Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on British Rule

 

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on British Rule

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The major difference of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule with the national Movement in Bombay, dominated by Chitpavan Brahmins, was over the primacy of social reform over political reform. Increasingly he found that attempts to address the question of caste were sacrificed in the interests of national unity. Mahatma Phule was not blind to the exploitative nature of colonial administration. He questioned the wisdom of opposing the British through a movement that would come under upper caste control and influence. He was well aware that the elite dominated colonial administration was also a cause of exploitation. But for Mahatma Phule, the source of lower caste exploitation were two viz. the colonial regime and the Brahmanical culture system. He was well aware that political reforms in the absence of substantial social reforms would at best result in the substitution of one form exploitation by another. Mahatma Phule thought well of British rule and western influence as he hoped that they would help to liberate the Shudras and the lower castes indeed he once said the creator has purposely sent the English people to this country to liberate the Shudras from the slavery of the crafty Aryas. The anti-Brahmin nature of the movement of Mahatma Phule cannot be denied. The anti-Brahmanism was part of developing consciousness among the lower castes for a social revolution the raising in status of the most impure (untouchables and lower castes) could only take place when the status of the top most is devalued hence the anti Brahmin nature of most of the lower caste movements.