Modelled on the Black History Month, Dalit History Month was started in 2015 by a collective of Dalit women and is observed annually in order to commemorate the history, culture, and art of the Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi community and to acknowledge the many wonderful achievements of its people.
In 1827, when a boy was born to Govind Rao and Chimna Bai, little did they know that he’d go on to become India’s most prominent anti-caste social reformer, who’d ignite a massive revolution in the country’s history. Jyotirao Phule (Jotirao) worked incessantly to eradicate the Brahmanical structure of the society. With his rebellious disposition, he refused to accept the class and varna system, viewing them as barricades to social upliftment, and firmly believed in egalitarianism.
The founder of the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seeker’s Society), Jotirao was essentially the first person to sow the seeds of equality and education for oppressed groups in India, especially women. In this mission, he was aided greatly by the legendary Savitribai Phule, also his wife. A visionary leader, an effective orator, and a man with a heart of gold, Jotirao was nothing short of a legend.
