On this day, 134 years ago, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule left this world! In a life journey of 72 years, if we leave aside the first 15-20 years, the work he did for more than half a century against the inequality and untouchability of the contemporary society through his writings and deeds can be called the first rebellion in the 5000 year old Indian culture and civilization!
Jyotiba Phule is the first Indian to raise a slogan against the caste system which was mainly based on Chaturvarna. He started the first school for girls at the age of 21 and tried to run those schools with the help of his wife Savitribai and Fatima Sheikh. Today, the work of Mahatma Phule, who started education for all the women of India 150 years ago and started the education of women with the help of Savitribai and her colleague Fatima Sheikh, is even more important in view of the present communal situation.
Similarly, in 1851, a school was started for the Dalit community. According to Manusmriti, in the history of India, imparting literacy to women and Shudras was considered a great sin. Despite that, Mahatma Phule started this work. And perhaps Jyotiba Phule is the first Indian social reformer who tried to take this bold step. In total, he started more than six schools. That is why Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar considered him his Guru. However, Baba Saheb was born after the death of Mahatma Phule. That is, after counting one hundred and thirty-six days. (14 April 1891) means there is no question of meeting.
But he wrote his expressions in the then popular language. Today Dalit literature is quite popular. But 250 years ago, when Brahmin writers used to write in the so-called established Marathi language, perhaps after Tathagata Gautam Buddha (Pali was the then popular language), Mahatma Jyotiba Phule would be the second visionary man who created his literary wealth in the spoken language of the people of that time. For example, especially the public Satyadharma, the oppression of farmers, slavery, the cleverness of Brahmins, Satsar, the Povaada (Marathi folk song) written on Shivaji Maharaj through his literature. For the first time in an Indian language, Mahatma Phule was the first person to write logically against the exploitation of women and Shudras by Brahmins for centuries. He is the first Indian revolutionary and literary man too. That is why translators are translating his literature into other Indian languages even after a long time (compared to Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar!). Although Jyotiba Phule, due to studying in the Scottish School of Pune, tried to learn the English language and Jyotiba Phule wrote his submission to the Hunter Committee regarding education in 1882 in English. But since most of his readers were Marathi speaking, most of his literature was written in Marathi. Now translations are being done in other Indian languages of India as well. Mainly in Hindi and English and other Indian languages as well.
The year 1848 has been a particularly revolutionary year for the world. Jyotiba Phule started the education work of women and Shudras in this year. On the other hand, in European countries, Karl Marx and Engels published their historical essay named ‘Communist Manifesto’ in this year. The women’s liberation movement also started in the Wellsian Church in New York in this year. On one hand, American women were trying to get freedom from slavery. And on the other hand, Indian women were forced to live in the lowest level of Shudra status according to Hindu religious scriptures. And seeing all this, Jyotiba Phule started the first girls’ school in Bhidewada Budhwar Peth, Pune in August 1848. In which the inclusion of girls from Shudra to Atishudra caste was a big crime in the eyes of fundamentalists. And because of this, the head teacher used to throw mud, cow dung and pebbles on the way Savitribai Phule used to go to school from home. But it was the revolutionary Savitribai who used to carry a separate sari in her bag and used to change it before teaching the children in school and then start her work of education. Even after facing such daily problems, because of the great courage and determination shown by Savitribai to do her work related to education, today some woman can be seen as Prime Minister, President, Governor, Chief Minister and in every field of life. Seeing all this, shouldn’t the true Education Day be celebrated in the memory of Savitribai Phule?
Today, in the context of the decision of our Supreme Court to grant reservation on economic basis, I am deliberately trying to give the statement made by Jyotiba Phule 240 years ago to the William Hunter Commission appointed for the first education in India. What progress has been made between 240 years ago and today’s circumstances? This also has to be seen!
In 1882, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule submitted a request for suggestions from his side to the first commission appointed by the British rulers for the improvement of the education system of India, which was headed by a person named William Hunter, on 19 October 1882. In which he wrote that “I am a businessman, farmer and a father of the city.” He also mentioned the schools and educational work established by him in the request. He also mentioned the work done as a teacher for so many years. He started the request by giving some paragraphs from his book named ‘Gulamgiri’. In his request, he says that “The government is dreaming that the people of the upper class will spread education among the lower class and keeping this dream in mind, it collects rent from the poor farmers. The government is spending that rent on the education of the upper classes. The university provides education to the children of the rich and helps them to make worldly progress. But the educated people coming out of these universities have not contributed even a little towards the progress of their countrymen!
What have the youth who graduate from the university done for the common people? To what extent have they proved the significance of their lives? Have they opened schools in their homes or somewhere else for the education of these unfortunate people?
Then why is it said that if the intellectual and moral level of the people is to be raised, then the level of education of the upper classes must be increased? To know whether the national welfare has increased or not, the number of students studying in colleges and the list of university degrees are not the only means. Just as making laws regarding hunting in the forest or giving the right to vote to those who pay 10 pounds tax does not prove the welfare of the constitution, in the same way it does not prove that recruits coming out of the university or appointing native people as ‘dean’ and doctors there is beneficial for this country!
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule has said in his statement that “The tendency of the government education system of the upper classes is visible from the fact that these Brahmins have established their dominance on the senior government positions. If the government really wants to do good to the people, then it is the first duty of the government to remove these many defects. By appointing a few people of other castes, the dominance of Brahmins which is increasing day by day should be limited. Some people say that this is not possible in this situation. To this we answer that if the government does not pay much attention, then there will be no difficulty in making good people capable of getting jobs by educating them through policy and behavior. People of the upper classes will arrange for higher education themselves. “
Friends, has there been any special progress in the proposal made by Mahatma Phule to the Hunter Committee regarding education and employment two hundred and forty years ago and the current situation? Leave aside the situation till 1947, has there been any improvement in the situation after seventy-five years of independence? I leave it to your understanding and end this discussion by paying my humble respects to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 234th death anniversary.
Dr Suresh Khairnar is Ex. President of Rashtra Sewa Dal
