Gulamgiri

by Jyotirao Govindrao Phule

Jyotirao Govindrao Phule[a] (11 April 1827 - 28 November 1890) was an Indian social activist for the Dalit people, an thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. He criticised the role of Brahmins in Hindu society and blamed the Brahmins as conspiring to keep the lower castes oppressed and suppressed. In his book, Gulamgiri, He openly thanks Christian missionaries and the British colonists for making the lower castes realise that they are worthy of all human rights too. Notably he dedicated his book Gulamgiri ( slavery), a seminal on women, Caste and reform, to the African American movement to end slavery.[17] His akhandas were organically linked to the abhangs of Marathi Varkari saint Tukaram.

Genres: Nonfiction, India

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1873

Reviews

[Ankit Ramteke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gulamgiri is one of the most famous and important work of Mahatma Jotiba Phule, it was originally published in 1873, written in Marathi with a preface in English where Phule dedicated his work to the activists of United States working ardently to end the inhuman system of Slavery, and urged his own countrymen to follow their example to end the thralldom of Shudra and Dalits under the Brahmanical Oppression. In English he titled his book as Slavery: (In the civilized British Government and under the cloak of Brahmanism).

It was written as dialogue between himself and a character called Dhondiba and exposed the illogical nature of Hindu mythology. Jotibha stringently critiqued the Brahmanical religious dogma which gave rise to evils of caste system, untouchability and Sati Pratha.

Gulamgiri is clear and loud proclamation that denies the existence of man made Brahmanical Gods. Jotibha refuses to entertain any notion of God that encourages one person to kill and oppress another, which teaches man to treat women as inferior, which denies the humanity of Shudra and Dalits, and most importantly which teaches one person to hate another.

[Mridula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the translation (Slavery). It presents such powerful rational arguments to turn the Brahmanical mythological narratives - that have been used over centuries to divide the Indian society on caste and subjugate majority of its people - over its head. I am indebted to Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule for opening the first school for women and the oppressed castes. It's so infuriating that this history which is the history of MOST of the Indians is obscured by a hegemonic minority of upper castes. This book is a milestone in learning to be anti-caste. #AnnihilationOfCaste

[Aditi Bhatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and insightful! Some very logical questions put forward to prove Brahmanical dominance in the past.

[Charandeep Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A systematic critique of the Indian caste system written in a dialogic form. Jyotiba Phule can be considered Ambedkar's intellectual predecessor as he paved the way for caste reform in India much before the Dalit movement gained momentum in the political arena.

[Amit Tiwary · Rating 1 out of 5]

हालाँकि इस क़िताब का ऐतिहासिक दृष्टि से बहुत महत्व है पर भाषा, तथ्य, रचना और साहित्यिक कोणों से ये एक बेहद दोयम, असंगठित और झेलाऊ ही नज़र आती है. विषय और उसकी शाखाओं को कवर करने की बात की जाय तो अंबेडकर की रचनाएं इसकी तुलना में कहीं बेहतर हैं. गुलामी, ब्राह्मणवाद, हिन्दू धर्म, शुद्र, अछूत आदि विषयों में रूचि रखने वाले लोग इस क़िताब को न पढ़ें तो भी उनके ज्ञान में ज़रा भी कमी नहीं रहेगी.

[Gautam Mohite · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Gulamgiri' traces the history of Shudras who eventually became the fourth Varna of the oppressive Hindu caste structure. Eventually some Shudra communities (by gaining relative power from the caste hierarchy) also gained some social capital and became the oppressors for what we today refer to as ex-untouchables. The book starts with Vedic age Aryan invasion down to modern society and describes without sugarcoating, the devious and vile methods used by Brahmins to ensure that their undeserving hegemony is retained. It is no surprise that Dr. Ambedkar dedicated his book 'Who Were the Shudras' to Jotirao Phule, as both these books are sharp and unflinching critiques of the caste Hindu society.

[Jaiseri · Rating 3 out of 5]

सन् १८२७ अप्रिल ११ मा जन्मेका ज्योतिराव गोविन्दराव फुले अर्थात ज्योतिबा फुले भारतमा दलित अधिकारका लागि लड्ने अग्रणी योद्धा भनेर चिनिन्छन् ।

क्लब हाउसको एक बसाइमा दलित अधिकारका विषयमा कुरा हुंदा दलित शब्दको प्रयोग ज्योतिबा फुलेले नै गरेका हुन् भन्ने जानकारी पाएदेखि उनका बारेमा थप जान्ने। हुटहुटी बढेको थियो । खोज्दै जांदा कसरी कसरी गुलामगिरी हात लाग्यो । खासमा यो पुस्तक पढ्दा दलित शब्दको प्रयोगको बारेमा थप केहि थाहा पाइन्छ कि भन्ने थियो । ज्योतिबा फुलेका बारेमा केहि जानकारी र उनले हिन्दु धर्मग्रन्थको वैकल्पिक व्याख्या गरेको प्रसंगहरु बाहेक त्यस्तो धेरै केहि भेटिएन ।

पढ्नुपर्ने किताब हो तर धेरै अपेक्षा नराखी पढेको राम्रो होला ।

[Shreyasi Sur · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Gulamgiri" is a book by Jyotirao Phule that critiques the caste system in India and Brahminical supremacy.
It explores the topics of how men dominated the society and women were always tortured. He was completely against this and also the bramhin centric society who created such mess. Bramhins thought they are superior and they looked down upon the lower castes. Jyotiba Phule wrote this book against all these systems and wanted a change in the society. A Great one. Highly recommended.

[Sukanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I wish I could have read it a decade ago.
Everything just changed after reading the book. I got almost all the answers of my questions about Indian civilisation. I was always blaming Britishers for the situation but the reality is completely different. An eye opening book everybody should read….

[Pramod Pant · Rating 3 out of 5]

great for awakening our downtrodden ( or Dalits ) . one problem that I see ( I am a Brahmin) is that Jyotiba is against Brahmins as a community ( as a group) with animosity ! I don't see other castes that way !!!

so ...

[Ritesh Samma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still relevant in India- must read to change.

[Ganny · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤗🤗🤗🤗😍😍

[Mahender Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ब्राह्मणों और पुरोहितों की लूट को उजागर करती अच्छी पुस्तक।

[Prabhakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radical thinking which shaped the future of Maharashtra. It was 200 years ago.

[Tapas Mohanty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gulamgiri

An important book of its times and still holds relevance. Needs to be read keeping in mind the the context and the time in which it was written.

[Braj shekhar Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book


अपने अतीत और बर्तमान को जानने का एक बहुत ही अच्छा पुस्तक हैँ ये, must read it. It is eye opner book.

[vivek g विवेक घाटे · Rating 5 out of 5]

marathi:
he, phule yancha khand, mi vachlele jatiche samdat vivechan ahe, ani phule ahe to jaticha-tatvajnacha/jaticha-tatvajnanicha ekach baap (agdi ambedkar bolayla ki "jyotiba ek majhe guru ahe"). to ani tyachi bayko savitribai jaticha todnecha chinha ani samta amchyasaathi dalit lok ani mi asha karto ki samda savarna lok he khand vachte mahit asnesaathi dalitcha jivancha vastav.

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english:
this, phule's volume, is by far the best commentary on caste i have ever read, and phule is the one and only father of caste-philosophy/caste-philosophers (even as ambedkar said "jyotiba is one of my gurus"). he and his wife savitribai are symbols of caste-breaking and quality for all of us dalits and i hope that all upper caste people read this volume to know the reality of dalit life.

[Nilesh Injulkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is named Gulamgiri because it starts by thanking people of America for fighting for civil rights of the slaves.

The book proposes very interesting theory about Brahmins being Iranian migrants and shudras being aboriginal Indians and how there were conflicts and wars between their kings and how Brahmins came to the dominance.
After that it goes on about how hindu religious scriptures were used to fool and suppress the ignorant shudras, and how the great game of casteism & untouchability was used to divide the rest of the people into different casts to make sure they don’t unite and fight the suppressors.

Then the book talks about how Brahmins controlled the education and government systems to keep others away and make use of them for their own benefits.

Being born into small village in western Maharashtra I had seen local gods like Mhasoba, Khandoba etc but had never read or heard about their origin. So I found stories of Bali king and his senapatis becoming represented with these gods very interesting.

After the book, I see how religious scriptures and selectively glorified past of the culture is still being used to brainwash and suppress the masses. Which is still possible due to the wide spread mass ignorance.

[Shashwat Ratna Mishra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave Gulamgiri by Jyotiba Phule 1 out of 5 stars, not because I don’t respect him, but because I personally didn’t connect with this book. I truly admire Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule for their groundbreaking work in fighting caste discrimination and empowering women. Their contribution to social reform is something I really look up to.

But speaking just about this book, I felt like it was written with a very one-sided perspective. A major part of it is focused on criticizing Brahmins and figures like Lord Parashuram, mainly by pointing to selective parts of texts like the Manusmriti. Yes, he does question the Vedas too, but overall, it felt like he was trying too hard to prove his point by only showing one side of the story.

At times, it didn’t feel like an argument, it felt more like frustration turned into text. I totally get the anger and the reasons behind it, but I believe a broader and more balanced view would have made the book much stronger. For me, it just didn’t work!

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghulamgiri by Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (1827-1890) The author was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. His work extended to many fields, including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and women's emancipation. He is mostly known for his efforts in educating women and lower caste people. The Book throws light on his philosophy about the importance of education in life. He not only preached this philosophy but also brought in practice by opening a school for girls. His book has given encouragement to later social reformers like B R Ambedkar and others. The book brings a turning point in the Indian society by accepting the fact that education for all and more work should be done for emancipation of women, widows, ophans. The book is now of historical importance.

[Vaibhav Wagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has presented the other side of the story, of the myths and legends which glorify false heroes which some ignorant people still worship. He has exposed the bigotry of the selfish brahmins who have for centuries exploited the rayat with the help of their fraud & deceptive puranas and other such useless books.

[Lucas Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. It's ironical, the things that Jyotiba Phule said in colonial India will never be repeated in free India. In free India he will be denounced as an anti national and be thrown in jail under UAPA.

[Vijay · Rating 5 out of 5]

the one of the great book I ever read... only Mahatma Phule can write like this...

[Shivam Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book but many fictional stories

[Pratik Sakpal · Rating 5 out of 5]

no 1 book ever...