Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers | Third Edition | By Pearson

15

Jotirao Phule: Social Justice

—Niraj Kumar Jha

Traditionally ignored in the mainstream academic circles, the articulations of social justice have now found their rightful place in intellectual circles along with the intensified political mobilizations of lower castes across India. The vision and praxis of Mahatma Jotirao Phule have come to be recognized as the pioneering contribution in this field. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, one of the definitive voices on the issue of social equity, acknowledged Phule as one of his gurus.¹ Phule and his colleagues held caste as slavery and at the root of their enslavement, they found Brahmin religious values and machinations. The ideas and arguments which they put forth in the course of their concerted attack on ...