Historical

Social Reformers Of India

1. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890)

On 24 September 1873, Phule, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for people from lower castes.

Phule is regarded as an important figure of the social reform movement in Maharashtra. He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women education in India.

He championed widow remarriage and started a home for pregnant Brahmin widows to give birth in a safe and secure place in 1863. 

 His orphanage was established in an attempt to reduce the rate of infanticide. 

Phule tried to eliminate the stigma of social untouchability surrounding the lower castes by opening his house and the use of his water-well to the members of the lower castes.

2. Gopal Ganesh Agarkar  (14 July 1856 – 17 June 1895)

He was the first editor of the weekly Kesari and founder and editor of a periodical, Sudharak. He was the second Principal of Fergusson College and served that post from August-1892 until his death, aged around 39.

Agarkar writes in his biography in the "Futke Nashib" that he was the only social worker who witnessed his own funeral, He has also written a book 'Alankar Mimmansa' (अलंकार मीमांसा).

3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak-Lokmanya Tilak (23 July 1856 – 1 August1920)

Born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, lawyer and an independence activist.

 He was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities called him "The father of the Indian unrest." He was also conferred with the title of "Lokmanya", which means "accepted by the people (as their leader)". 

Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of Swaraj ("self-rule") and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. He is known for his quote in Marathi: "Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it!". He formed a close alliance with many Indian National Congress leaders.

Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890.  He opposed its moderate attitude, especially towards the fight for self-government. 

He was one of the most-eminent radicals at the time. In fact, it was the Swadeshi movement of 1905–1907 that resulted in the split within the Indian National Congress into the Moderates and the Extremists.

He wrote the Gita Rahasya.

Tilak vehemently opposed the establishment of the first Native girls High school (now called Huzurpaga) in Pune in 1885 and its curriculum using his newspapers, the Mahratta and Kesari.

4. Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962)

Popularly known as Maharishi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. In his honour, Queen's Road in Mumbai (Bombay) was renamed to Maharshi Karve Road. Karve was a pioneer in promoting widows' education. 

The Government of India awarded him with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year of his 100th birthday. 

Karve wrote two autobiographical works: Ātmawrutta (1928) in Marathi, and Looking Back (1936) in English.

5. Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj or Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922)

Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj also known as Rajarshi Shahu was considered a true democrat and social reformer.

Greatly influenced by the contributions of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, Shahu Maharaj was an ideal leader and able ruler who was associated with many progressive and path breaking activities during his rule. 

From his coronation in 1894 till his demise in 1922, he worked tirelessly for the cause of the lower caste subjects in his state.

 Primary education to all regardless of caste and creed was one of his most significant priorities

He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906 to provide employment. Rajaram college was built by Shahu Maharaj and afterwards it was named after him. His emphasis was on education and his aim was to make education available to masses. 

He introduced a number of educational programs to promote education among his subjects.

 He established hostels separately for different ethnicities and religions like Panchals, Devadnya, Nabhik, Shimpi, Dhor-Chambhar communities as well as for Muslims, Jains and Christians.

 He established the Miss Clarke Boarding School for the socially quarantined segments of the community. He introduced several scholarships for the poor but meritorious students from backward castes. He also initiated a compulsory free primary education for all in his state.

 He established Vedic Schools that enabled students from all castes and classes to learn the scriptures and propagate Sanskrit education among all. He also started special schools for the village heads or ‘Patils’ to make them into better administrators