Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
2. Examine the ideas and ideology of Jyotiba Phule. Can he be termed a radical? (250 words)
Reference: Modern Indian history by Spectrum Publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the ideas and ideologies of the famous personality of eighteenth century.
Key Demand of the question:
One must delve into the ideas and ideologies propounded by Jyotiba Phule, his contributions and assess if he could be termed as a radical personality of his times.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. His work extended to many fields, including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and women’s emancipation.
Body:
He is mostly known for his efforts in educating women and lower caste people.
Discuss his ideas and ideologies in detail while substantiating his works in the same direction. Phule’s social activism included many fields including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, education of women and the dalits, and welfare of downtrodden women.
In his struggle against the caste system, Jyotiba Phule’s innovation lay in overturning the ideological foundation of what he called Brahmanical order. He sought to transcend the caste-based division to unite the lower castes and untouchables in the category of Sudras-atisudras.
Give your opinion on his radical views; Jyotiba Phule’s radical humanism made him distinct from other nationalist leaders and was emulated by both E V Ramaswamy and Bhimrao Ambedkar. His remarkable legacy could be attested by the fact that a set of social movements in Maharashtra involving women, farmers, Dalits, and environmentalists consider Phule as their forerunner.
Conclusion:
In Phule, thus, we have an intellectual and activist with a global vision seeking to reform his own society.
