Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: All India Backward Classes Federation (AIBCF), Jammu celebrated 197th birthday of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, first person who raised voice for social reforms and women education.
The program was organized at Prajapati Sabha Hall below Indira Chowk (Jammu) under the chairmanship of Ayodhya Kumar Manawa. Hans Raj Jangid (National working president of AIBCF) from New Delhi was chief guest on the occasion and Surender Prajapati (senior executive of UP unit) was guest of honour.
In his opening remarks, F C Satia (president of AIBCF) deliberated on the life of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, who after getting motivated by Thoms Paine’s book “The Rights of Man”, came to understand that the only way to tackle social ills was to educate women and members of lower castes.
Hans Raj Jangid told that Savitribai Phule, Jyotiba’s wife, backed his efforts to guarantee women and girls the right to an education. Savitribai, one of the few literate women of her day, learned to read and write from her husband Jyotirao. Jyotiba founded a ladies’ school in 1851 and invited his wife to instruct the students there.
Ayodhya Kumar Manawa in his speech said that Mahatma Jyotirao welcomed guests of different backgrounds and castes into his home. Between 1876 and 1883, he was the Poona Municipality’s Commissioner. After having paralysis in 1888, Jyotiba died on 26-11-1890. Jyotiba Phule wrote many books, one of them “Gulamgiri” is most read.
Balwant Kataria, conducted the proceedings of the event. Other speakers focused on issues such as restoration of OBC scholarship, updation of Central list of OBCs for removal of “Rural Tag”, induction of OBC member in State OBC Commission and announcement of 27% reservation in Panchayats and ULBs.
On this occasion, Joginder Angotra from Shree Vishwakarma Library, New Plot (Jammu) distributed note books and pamphlets on the life history of Mahatma Phule to the children who participated in the function.
Prominent among others who attended the program include Bansi Lal Choudhary (convener, OBC Mahasabha), Sham Lal Bassan (Corporater, Bahu Fort) and RD Thapa (president, Ambedkar Sangathan).
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