Mahatma Jyotirao Phule's reformist ideas played a significant role in shaping the social foundations of the Indian freedom movement. Elaborate.

"Mahatma Phule was first modern man of India, who thought beyond his period of existence" - Rabindranath Tagore

Reformist idea & Role played

1. In Domain of caste discrimination

(i) Provided moral reasons against caste based heirarchy (eg) - His work in "ghulamgiri"

(ii) Actively challenged priestly dominance (eg) call for no-priest marriages

(iii) provided alternate living to victims of untouchability. (eg) Loan through "Sarvajanik Satyadharma"

(2) Cause of gender Equality

(IV) Prevented sex - selective abortion eg Balhatya Prabandhan Grah

(V) Encouraged women education eg Taught along with his wife Savitribai phule.

(VI) Advocacy for widow remarriage eg - House for widows by Phule.

(VII) Encouraged own wife to act as role model

(3) Shaping Rationality in society

(VIII) Asked people to rationally question & obscure practices eg His article in "Sarvajanik Satyadharma"

(ix) Rationally Supported his assertion Eg 'Bali' against 'Ram' (popular assertion)

(x) Advocated for removal of all the Social evils from the Society.

Thus, Jyotiba Phule's teaching guides us even now in programms like

Mahatma phule thus is perfectly called as "social father" of Indian National movement