Social Reformer Archives

Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj: The Greatest and Whole-souled

July 25, 2024June 26, 2021 by Lokesh Umak

The Greatest and Wholehearted Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj — Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj

Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (26 Jun 1874 – 6 May 1922) was never less than a God to poor, who always extended hands to lower caste. However, he was well-known for his equality. Therefore, irrespective of any caste and creed. Because of this character, Raja of Kolhapur became Maharaja (the greatest king). The real name of Shahu was Yashwantrao Ghate who born to Jaisinghrao and Radhabai, from a Maratha clan.

The family considered royal from the ancestors. However, the Ghate family had never been rude to the poorest of poor. His contribution and support and fight against Brahmans from the Royal family was one and outstanding. This fight and campaign was from the dispute between Brahmin priests and non-brahmins caste, all the brahmans were stood together against performing rites of other castes.

Therefore, due to this problem in this society, Shahu started supporting Arya and Satyashodhak Samaj and furthermore, fought for Marathas (for their rights). All this controversy called Vedoka controversy. Any person goes to Shahu, never returned empty-handed. He was rich by heart. One of such was Indian theatre transgender Bal Gandharva who was expert in singing at his early days. He could not hear clearly. Maharaj came to know the emerging talent of Bal Gandharva (boy Gandharva) and helped him cure his hearing aid.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Shahu worked together for untouchables to vanish the segregation-based caste. And, both were agreed on the terms of caste-based reservation to chosen families. The reservation was mainly to avail the government facilities and job quota. Therefore, selected people will have more served seats to apply than the open-caste (those are not falls under any caste system — considered them financially better). Further, during his regime, he developed and improved the financial condition of untouchables and lower caste communities. Produced schools, good educational institutions, provided scholarships and job opportunities by inaugurating “Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill” in 1906.

Shahu’s extraordinary support was not offered only to Hindus but also, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Christians. He was the man of equality. However, no partiality seen in his life ever. He is someone who brought reservation system in India for lower caste people with the help of Dr Ambedkar. Shahu also worked for women betterment. As well as, supported for their education and legally approved widow marriage in 1917, and stopped child marriage in India.

Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Poem in English

The son of God was born on 26 June
With him, there was only equality,
And  always bloomed.
Then there were left none,
for lower caste to doom.
For untouchables,
he was the first god.
From the society,
he withdrew all the games of fraud
He was the one
who brought in lowers under reservations,
In the letters of the government
By hook or crook for consideration.
Because he, education got support,
got scholarships, jobs,
and a new life to widow,
Shahu ended the child marriage.
In the history of India,
Shahu became God and person of happiness.
By Lokesh Umak

Savitribai Phule: Awake, Rise, And Educate poor

August 3, 2024December 6, 2020 by Lokesh Umak

Her full name Savitribai Jyotiba Phule (b. 3 Jan 1831 — d. 10 March 1897) was one of the gods gifted Indian educationalist and wife of great social reformer Jyotiba Phule (she got married at the age of 9). Immense contribution of both husband and wife. Their work was countless to the Indian education system and traditional reformation. Both made people aware of unnecessary customs which were dangerous to humanity and their success.

The family of Phule had become the first who brought awareness of education system and its importance of girl's education in future. Savitri also joined hand-to-hand with her husband as social reformer. (you would love reading B R Ambedkar who was The Man Of Freedom, Religious Teacher, Liberty Lover And Believer In Equality And Fraternity).

She abolished unfavourable conservative treatments of the poor based on caste and gender. And also brought widow remarriage in the country. For all this comes true, she had sacrificed her personal life. And busy achieving her goals of her life to keep awaking people for better causes.

Devotion toward forming better, educated society and looking at the benefits of people, Mrs Phule faced many criticisms. Even people who opposed (higher caste) disrepute and disgrace her and abused her every time possible. It was a very hard time for her when she used to start going out collecting girls for classes. She had to carry, handy another piece of clothes as people used to throw mud or cow waste on her. Or some cruel used to pelting with stone or wooden cane (whichever they find).

Poor were becoming more poor

It was really difficult for Savitri to find a girl to get school and convince to their parents those days. Woman was hardly allowed to go out of house and education was so far from their reach. The reason behind their illiteracy was a simple, well-educated family becoming pawnbroker.

And used to give them loan and upon not able to meet deadlines of returning of money. Pawnbrokers (moneylenders) used to swallowed their farms, gold or auction house. Those people mostly marginalized and illiterate. The mission of Phule family was very difficult and unbearable but both worked hard for the nation.

Savitri considered the first woman student (educated) of Jyotiba Phule in India and became a teacher who had started teaching girls. When Jyotiba and Savitri moved out of their ancestral house (due to facing a lot of criticism) they went to Pune and started living in a Muslim family (Usman Sheikh, a close friend of Jyotiba).

The family became very close with each-other and colleague, Fatima Begum Sheikh (sister of Usman Sheikh and first Muslim women, teacher of modern India) became very closed to Savitribai (both graduated together). Mid of 18s Phule family first opened the schools for girls at Bhidewada in Pune city in 1848

Also read: Jyotiba Phule: “Lack Of Education Leads To Lag In Everything” the true man of society, reformer, origin of Indian education system for girls. A great thinker and seeker of social justice. Progressive participation in eradication of untouchables and anti-caste system.

Be self-reliant, be industrious
Work, gather wisdom and riches,
All gets lost without knowledge
We become animal without wisdom,
Sit idle no more, go, get education
End misery of the oppressed and forsaken,
You’ve got a golden chance to learn
So learn and break the chains of caste.
Throw away the Brahman’s scriptures fast.
— Go get education by Savitri Phule

Despite her career as educationalist and social reformer, Savitri was a Marathi writer and poet.

Poem: “The Greatest Wealth” by Savitribai Phule

Early in the morning,
Perform your ambulation,
Having become clean and tidy,
Pay your respects to parents and elders.
Remembering the name of God,
Immerse yourself in studies,
Waste not these precious days,
by insisting on going home.
Study hard, get educated,
Treat knowledge as your God,
Diligently take advantage of it,
Concentrating with all your heart.
Knowledge is wealth,
Greater than all riches,
Wise is considered he,
Who acquires it.
Savitribai Phule

Also read: “No Man Or Woman Should Depend Upon Another.” The first Marathi Woman, Dr Anandi Gopal Joshi From The Bombay Presidency, Graduated Medical Science In 1887 From The United States.

Ambedkar: Growth of community by degree of progress of women

January 16, 2024August 13, 2020 by Lokesh Umak

Babasaheb Ambedkar (b. 14 April 1891 — d. 6 Dec 1959) was one of the great leaders of India, not only social reformers, advocate but also a man who brought literacy in Dalit community. He constituted India’s law of justice for lower-class communities. He called as chief architect of constitution of India. In his view, the respect for society comes next but before that admiration to women irrespective of the culture, caste and nation.

In his lifetime achievement, there are many things one couldn't even count. He was the only one who earned his matriculation from his lower-caste community, moreover, who first completed his degree in economics. Thus, he did many more educations and graduate programs. Ambedkar was not just a jurist, economist, social reformer, politician but also Independent first India’s Minister of Law and Justice.
Many schools, colleges and universities as well as small Dalit shops are named after his name. Dr Ambedkar brought justice to lower-caste and protected from the crisis of economic situation and help to abolish the caste system. He promised to get a good education, job and social status in India for lower treated groups. The man who born in Dalit Buddhist one could hardly get a good education, under the lanterns he finished his education in his early days of schooling. Ambedkar had deep and caring thoughts for his fellow communities.

“There should be a separate electoral system for untouchables and other marginalized communities.”
Ambedkar (in his opinion)

The Scholar statesman also had gone wrong in people’s opinions when he was strongly criticized for being personal on the caste system (especially on the side of his favourite, own caste system). That was put forward claiming that he was against secularism. A great combatant (for demolishing the caste system) finally proved Gandhi wrong in many aspects.

Listen to Ambedkar's Real Voice who proved Gandhi had been racist and never cared for Dalit and Lower-Caste communities.

Ambedkar on Gandhi

As per Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi had never been a social reformer neither he did anything for Dalit. Responding to the reaction of Ambedkar Gandhi wrote:

“I am not eager to die. I am eager to live and commit untouchability to the flames. And if I have to die to see that glorious hour, I am ready to die. The mantra of my life consists in making preparations of it. To live while untouchability lives is like a cup of a poison to me.”
In Gujarati Magazine/newspaper-Harijan Bandhu 1833

Gandhi’s ideologies and thinking made him Mahatma but Dr Ambedkar never liked any Mahatma, and he is sick of a question his mind was poking him every time that, “Is Gandhi really Mahatma?”
In one of the Ambedkar’s Marathi publications in the year 1938 from his writing and speeches (Vol 17, part-2), foundation of Ministry of Justice and Empowerment.

“Is Gandhi Mahatma? I am sick of this question. There are two reasons why this question annoying me. Firstly, I hate all Mahatmas and firmly believe that they should be done away with. I believe their existence is a curse to the nation in which they are born. The reason why I say so is that they try to perpetuate blind faith in the place of intelligence and reason.”
Ambedkar wrote

The position that one gets is purely based on his karma but sometimes one’s thoughts could be different. Thus, that person would criticize for that one day.
Ambedkar was born in Dalit family (commonly used to called untouchables) brought literacy and power to Buddhist. This community of India was recorded the biggest socio-economic discrimination. Read the following quote from Babasaheb Ambedkar

I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity
Dr. B R Ambedkar

They were always being ignored by other superior caste and their people.

The great politicians like Gandhi did not take a step ahead fight for poor caste system the way Dr Babasaheb did in his active years.
The students could not sit in the class and were hardly given attention by the teachers. The clear story of the Lower-Caste communities was that someone from higher status used to deal with Dalit from a distance. It was like pouring a glass of water in his cup from keeping some space.

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People from another community were not allowed to touch them, neither their glass nor the water from their pots.
Ambedkar was greatly influenced by John Dewey (John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform.) especially on his recommendable work of democracy, and he was one of the great followers of his ideology and philosophy.

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