Mahatma Jotirao Phule was a great proactive social thinker during the 19 th century. His thoughts regarding Human Liberation were far reaching and similarly his work in this regard was great. These thoughts are reflected in his life also.

He delved into the root cause of the difficult and painful life of the masses including villagers, farmers, laborers, women and the downtrodden in society.

He found that the factors behind the deterioration of society were : Ignorance, Exploitation and Slavery based on religious and financial exploitation.

After identifying these factors, he strongly condemned them. He fought throughout his life in order to grant Natural Human Rights to the deprived sections of society. He minutely studied the people who had lost their sensitivity to suffering because of ignorance, injustice and the wrong traditions in society. Jotirao dreamt of creating a new society through the welfare of such people.

He continuously fought for re-establishing great human values such as,economic independence, social justice, equality, humanity, intellectuality, brotherhood, and independence of women. He worked for the unity of the deprived and exploited sections of society.

Mahatma Phule's Geneaology-

Jotirao's ancestors belonged to the village Katgun, Tal. Khatav, Dist. Satara. Their family name was Gorhe. Jotirao's great grandfather- Kondiba Gorhe was the 'Chougule' of the village. As a result of difference of opinion, there was a dispute between Shri. Kondiba Gorhe (´Chougule ' of the village) and the ´ Kulkarni' of the village. As a result of this dispute, there was a scuffle between them and ultimately 'Kulkarni' was killed. In order to prevent being charged for murder and to save his own life, Shri Kondiba Gorhe migrated from village Katgun and came to village Khanawadi, Tal. Purandar, Dist. Pune.

Later on, Kondiba's son Shetiba left Khanawadi because of famine and settled in Pune. After coming to Pune, he was engaged in preparing different objects from flowers, for the ruling Peshwe(rulers of Pune). With this, a new surname- 'Phule', was conferred upon him.

Shetiba had three sons- Ranoji, Krushnaji and Govind. Govindrao was married to one Chimnabai. Joti was one of their sons. This Joti was later on glorified as Mahatma Jotirao Phule-the noble founder of Social Revolution in India. 

Life Sketch : Mahatama Phule 
Jotirao was born on 11th April 1827. After Jotirao's birth, within a year, his mother died. He had his primary education during 1834-1838. In 1840, he got married to Savitribai, the daughter of Shri. Khandoji Nevshe Patil from village Naigaon, Tal. Khandala, Dist. Satara. Due to certain circumstances Jotirao had to give up his education for some years.

He started the first school for girls, at Pune, in the year 1848. He advocated Education for women- female students from the downtrodden (Shudras/ Atee Shudras) communities and adults. He started schools. He established institutes like the 'Pune Female Native Schools' and the 'Society for Promoting Education for Mahar, Mangs'. 

In order to institutionalise social education, and have a continuous follow up, Jotirao established 'Satyashodhak Samaj' on 24th September 1873. Motivation from St. Kabir's thoughts played an important role in the establishment of the Satyashodhak Samaj. In order to destroy social and religious slavery, the Satyashodhak Samaj established by Jotirao, emphasised & re-emphasised the following :

• Humans are great by their qualities.
• Incantations, penance, rituals, rebirth- do not have any reality.
• Bhat (Brahmins) or middlemen are not at all necessary for the worship of the Almighty.

Hence the Satyashodhak Samaj had the great ideals of - 

• Equality.
• Brotherhood.
• Non-requirement of middlemen in religious matters.