Religion and social transformation: Christianity in Jyotirao Phule’s life and work

Abstract

Jyotirao Phule was a social reformer of Maharashtra in the nineteenth century. He sought to improve the condition betterment of the scheduled castes and tribes. He noted that they were victims of Brahmin domination. He was convinced that lack of education kept them in their deplorable condition. Hence, he worked for upliftment through education. He was associated with Christian missionaries and institutions. Therefore, Christianity played an important role in his life and work. Brahmins alleged that he had become a Christian because he was critical of them, undermining their dominance. But such allegations were false. He was a Hindu with sympathies for Christianity and Christian missionaries as he saw much good in them.