The Individual and Society

1

Caste Laws

Jotirao Phule

Jotirao Phule (1827–90), the son of a mali, completed his primary education in 1838. Later, he studied in the Scottish Mission’s High School in Pune and completed his secondary education in 1848. By this time his father, Govindrao, had become a successful building contractor. The family business gave him enough financial support and he decided not to accept a job under the then British Government.

The British takeover of Pune in 1818 meant that power was no longer directly in the hands of the Brahmans. The end of the Peshwai, called the ‘Brahmanya Raj’ opened up the possibility of challenging their domination in the new political configuration. This is to be seen in the challenge from below represented by Phule and ...