Page 9 - NIS English 2021 November 16-31

a long time. That's why 'Phule' was associated with
his name. This was the time when on one hand the
opposition to British rule was getting stronger in the
country while on the other voices were being raised
against social evils such as untouchability and child
marriages in the country. Jyoytiba also faced many
difficulties in the initial days. When Jyotiba started his
studies in Marathi People near his father ill-advised
him that- Your son will not be of any use by reading.
So his father dropped him out of school. But Jyotiba
was very passionate about studies so he completed
his 7th standard from English at the age of 21. He
was married to Savitri Bai in 1840. Along with Savitri
Bai, he opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848. It is
said that this was the first girls' school in the country
to be opened by an Indian. When no teacher agreed
to teach, Jyotiba first taught his wife Savitri, and
then Savitri started teaching other girls. There was
an uproar against this endeavor that how a woman
could rebel against religion and society by becoming
a teacher.
Due to public outcry and financial constraints, the
school was closed. But both did not give up. After
this, in 1849, two more schools were opened in Juna
Ganj Peth and again in 1851 in the Budhwar Peth area.
Soon after taking inspiration from Jyotiba and Savitri JYOTIBA HAS THINKING WHICH WAS
Bai, 18 more exclusive schools were opened for the AHEAD OF TIME. THE IDEA BEHIND BETI
women of the underprivileged society. A staunch BACHAO, BETI PADHAO HAS ITS ROOTS IN
opponent of Sati and child marriage, Jyotiba was THE INITIATIVES TAKEN BY JYOTIBA PHULE
also a supporter of widow remarriage. He started NEARLY 150 YEARS AGO. HE BELIEVED
a widow ashram in Pune. Savitri Bai became its THAT ILLITERACY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
coordinator. Recognizing Jyotiba's opposition to
child marriage the British rulers for the first time in EVERY EVIL IN SOCIETY
1872 banned the marriage of girls below the age of
14 by implementing the Native Marriage Act in India.
Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotiba Phule
on September 24, 1873. The purpose of this society masterpieces. He died on 28 November 1890.
was to provide justice to women and backward caste Jyotiba has thinking which was ahead of time.
people. Jyotiba Phule was the chief president of the The idea behind Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao has
society and his wife Savitribai Phule was the head of its roots in the initiatives taken by Jyotiba Phule
the women's department. When he became a member nearly 150 years ago. He believed that illiteracy
of the Poona Municipality in 1876, he was the only one was responsible for every evil in society. He was
among 36 members to oppose bearing expenditure a great thinker, selfless social reformer, and
by local authorities on welcoming the Viceroy Lord revolutionary worker. He worked to demolish the
Lytton. He also undertook public awareness through inertia of the Indian social structure. He always
writing many books. 'Ghulamgiri', 'Tritya Ratan', fought to bring a change in the life of women and
'Chhatrapati Shivaji', 'Raje Bhosle ko Pakda', 'Kisan Ka the downtrodden, in those times when it was a
Kora' and 'The Kaifiyat of the Untouchables' are his strenuous task.

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