Jyotiba Phule.

Why in news?

• Prime minister announced the launching of 'Tika Utsav' or mass vaccination campaingn from 11th April, which is the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule.

About Mahatma Phule:

• Jotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890) was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.
• His work extended to many fields, including eradication of untouchability and the caste system and for his efforts in educating women and exploited caste people.
• He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India.
• Phule started his first school for girls in 1848 in Pune at Tatyasaheb Bhide's residence or Bhidewada.
•  He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) to attain equal rights for people from exploited castes.
• He wrote a book named Gulamgiri providing a comparison between American Slaves and Dalits.
• He was bestowed with honorific Mahatma title by Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Jotiba Phule
1.He wrote the work Gulamgiri.
2.He formed the organisation “Bahishkrit hitakarini sabha”.
Choose the correct statements from the codes given below:
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question