Bharat Ratna for Phules? AIOBCSA Urges Modi to Immortalize Social Justice Pioneers on Jyotiba Phule Jayanti

New Delhi – On the 198th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on April 11, the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour the legacy of Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, through significant national recognitions and institutional measures. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the association outlined a series of requests aimed at immortalizing the couple’s contributions to social reform, women’s education, and the fight against caste oppression.

The AIOBCSA, representing students, scholars, and citizens inspired by the Phules’ transformative work, emphasized that the couple laid the groundwork for anti-caste struggles and social justice long before these principles were enshrined in India’s Constitution. Their letter, signed by the association’s National President, Kiran Kumar Gowd a PhD scholar from the Department of Political Science at the University of Hyderabad, highlights four key demands to ensure the Phules’ vision continues to inspire future generations.

Key Demands to Honour the Phules

Bharat Ratna for Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule: The association urged the government to confer India’s highest civilian honour on both Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. Their pioneering efforts in educating women, uplifting marginalized communities, and challenging caste discrimination merit this recognition, the letter stated. “No honour could be more fitting for those who reshaped India’s social fabric,” it added.

Phule Research Centers in Universities: To deepen academic engagement with the Phules’ ideas, the AIOBCSA requested the establishment of dedicated Phule Research Centers in Central and State Universities. These centers would focus on the socio-economic empowerment of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other marginalized groups, fostering research and policy initiatives aligned with the Phules’ vision of equality.

National Celebration of Phule Birth Anniversaries: The association called for the official recognition and celebration of Savitribai Phule’s birth anniversary on January 3 and Jyotirao Phule’s on April 11 across educational institutions and public offices. Such commemorations would inspire students and citizens to embrace the values of social justice and inclusivity championed by the couple.

OBC Gold Medals in Universities: Drawing parallels with existing SC/ST Gold Medals, the AIOBCSA proposed the introduction of OBC Gold Medals in Central Universities and premier institutions to reward academic excellence among students from Other Backward Classes. This initiative, they argued, would motivate OBC youth and affirm their place in India’s academic landscape.

The letter urges that these steps would not only honour the Phules’ monumental contributions but also signal the government’s commitment to social justice, educational equity, and inclusivity. “Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule sowed the seeds of a just society. Recognizing their work at the national level will strengthen India’s resolve to uphold their ideals,” the AIOBCSA stated.

The association expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s office would treat these demands with urgency and take swift action. “Their legacy deserves to be celebrated not just in Maharashtra but across the nation,” the letter concluded, invoking the Phules’ enduring impact on India’s social reform movement.