Author: C P Deshpande
Publisher: LeftWord
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 247
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8187496215
Description
Jotirao Phule (1827-1890) was India’s first systematic theorist of caste, and the most radical 19th century opponent of it, who desired nothing less than a complete smashing up of its oppressive structure. This volume makes available for the first time all his most important prose writings in English.
At the center of Phule’s thought and analysis are ‘Gulamgiri (Slavery) and ‘Shetkaryacha Asud (Cultivator’s Whipcord) , both included in this volume in their Phule’s deposition to the Hunter Commission on Education; his response to the Parsi social reformer Malabari’s notes on ‘Infant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood’; his letter to M G Ranade regarding the Marathi Author’s Conference; his stirring defense of Pandita Ramabai in two numbers of the journal ‘Satsar; and selections from ‘The Book of the True Faith’. All translations have been specially commissioned for this richly annotated volume, and the Editor’s Introduction places Phule’s life, work and thought, as well as each text included in this volume, in historical perspective.
For anyone interested in the question of caste, this volume is an indispensable resource.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Note on the Selection
Introduction
Slavery
Memorial Addressed to the Education Commission
Cultivator’s Whipcord
On Infant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood
Letter to the Conference of Marathi Authors
Satsar
From The Book of the Truth Faith
Brief Chronology of Jotirao Phule’s Life
Further Readings
Index