Jyotirao Phule Jyotirao Phule was born on April 11, 1827. He was a pioneering social reformer who opposed caste hierarchies and championed the rights of Dalits and women. In collaboration with Savitribai Phule, he opened India's first school for girls in 1848. Furthermore, in 1855, he established night schools in Pune for workers, farmers, and women. In 1873, he founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to combat caste discrimination and promote equality. In his book Gulamgiri, he drew a parallel between the caste oppression prevalent in India and the institution of slavery in America. He advocated for the provision of compulsory education and economic empowerment for oppressed communities. In 1888, he was honored with the title "Mahatma" by Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.
