Collective efforts needed to preserve ‘Satyashodhak’ tradition: Sharad Pawar
Pune, Thursday (July3): Senior politician and NCP (SP) President Sharad on Thursday said that social reformer Mahatma Jotiba Phule was not only a social reformer but also an entrepreneur, an educationist, a developer, an ambitious prudent personality, and a pioneer in agriculture. His multi-faceted personality should be introduced to society. Today, Phule inspires us to fight against regressive tendencies. He was a revolutionary. The writer should research lives of Satyashodhak (rationalists) personalities, who contributed to society before and after Phule.
Pawar was speaking at the release of a book in Marathi titled ‘Savitribai, Jotibanche Shikshak Mitchell Dampatya Ani Stree Shikshanatil Purvasuri’ penned by Veteran Journalist, Writer and Researcher Camil Parkhe
Writer Camil Parkhe, Chetak Prakashan’s Madan Hajeri, former MLA Jaidev Gaikwad, Senior Editor Arun Khore and Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS) President Ganesh Chinchole, and ANS Secretary Deepak Girme were present.
Parkhe said, “Many people, unknown to history, supported Savitribai and Jotiba Phule’s work in the education and other fields.
Gaffar Baig Munshi and Father Lizit Saheb were two such persons. One needs to study the circumstances, incidents, and persons associated with a great personality to know their contribution to society. Studying the Phule couple’s contemporaries gives us a truthful peek into their era.
“Names of Jotiba’s teacher James Mitchell, Cynthia Farrar and Mrs Mitchell who trained Savitribai as a teacher, John Stevenson, Dr John Wilson, Margaret Wilson and John Murray Mitchell crop up in various biographies of Savitribai and Jotiba Phule in various contexts. However, not much has been written about these people, throwing more light on the social reformer couple’s lives. This book will surely fill that gap.”
ANS member Praveen Deshmukh made the introductory speech. Rahul Mane compered. Elizabeth Parkhe proposed a vote of thanks. ANS member Milind Deshmukh and Nandini Jadhav were present.
