Sir,
Apropos to the news item “Rajnath lauds Arya Samaj for promoting girls’ education, clean environment” DE Oct 29, 2018. Here our Home Minister has told only half truth. The Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda a great social reformist on 10 April 1875. The Arya Samaj is Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. As per Hindu Laws, a woman was debarred to get education and owning any property in her name. Swami Dayanand ji gave access to girl education in schools opened by him much later than the schools opened in Pune by Mata Savitribai Phuley.
She was a revolutionary Dalit lady.She, under the guidance and protection of her husband Mahatama Jyotirao Phuley, opened a series of 18 schools including special schools for girls against tough opposition from orthodox Hindus who were opposing all such efforts. Their first girls school was opened on 1-1-1848. Again, as regarding clean environment Dabu Ji or Saint Baba Gadge Ji Maharaj of Maharashtra Dhobi ( Dalit) by caste also did a pioneering job for keeping environment neat. He not only educated people to keep their environment neat and clean but before holding his “Kirtans” in any village, he himself cleaned and watered the village streets for at least one hour with out even receiving any salutation from his followers.
The Government of Maharashtra started the Sant Gadge Baba Gram Swachata Abhiyan project in 2000-01 in his honour. This programme awards prizes to villagers, who maintain clean villages. In addition, the Government of India instituted a National Award for Sanitation and Water in his honour.The ” University of Amravati” has also been named in his honour. The Home Minister should have at least made mention of these two pioneers as a tribute to their selfless services.
H R Phonsa
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