Jotirao Phule

Mahatma Jotirao Phule was a well-known social reformer of Maharashtra in the nineteenth century. He worked ceaselessiy for education of the women and the Dalits, for upliftment of the underprivileged and the downtrodden, and for reform of the Indian social structure. He was revolutionary in his thinking and is a constant source of inspiration for the new generation of intellectuals.

Tarkateertha Laxmanshastri Joshi was a well-known Sanskrit and Marathi scholar and writer. He has written books such as Vedic Sanskruticha Vikas (Evolution of Vedic Society) and Hindu Dharamchi Samiksha ( A Critique of Hinduism) besides editing the Dharmakosha (Encyclopaedia of Hindu Religion) in Sanskrit and the Vishvakosha ( World encyclopaedia) in Marathi. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his Literaty contributions.

1990 was the death centenary year of Mahatma Jotirao Phule, 1991 was the birth centenary year of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar—the two great men who died to free the Hindus from the curse of casteism.

For the occasion of Jotirao’s birth centenary, the National Book Trust, India decided to publish this biography, and requested me in 19990 to prepare it. ;I present to the readers an abridged biography of Jotirao Phule.

The biography is based on the two books published by the Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Ani Sanskruti Mandal: Mahatma Phule Samagra Vangmaya edited by Y.D. Phadke and Mahatma Jotirao Phule by Dhananjay Keer.