PCDA (Army) Pune Pays Tribute to Jyotiba Phule’s Vision of Equality and Reform on Death Anniversary

Pune, 29th November 2023: PCDA (Army) Pune observed the death anniversary of Krantiveer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on 28th November 2023 with a poignant and insightful address by Chief Guest, Dr. Rajeev Chavan, IDAS, ndc. 

The event, attended by dignitaries including Swapnil Hanmane, IDAS, ACDA, R Ravi Kumar, SAO and K P Singh, SAO among others resonated with the spirit of social reform women education and empowerment, Farmer’s welfare and equality championed by Mahatma Phule.

The Chief guest addressed the gathering first and foresmost by highlighting Jyotiba Phule’s early life that Mahatma was born in 1827 to a ‘Mali’ caste family in the Satara district. The struggles of his family, originally known as ‘Gorhay,’ transformed into the ‘Phule’ family due to their expertise in floristry, symbolized resilience amidst societal challenges.

Dr. Chavan eloquently portrayed & propounded Jyotiba’s transformative journey from a farmer’s son to an staunch advocate for social justice. Emphasizing the significant turning point in 1848, when an incident at a Brahmin friend’s wedding fueled Jyotiba’s lifelong commitment to challenging the caste system and societal restrictions & breaking the barriers & barrigades of Caste System & providing equality & fraternity amidst all Caste, Creed,Community.

The Chief guest reminded that the honorific Mahātmā was first applied to him in 1888 at a special program honoring him in Mumbai. He delved into Jyotiba’s visionary efforts in women’s education, upliftment & empowerment underscoring his establishment of first girls’ school in 1851 and his wife Savitribai’s crucial role in this educational revolution whom he himself has taught & she was the first woman teacher. Jyotiba’s compassionate response to the plight of widows resulted in the establishment of an ashram and an orphanage in 1854. He affirmed that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was a trailblazer ardent social reformer who practiced what he preached & was a man of action than words.

Dr. Chavan elucidated Jyotiba’s relentless crusade & tirade against grade caste discrimination/condemning the orthodox Brahmins and urging peasants and the proletariat to defy social restrictions & purge out social evils from the Indian Society & make it a just humane and egalitarian community. The formation of the Satya Shodak Samaj in 1873 marked a systematic deconstruction of existing beliefs, promoting equality and emancipation of the depressed.

The Chief guest noted Jyotiba Phule’s enduring legacy, influencing later stalwarts like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. Jyotiba’s advocacy for social reforms, gender equality and his role in the Satya Shodhak Samaj exemplified his commitment to dismantling oppressive norms.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Chavan drew attention to Mahatma Phule’s significant literary contributions, including impactful works like Ghulamgiri and Shetkaryaka Asud. He underscored the enduring relevance of Mahatma Phule’s teachings, particularly in the ongoing struggle against caste-based discrimination and untouchability.

The Chief Guest reflected on the broader societal impact of Mahatma Phule’s legacy, as evidenced by the establishment of memorials and institutions across the country 18 Schools in Pune itself. These include the full-length statue at Vidhan Bhawan, the Mahatma Phule Museum in Pune and the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth in Ahmednagar district.

The event concluded with a poignant reflection on Jyotirao Phule’s life, acknowledging his multifaceted contributions as a social activist, reformer, businessman and Commissioner of the Poona Municipality. It was a poignant reminder of the ongoing commitment to social reform and equality in our collective journey.

The event also featured a group photograph capturing the collective tribute paid to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule by the attendees, reinforcing the unity in honoring his legacy.