Jyotirao Phule

One of the most famous "Low-caste" leaders was the Jyotirao Phule. He was born in 1827, where he studied in one of the school set up by Christian missionaries. On growing up he developed his own ideas of injustices of caste based society. 

He stood up against the claims of Brahmans that they were superior as they were "Aryans". Jyotirao Phule argued that Aryans were foreigners , they defeated and subjugated the true children of the country. As the Aryans began establishing their dominance, they began looking at defeated population as inferior, as low caste people. According to Phule, the "upper-caste" had no right to their land and power. In reality the land belonged to indigenous people, the so called "low-caste". 

Phule founded an association called Satyashodak Samaj, meant for spreading of caste equality. In 1873, Phule wrote a book named "Gulamgiri" meaning slavery. Some 10 year before this an American Civil War had started leading to the end of slavery in America. Phule dedicated his book to all those Americans who fought against slavery and to free slaves, thus trying to connect links between the lower castes in India and the black slaves in America.

He extended his criticism of caste system to argue against all forms of inequality. He was concerned about the miseries of labourer, the plight of upper caste women and the humiliation of low castes.