Revisiting Insights of Jyotiba Phule, Sahu Ji Maharaj and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Women-Empowerment: An Analysis

Abstract

Women-empowerment is the concept of fostering and promoting economic, educational, political, psychological, and social autonomy and independence among women. It is a multidimensional and multifaceted concept that has an ever lasting impact on the inclusive and sustainable development of our society. The lifelong struggle of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and Savitribai Phule was dedicated to women-empowerment in India. The Phule couple were 19th century social reformers who confronted many adversities and challenges while working to transform an exclusive society into an inclusive society. Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj, the King of Princely State of Kolhapur, was a champion of women-empowerment campaigns during the early 20th century period. Sahu Maharaj did a commendable and an emulating job as a ruler of the state by making an appropriate use of the power and authority vested in him towards to establishment of an egalitarian and inclusive society. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, as an architect of the Constitution of India, exerted his utmost efforts to translate the visions of Phule and Sahu Maharaj into reality. He materialized this vision by incorporating appropriate provisions across different sections of the Constitution, ensuring social, economic, and political justice in India. Thus, these distinguished social activists, social reformers, and social engineers played a substantial role not only in the realization of vision of an inclusive society but also in integrating women as an integral and inseparable part of our diverse and multicultural society. These luminaries considered education an essential element of women-empowerment. This research article aims at analyzing the perspectives and contributions of Phule, Sahu, and Ambedkar to women-empowerment in India.