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His mother, Chimnabai, died when he was only nine months old.
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Phule’s father, Govindrao, carried on the family business along with his brothers. Since Phule’s father and two uncles served as florists under the last of the Peshwas, whose patronage they enjoyed, the family came to be known as ‘Phule’ (flower-man). The family owned some farmland as well as a shop in the city. Phule’s grandfather, Shetiba Gorhay, had settled in Pune and prospered after starting a business selling flowers, garlands and flower arrangements for religious and social events like weddings. The original surname of the family had been Gorhay, and they hailed from Katgun, a village in Khatav taluka of Satara District (now in Maharashtra state). Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was born into a poor and virtually illiterate family that belonged to the Mali caste of gardeners and vegetable farmers. After educating his wife, he opened the first school for girls in India in August 1848. He is most known for his efforts to educate women and the lower castes as well as the masses.
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He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women’s education in India. Phule is regarded as an important figure of the Social Reform Movement in Maharashtra. In September 1873, Phule, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes. His work extended to many fields including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, women’s emancipation and the reform of Hindu family life. Phule’s work was grounded in the colonial belief that India was in dire need of reform in every aspect of national, social and family life, and that the west was both the model to emulate and the harbinger of the required improvement. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890) was an Indian activist, thinker, social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.