Jyotiba or Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890) aimed at the complete abolition of the caste system and socio-economic inequalities organised a powerful movement against upper caste domination and brahminical supremacy and founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers’ Society) in 1873.
Phule, a firm believer in gender equality and a pioneer in women’s education opened a girls’ school at Poona with the help of his wife, Savitribai and was awarded the title ‘Mahatma’ for his social reform work.
His works, Sarvajanik Satyadharma and Gulamgiri became sources of inspiration for the common masses.
Balshastri Jambhekar
Balshastri Jambhekar (1812-1846) was a pioneer of social reform through journalism in Bombay; he attacked brahminical orthodoxy and tried toreform popular Hinduism.
He started the newspaper Darpan in 1832 and founded the Bombay Native General Library.
Gopalhari Deshmukh
Gopalhari Deshmukh (1823-1892) was a social reformer and rationalist from Maharashtra who held the post of a judge under British raj, but wrote for a weekly Prabhakar under the pen name of Lokahitawadi on social reform issues and against the evils of the caste system.
He attacked Hindu orthodoxy and supported social and religious equality.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915), a liberal leader of the Indian National Congress, founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 with the help of M.G. Ranade with the aim to train national missionaries for the service of India; to promote, by all constitutional means, the true interests of the Indian people and to prepare a cadre of selfless workers who were to devote their lives to the cause of the country in a religious spirit.
In 1911, the Hitavada began to be published to project the views of the society. The society chose to remain aloof from political activities and organisations like the Indian National Congress.