Gulamgiri

Last updated

Gulamgiri is a seminal work authored by Jyotirao Phule, a prominent Indian social activist, anti-caste reformer, thinker, and writer from Maharashtra. Originally published in Marathi in 1873, with a preface in English, the book addresses issues related to caste, slavery, and social reform, making it one of the earliest critiques of the caste system. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, born on April 11, 1827, dedicated 25 years of his life to educating the marginalized Shudras-Atishudras, recognizing that lack of education was at the root of their socio-economic problems. He started with one school and expanded to 18. Phule critiqued Brahminical casteism, speaking on themes of hypocrisy, sin, and exploitation perpetuated in the name of religion.

Content

'Gulamgiri'' presents a reinterpretation of Indian history and mythology, challenging the Brahminical narratives that upheld their cultural dominance. Phule utilized a dialogue format, engaging in conversations with an interlocutor named Dhondirao. The book delves into various avatars of Vishnu, presenting non-Aryan warriors as valiant heroes and original rulers of India. Phule humanizes the conflicts between Aryans and non-Aryans, rejecting fantastical mythological tales and introducing a more plausible historical narrative.This criticism stemmed mostly from his Protestant Christian leanings and missionary influence on his thought processes.

The seventh chapter of the book addresses the creation of castes, proposing alternative theories regarding the origin of Mahar caste and criticizing the insulting names imposed on certain communities. Phule rejects both the mythological concept of 'Parampurush' and the theory of Chaturvarna, presenting a dissenting viewpoint on the narratives that Brahmins used to claim superiority. The book explores the racial theory of caste, suggesting that Brahmins were of foreign origin and had manipulated religious texts to establish their dominance. Notably, the work is credited with anticipating modern ideas related to the interconnectedness of economic and cultural subordination.

Caste discourse

Gulamgiri delves into the creation of castes, challenging the origins and naming conventions associated with various communities. Phule discusses figures like Parshuram and Baliraja, offering alternative perspectives on their roles in shaping the caste structure. The book provides critical insights into the historical development of castes in India. Gulamgiri holds a significant place in the history of the movement against cultural hegemony in India. Phule's fearless critique of Brahmanical ideologies and his attempt to create a parallel historical narrative have left a lasting impact on discussions around caste and social reform.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historical Vedic religion</span> 1500–500 BC Indo-Aryan religious practices of northwest India

The historical Vedic religion, also called Vedicism or Vedism, and sometimes ancient Hinduism or Vedic Hinduism, constituted the religious ideas and practices prevalent amongst some of the Indo-Aryan peoples of the northwest Indian subcontinent during the Vedic period. These ideas and practices are found in the Vedic texts, and some Vedic rituals are still practiced today. The Vedic religion is one of the major traditions which shaped modern Hinduism, though present-day Hinduism is significantly different from the historical Vedic religion.

Shudra or Shoodra is one of the four varnas of the Hindu class and social system in ancient India. Some sources translate it into English as a caste, or as a social class. Theoretically, Shudras constituted a class like workers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jyotirao Phule</span> Indian Social Activist and Reformer

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Jyotiba Phule, was an Indian social activist, businessman, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.

Untouchability is a form of social institution that legitimises and enforces practices that are discriminatory, humiliating, exclusionary and exploitative against people belonging to certain social groups. Although comparable forms of discrimination are found all over the world, untouchability involving the caste system is largely unique to South Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chitpavan Brahmins</span> Indian Brahmin sub-caste inhabiting Konkan region

The Chitpavan Brahmin or the Kokanastha Brahmin is a Hindu Maharashtrian Brahmin community inhabiting Konkan, the coastal region of the state of Maharashtra. Initially working as messengers and spies in the late seventeenth century, the community came into prominence during the 18th century when the heirs of Peshwa from the Bhat family of Balaji Vishwanath became the de facto rulers of the Maratha empire. Until the 18th century, the Chitpavans were held in low esteem by the Deshastha, the older established Brahmin community of Karnataka-Maharashtra region.

Sanskritisation is a term in sociology which refers to the process by which castes or tribes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek upward mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper castes. It is a process similar to "passing" in sociological terms. This term was made popular by Indian sociologist M. N. Srinivas in the 1950s. Sanskritisation has in particular been observed among mid-ranked members of caste-based social hierarchies.

Criticism of Hinduism has been applied to both the historical and the current aspects of Hinduism, notably the caste system and the sati practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali Brahmin</span> Hindu caste originating from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent

Bengali Brahmins are the community of Hindu Brahmins, who traditionally reside in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, currently comprising the Indian state of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh.

Tarabai Shinde (1850–1910) was a feminist activist who protested patriarchy and caste in 19th century India. She is known for her published work, Stri Purush Tulana, originally published in Marathi in 1882. The pamphlet is a critique of caste and patriarchy, and is often considered the first modern Indian feminist text. It was very controversial for its time in challenging the Hindu religious scriptures themselves as a source of women's oppression, a view that continues to be controversial and debated today. She was a member of Satyashodhak Samaj.

Who Were the Shudras? is a history book published by Indian social reformer and polymath B. R. Ambedkar in 1946. The book discusses the origin of the Shudra Varna. Ambedkar dedicated the book to Jyotirao Phule (1827–1890).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savitribai Phule</span> Indian social reformer - savitri bai phule (1831–1898)

Savitribai Phule was one of the first female teachers in India, a social reformer, and a poet. Along with her husband, Jyotiba Phule, in Maharashtra, she played a vital role in improving women's rights in India. She is considered to be the pioneer of India's feminist movement. She strived to abolish discrimination and unfair treatment of people based on caste and gender. She and her husband were pioneers of women's education in India. They started their first school for girls in 1848 in Pune at Tatyasaheb Bhide's residence or Bhidewada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism and Hinduism</span> Relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism

Buddhism and Hinduism have common origins in the culture of Ancient India. Buddhism arose in the Gangetic plains of Eastern India in the 5th century BCE during the Second Urbanisation. Hinduism developed as a fusion or synthesis of practices and ideas from the ancient Vedic religion and elements and deities from other local Indian traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Omvedt</span> American-born Indian sociologist (1941–2021)

Gail Omvedt was an American-born Indian sociologist and human rights activist. She was a prolific writer and published numerous books on the anti-caste movement, Dalit politics, and women's struggles in India. Omvedt was involved in Dalit and anti-caste movements, environmental, farmers' and women's movements, especially with rural women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satyashodhak Samaj</span> Social reform movement in India, 1873–1930s

Satyashodhak Samaj was a social reform society founded by Jyotiba Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24 September 1873. The society endeavoured to mitigate the distress and sufferings of Dalits and women. It espoused a mission of education and increased social rights and political access for underprivileged groups, focused especially on women, peasants, and Dalits, in Maharashtra. Jyotirao's wife Savitribai was the head of women's section of the society. The Samaj disbanded during the 1930s as leaders left to join the Indian National Congress party.

Baidya or Vaidya is a Bengali Hindu community located in the Bengal region of Indian subcontinent. A caste (jāti) of Ayurvedic physicians, the Baidyas have long had pre-eminence in society alongside Brahmins and Kayasthas. In the colonial era, the Bhadraloks were drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from these three upper castes, who continue to maintain a collective hegemony in West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali Kayastha</span> Bengali Hindu of the Kayastha caste

Bengali Kayastha is a Bengali Hindu caste originated from the Bengal region of Indian subcontinent, and is one of the main subgroups of the Kayastha community. The historical caste occupation of Kayasthas throughout India has been that of scribes, administrators, ministers and record-keepers; the Kayasthas in Bengal, along with Brahmins and Baidyas, are regarded among the three traditional higher castes that comprise the "upper layer of Hindu society". During the British Raj, the Bhadraloks of Bengal were drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from these three castes, who continue to maintain a collective hegemony in West Bengal.

Gopal Baba Walangkar, also known as Gopal Krishna walangkar,(1840–1904) is an early example of an activist working to release the untouchable people of India from their historic socio-economic oppression and is generally considered to be the pioneer of that movement. He developed a racial theory to explain the oppression and also published the monthly journal Vital-Vidhvansak, targeted at the Brahmanical Orthodoxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandharinath Sitaramji Patil</span> Indian social reformer

Pandharinath Sitaramji Patil (1903–1978) was an Indian social reformer, politician, and activist of the non-Brahmin movement. He was one of the earliest biographer of Jotirao Phule.

Stri Purush Tulana (Hindi:स्त्रीपुरुषतुलना) is a pamphlet/book written by feminist activist Tarabai Shinde. Born in the Berar province of Buldhana, Shinde was a writer who protested against patriarchy and the caste system. She was a member of the Satyashodhak Samaj and an associate of Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule. The pamphlet was originally published in Marathi in 1882. The literary work critiques patriarchy as well as the gender and caste systems in 19th-century India. It is also considered the first modern feminist text in India. Shinde questions the position of women in the society and their rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambedkarism</span> Philosophy or ideology of B. R. Ambedkar

Ambedkarism is called as the teaching, ideology or philosophy of B.R. Ambedkar, an Indian economist, barrister, social reformer, and the first of Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. Ambedkarism includes special focus on subjects such as fraternity, democracy, communal electorates, conversion out of Hinduism, political power, rule of law, Navayana, among others. An Ambedkarite is one who follows the philosophy of Ambedkar. Icons of Ambedkarite ideology also include Periyar, Jyotirao Phule and others.

References

  1. Waghule, Pradnya (2017-04-13). "A Reading Of Jotiba Phule's Gulamgiri: A Seminal Text On Caste". Feminism in India. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  2. कश्यप, Omprakash Kashyap ओमप्रकाश (2020-06-08). "'Gulamgiri': The 'seed text' for an anti-brahmanical consciousness". Forward Press. Retrieved 2024-01-29.