Satyashodhak Samaj

Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-seekers' Society) is a social reform society founded by Jyotiba Phule in Pune, India, on 24 September 1873. Its purpose was to liberate the less privileged in the then prevailing society such as women, Shudra, and Dalit from exploitation and oppression.[1][2]

Early Years

Phule established Satyashodhak Samaj with the ideals of human well-being, happiness, unity, equality, and easy religious principles and rituals.[2] A Pune-based newspaper, Deenbandhu, provided the voice for the views of the Samaj.[3]

The membership of the samaj included Muslims, Brahmans, and government officials.However,Non-Brahman castes dominated.Phule's own Mali caste provided the leading members and financial supporters for the organization.[1]

Revival under Shahu

The non-Brahmin movement, that was embodied in Satyashodhak Samaj, had not made much difference to any sections of the society in the 19th century and languished after the death of Phule. However, it was revived in the early 20th century by the Maratha ruler of the princely state of Kolhapur, Shahu Maharaj. In 1902, Shahu reserved 50 per cent civil service posts in Kolhapur state for all communities other than Brahmins, Prabhus[lower-alpha 1] and Parsi. He also sponsored religious ceremonies that did not need a brahmin priest to officiate.[5] By the 1920s, the samaj had established strong roots among the rural masses in Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha and took a strong economic overtone in its message. At that time the organization styled itself the representative of the Bahujan samaj. It also defined the brahmins,merchants and moneylenders as the oppressors of the masses.[6] The Samaj also conducted activities in Satara District, Kolhapur State and other places in this area that were designed to harass Brahmins, and to drive them from their positions as priests, government officials, money-lenders, and teachers in the rural areas.[7] Prior to 1920s,the samaj opposed the Indian national movement because it was a movement led by the elites. Later followers of the Samaj during 20th century included educationalist Bhaurao Patil and Maratha leaders such as Keshavrao Jedhe, Nana Patil, Khanderao Bagal and Madhavrao Bagal.[8] By the 1930s,given the mass movement nature of the Congress party under Mahatma Gandhi,the samaj leaders such as Jedhe joined the Congress, and the samaj activities withered away.[9]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Prabhus are subdivided into CKP and Pathare Prabhu.[4]

Citations

  1. 1 2 Bhadru, G. (2002). "Contribution of Shatyashodhak Samaj to the Low Caste Protest Movement in 19th Century". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 63: 845–854. JSTOR 44158153.
  2. 1 2 "Life & Work of Mahatma Jotirao Pule". University of Pune. Archived from the original on 2009-03-11. .
  3. ↑ Charlesworth, Neil (2002). Peasants and Imperial Rule: Agriculture and Agrarian Society in the Bombay Presidency 1850-1935 (Revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-52152-640-1.
  4. ↑ Vijaya Gupchup. Bombay: Social Change 1813-1857. p. 166. The other intellectual class, the Prabhus were once again subdivided in the Chnadraseniya Kayastha Prabhu and the Pathare Prabhus
  5. ↑ Charles Heimsath (1964). Indian Nationalism and Hindu Social Reform. Princeton University Press. p. 249.
  6. ↑ Omvedt, Gail (1973). "Non-Brahmans and Communists". Economic and Political Weekly. 8 (16): 749–759. JSTOR 4362559.
  7. ↑ Patterson, Maureen L P (1954). "Caste and Political Leadership in Maharashtra A Review and Current Appraisal" (PDF). T H E ECONOMI C WEEKL Y (September 25): 1065–1067.
  8. ↑ Patterson, Maureen L P (1954). "Caste and Political Leadership in Maharashtra A Review and Current Appraisal" (PDF). T H E ECONOMI C WEEKL Y (September 25): 1065–1067.
  9. ↑ Patterson, Maureen L P (1954). "Caste and Political Leadership in Maharashtra A Review and Current Appraisal" (PDF). T H E ECONOMI C WEEKL Y (September 25): 1065–1067.

Further reading

  • O'Hanlon, Rosalind (1985). Caste, conflict, and ideology : Mahatma Jotirao Phule and low caste protest in nineteenth-century western India (1. publ. ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 220–251. ISBN 0521266157.
  • Rege, Sharmila (2000). "Understanding popular culture:The Satyashodhak and Ganesh mela in Maharashtra" (PDF). Sociological bulletin. 49 (2): 193–209. Retrieved 23 April 2018.


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