New Delhi, 11 April (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his jayanti and formally inaugurated the year-long 200th birth anniversary celebrations, hailing him as a visionary social reformer who devoted his life to the ideals of equality, justice, and education.

In posts on X today, available in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and other languages, the Prime Minister described Phule as a staunch advocate for women's and marginalised communities' rights, positioning education as the paramount tool for empowerment. Phule's thoughts continue to guide society's progress, he affirmed.

Popularly known as Mahatma Phule, the 19th-century luminary dedicated himself to eradicating social and economic inequalities. In 1873, he founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to curb exploitation and liberate victims of discriminatory practices.

Serving on the Pune Municipal Council from 1876-1882, he earned the titles Mahatma and India's Booker T. Washington in 1888 for uplifting the poor and deprived.

The 12-foot bronze statue of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in Parliament House complex—crafted by Ram V. Sutar and unveiled by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 3, 2003—graces the Prerna Sthal within the premises.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar