from among the Backward Classes'.
Shahu acknowledged gracefully the help he had received from the Satya ShodhakSamaj
and the Arya Samaj and the American Mission in removing Untouchability. Shahu, emphatically put before several conferences, his views and challenged the Indian leaders, patriots and politicians. When Dr.Ambedkar, during his study-break from abroad, started organising movement for the Untouchables, Shahu Maharaj gave Ambedkar sufficient money to start the Journal, Mooknayak.