Question

Which of the following were the main aims of Satyashodhak Samaj?
I) Social service
II) Spread of education among women and lower caste
III) Complete abolition of caste system and inequalities
A) Only II
B) I and II
C) II and III
D) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Satyashodhak Samaj is a social reform company founded in Pune, Maharashtra on 24th September by Jyotiba Phule. She is on a mission to educate and strengthen social rights and political access for disadvantaged groups, especially women, Shudras and Dalits, in Maharashtra. Samaj dissolved in the 1930s when the leaders left to join the Indian National Congress party.

Complete answer:
The sole purpose of the establishment of Satyashodhak Samaj was the education of the lower class and making them aware of the exploitative tradition of society. Jyotirao Phule founded this in 1873 in Pune. Like any other society, this one also forbade the admission of people from the upper class, aristocracy, bureaucracy and Brahmins. This society only admits members of the Shudra Samaj or those of a lower class.

Members of the upper class can become members of society only by analyzing their actions and habits. Through his writings and works, Jyotirao argued against the illogical and orthodox Brahmin system of caste and status. He also writes about inequality in religious books, the orthodox and exploitative nature of religion, the blind and deceptive rituals, and the pervasive false beliefs in Hinduism.

Jyotirao Phule founded Satya shodhak samaj keeping in mind certain thoughts and ideas such as ideals of human welfare, happiness, unity, equality and easy religious principles and rituals. Society attacked the Brahmins who saw themselves as messengers of God and saw them as a means of communication, between man and God.

Thus, the correct answer is option ‘D’ i.e, Social Service, the Spread of education and abolition of the caste system all were the main aims of Satyashodhak Samaj

Note: They rejected the Upanishads and Vedic cultures and also rejected respect for Aryan society. According to them, Aryan samaj focuses on destroying non-Aryan samaj. The movement was not stopped and continued to exist after Phule's death.