Jyotiba Phule: Pioneer of Social Justice and Emancipation

- 13 Apr 2025
Introduction:
Jyotiba Phule (1827–1890) stands out as one of the foremost social reformers of 19th-century India, whose contributions to education, caste reform, women's rights, and rationalist thought continue to influence contemporary debates on social justice.
Born into the Mali casteinMaharashtra, Phule’s awakening began in 1848 after facing caste-based humiliation at a Brahmin wedding. That same year, inspired by Cynthia Farrar (a Christian missionary) and rationalist Thomas Paine, he and his wife Savitribai Phule established India’s first school for girls. By 1851, they had opened 18 schools, and later, night schools for workers and women—challenging both gender and caste hierarchies in education.
Phule’s activism extended beyond education. In 1873, he founded the SatyashodhakSamaj (Society of Truth Seekers), an organization aimed at eradicating caste-based oppression and challenging Brahminical dominance. His work Gulamgiri (Slavery) (published in 1873) likened the condition of Dalits and Shudras to that of African-American slaves, emphasizing systemic subjugation through religious orthodoxy.
Phule argued for compulsory primary education, particularly for the rural poor. In his Statement to the Education Commission, he recommended scholarships, annual prizes, and mandatory schooling up to age 12, noting that agricultural poverty kept children away from education.
In his agrarian treatise ShetkaryancheAsud (Farmer’s Whip), Phule proposed:
- Employing army personnel in public works like dams and bunds.
- Returning village pasture lands from the Forest Department.
- Importing cattle for meat to preserve draught animals crucial to agriculture.
These proposals reflected his commitment to economic upliftment of farmers and sustainable agricultural practices.
Phule’s spiritual views evolved toward rational humanism. Though he respected the equality-based ethics in Islam and Christianity, his final philosophical work, Sarvajanik Satya Dharma Pustak, rejected all sectarian religious texts and called for a universal spiritual order. He questioned caste sanctity, ridiculed the notion of sacred superiority, and criticized the irrationalities in scriptural justifications.
He strongly supported women’s rights, defended PanditaRamabai’s conversion, and denounced polygamy, arguing for gender parity in both religious and social spheres. He wrote, “How would men feel if women married more than one man?”
Despite opposition from Bal Gangadhar Tilak and orthodox Hindu nationalists, Phule remained focused on uplifting the oppressed, even bailing Tilak out of jail at one point—illustrating his commitment to justice over personal differences.
Phule’s legacy remains crucial in modern India’s quest for social equity. His efforts to democratize education, dismantle caste, and promote inclusive governance laid the groundwork for India's later constitutional and social reforms.
Child Sexual Abuse in India
- 31 May 2025
Context:
A landmark global study published in The Lancet has brought to light the disturbing scale of child sexual abuse (CSA) worldwide. Using data from 204 countries (1990–2023), the study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that 18.9% of women and 14.8% of men globally were victims of CSA. In India, 30.8% of women and 13.5% of men reported having experienced sexual violence before turning 18, placing it among the countries with the highest prevalence for women.
The research revealed that most abuse begins in childhood, with 67% of girls and 72% of boys facing their first abuse before 18. A staggering 26.9% of Indian women and 9.4% of men aged 20–24 continue to report having been abused during their childhood, indicating the persistence of this crisis.
Context and Contributing Factors
CSA in India is exacerbated by societal stigma, patriarchal norms, and underreporting, particularly among boys. Male survivors face additional silence due to entrenched ideas of masculinity and victim-blaming. Abuse often occurs in familiar settings, including homes and schools, with digital exploitation emerging as a growing threat.
Furthermore, regional disparities persist. Urban areas report more digital abuse, while rural areas suffer from familial exploitation compounded by lack of awareness and legal access. States like Kerala and Maharashtra show better reporting, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh lag.
Legal and Institutional Response
India enacted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in 2012, a gender-neutral law covering a wide range of sexual offences with child-friendly procedures. However, implementation gaps remain:
- Conviction rates below 30%
- Backlogged trials
- Insufficient training for police and judiciary
Additionally, mental health services for survivors are scarce, and sex education in schools remains inadequate, leaving children vulnerable and uninformed.
Civil Society and Global Comparisons
NGOs such as Save the Children, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, and HAQ have played key roles in rehabilitation and awareness. International best practices offer valuable lessons:
- Nordic countries integrate mandatory sex education.
- Australia uses public awareness and national offender registries.
Recommendations and Way Forward
A multisectoral, prevention-focused approach is vital:
- Legal Reforms
- Fast-track POCSO courts
- Child-friendly police units
- Sensitisation training for frontline staff
- Education System Overhaul
- Include modules on “safe/unsafe touch” and digital safety
- Train teachers to detect and report CSA
- Community Engagement
- Empower Panchayats and child welfare committees
- Conduct grassroots campaigns to break the culture of silence
- Technological Safeguards
- Strengthen helplines like Childline 1098
- Collaborate with tech platforms for safer digital ecosystems
- Research and Data Collection
- Create a national CSA data repository
- Promote evidence-based policymaking through academic and NGO partnerships
Conclusion
The Lancet study underscores that CSA is not merely a criminal issue—it is a public health and social emergency. Laws like POCSO, while crucial, are not enough. What is needed is a coordinated, empathetic, and data-driven strategy that spans homes, schools, communities, and cyberspace. Only then can India safeguard its children not just from predators, but from institutional neglect and societal apathy.
UN Women’s Report 2025

- 12 Mar 2025
Context:
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)—a landmark global framework for achieving gender equality—the UN Women’s Report 2025 presents a sobering assessment of the status of women’s rights worldwide. Released ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, the report reflects a disturbing pattern: while there has been measurable progress, recent years have witnessed an alarming backlash against gender equality in many parts of the world.
Key Findings
- Backsliding of Women’s Rights: Nearly one in four countries reported a backlash against women’s rights, often linked to democratic erosion and rise of authoritarian or conservative forces. The report warns of "anti-rights actors" systematically working to undermine legal and policy gains made over decades.
- Escalation in Gender-Based Violence
The world continues to grapple with high levels of violence against women:
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- A woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or family member.
- Conflict-related sexual violence has risen 50% since 2022, with 95% of victims being women and girls.
These trends point to both persistent patriarchal norms and the failure of protective systems, especially in conflict and humanitarian settings.
- Legal and Political Disempowerment
Despite notable legislative progress:
- Women globally have only 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men.
- Only 87 countries have ever had a female head of state.
- Women occupy just 26% of parliamentary seats, even though this figure has doubled since 1995.
These gaps reflect the structural barriers and gender biases embedded in political systems and governance.
- Economic and Health Inequities
- 10% of women and girls live in extreme poverty.
- Young women (ages 15–24) face limited access to family planning, impacting health and autonomy.
- Maternal mortality has remained stagnant since 2015, reflecting uneven healthcare access.
Positive Developments
Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress:
- 88% of countries now have laws against violence towards women.
- Most countries have banned workplace discrimination.
- 44% of countries are working to improve education and training for women.
- Female legislative representation has more than doubled since 1995.
UN Women’s Roadmap for Gender Equality (2030)
To address setbacks and accelerate progress, the report outlines a five-pronged strategy:
- Digital Inclusion – Ensure equitable access to digital technologies.
- Social Protection – Invest in universal healthcare, education, and safety nets.
- Zero Gender-Based Violence – Strengthen laws, services, and public awareness.
- Equal Decision-Making – Promote women's leadership in all sectors.
- Gender-Sensitive Crisis Response – Integrate gender priorities in humanitarian aid.
Conclusion
The UN Women’s Report 2025 underscores a critical paradox: legal and policy advancements coexist with deep-rooted inequalities and growing resistance to gender justice. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres aptly noted, “Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we’re seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny.” Achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by 2030 demands sustained political will, democratic resilience, and transformative reforms. For India and the global community, this is both a warning and an opportunity—to reaffirm their commitment to gender justice and inclusive development.