The Rajasthan government has declared April 11, the birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, a public holiday.

With this, the state has 30 public holidays and 20 optional holidays. Till now, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti was an optional holiday in the state.

According to an official statement, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a proposal in this regard. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the common man’s feelings and the demand of people’s representatives, it said.

Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh, Rashtriya Phule Brigade Team Rajasthan, and various social organizations and people’s representatives had demanded that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti be declared a public holiday.

Jyotiba Phule played an important role in eradicating untouchability and empowering society. He also made organized efforts for the rights of farmers and laborers.

Earlier, the state government changed Lord Shri Devnarayan Jayanti from an optional to a public holiday.

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The ideology of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule

An occurrence that inspired Jyotiba to combat the social injustice of caste inequality led to the beginning of a social revolution in Indian society in 1848. Jyotirao got a wedding invitation from a high caste Brahmin family for one of his acquaintances. But, after discovering Jyotiba’s origins, the bridegroom’s family ridiculed and tortured him at the wedding.

Mahatma Jyotirao left the event because he was resolved to fight the caste system and other social restrictions that were in place at the time. He made it his life’s work to tenaciously combat social majoritarian rule and to struggle for the liberation of everyone who was impacted by this form of social injustice.

Jyotirao was greatly influenced by Thomas Paine’s philosophy after reading his well-known book, “The Rights of Man.” He thought that the only way to tackle social ills was to educate women and members of lower castes.