Jyotiba Phule was a highly respected Social Reformer of the 19th century. In this context describe:

(a) His contribution to uplift lower Castes and Women.

(b) Formation of Satya Shodhak Samaj and its aims and activities.

(a) Contributions of Jyotiba Phule for the upliftment of lower Castes and Women:

1. Jyotiba Phule considered caste system as slavery.
2. His book 'Ghulamgiri' focused on the Brahmin domination and the poverty, hardship and distress which the lower castes were then facing.
3. Phule strongly felt that all the problems of Dalits could be solved if proper education was provided to them.
4. Phule said that the women were superior to men because they "bore children and nursed them".
5. Phule established in 1848 one of the first Girls schools in India.
6. He set up an orphanage in 1854 to provide shelter to poor widows and their children.
7. He also founded a number of schools for girls and the lower castes, i.e., the Mahars and the Mangs.
8. He founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj on 24th September, 1873 to mitigate the distress and sufferings of dalits and women.

(b) Formation of Satya Shodhak Samaj and its aims and activities:

1. Jyotiba Phule founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj on 24th September, 1873.
2. The main objective of this society was to mitigate the distress and sufferings of dalits and women.
3. His wife, Savitribai was the Head of the Women's Wing of the Society.