The Role of Jyotiba Phule in the Upliftment of the Marginalized Sections of Society | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

Jyotiba Phule is regarded as an important figure in the social reform movement in Maharashtra. He opposed tooth and nail the brahmanical social order which denied a respectable position to the unprivileged sections in social hierarchy. He waged a pitched battle against the fundamentalist forces who conspired with the upper castes to eliminate them from the mainstream of society and forced them to settle to the periphery .They were relegated to the secondary position and their all hopes and aspirations were virtually suppressed. All avenues leading to a better prospect to them were almost brought to a grinding halt. The poor fellows remained mute spectators since they didn’t have the courage to raise a banner of protest against the inhuman treatment they were pitted against and succumbed themselves to their feet without showing any resilience. Jyotiba was hurt at heart over the existing socio-political scenario and wanted to bring about a complete overhauling of society in the larger interest of the marginalized sections. He vehemently opposed any discrimination in the name of casre, creed, region, religion, sexandcolour of skin which is a blatant violation of the accepted norms and principles of society which don’t show any solidarity with these harsh ideologies.Jyotiba decided to take on these divisive forces and expose their real characters for which he had to face stiff opposition from the upper castes who were not ready to make any compromise with the existing situation which ensured their authority over the weaker sections. Jyotiba was not ready to accept his defeat. He was firm on his stand that there was no scope for discrimination in society since all human beings are the offspring of the same creator who showers his blessings equally on them without making any discrimination. He insisted that the narrow domestic wall should be demolished forthwith otherwise society can not thrive substantially. The widening gap between various sections of society must be bridged to enable the marginalized sections to join the national mainstream and contribute their energy for the development of society.