151 Years On: First Satyashodhak Marriage on 25 December 1873 Ignites Enduring Legacy of Equality in Maharashtra and Karnataka

— ✍️ Akhilesh Kumar

Pune – In a groundbreaking act of defiance against caste hierarchies and ritualistic exploitation, the first Satyashodhak marriage was solemnized on 25 December 1873, marking a pivotal moment in India's social reform history. Founded just months earlier by social revolutionaries Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, the Satyashodhak Samaj continues to inspire generations, with families across Maharashtra and Karnataka still embracing its simple, egalitarian wedding rites today.

The Satyashodhak Samaj, established on 24 September 1873 in Pune, emerged as India's pioneering collective movement to dismantle the stranglehold of privileged castes. At its core was a radical vision: welcoming individuals from all communities as equals in a society riddled with discrimination, elaborate rituals, and blind faith. Guided by the motto "Seek truth, spread truth, live by truth," the organization rejected dowry demands, priestly intermediaries, and extravagant ceremonies that perpetuated poverty and powerlessness among the marginalized.

The influence of the Samaj extended far beyond marriage. It organised ceremonies, community gatherings, and other rituals without the involvement of priests, placing spiritual and social agency back into the hands of the oppressed. Savitribai Phule, the soul of the movement, became the leader of the women’s wing.

She travelled tirelessly from village to village, conducting meetings, starting night schools for working women, teaching them to read and write, and inspiring them to speak boldly in public. Under her leadership, the Samaj became a powerful platform for women’s awakening, centuries before the language of “feminism” came. The Satyashodhak Samaj also created an alternative cultural world for the oppressed: songs, plays, stories, each rooted in self-respect and emancipation.

For the first time, communities that were pushed to the margins found a cultural space where they did not need the “approval” of privileged castes to celebrate life or assert dignity. The legacy of Satyashodhak Samaj continues even today. In many parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, many families still choose Satyashodhak marriage rites, proudly affirming the principles of equality and rationality laid down by Phule and Savitribai more than 150 years ago.

Satyashodhak Samaj was not merely a reform movement; it was a revolution of thought, culture, and social relations. It offered India a new imagination of justice, and its echo continues to shape movements for equality even today.

Savitribai Phule carried the torch of revolution with extraordinary courage and compassion. When Mahatma Jyotiba Phule passed away on 28 November 1890, at the age of 63, Savitribai Phule stepped forward with unwavering determination and took full responsibility for the movement they had built together. She became the President of the Satyashodhak Samaj, guiding it with the spirit of equality, justice, and truth.

Savitribai Phule continued to inspire thousands through her speeches, writings, and fearless work for the oppressed. Her compassion shone brightest during the devastating plague of 1897, when she opened a hospital to serve the suffering. Day and night, she cared for patients, offering not only medical help but hope and dignity. In her final act of service, carrying a sick child to the hospital, she contracted the disease herself and passed away on 10 March 1897. Savitribai’s life ended in sacrifice, but her legacy remains eternal, a symbol of love, courage, and unwavering commitment to social justice.

- The author is an Ambedkarite activist and a PhD scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, pursuing his research at the Centre for Dalit and Minority Studies