Who among the following leaders established the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj' (Society of Seekers of Truth) in 1873 to champion the rights of lower castes and untouchables in Maharashtra?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Jyotirao Phule established the Satya Shodhak Samaj in 1873 with the primary objective of securing social justice, human rights, and educational access for lower castes, untouchables, and women in Maharashtra. Alternative reformers like B.R. Ambedkar led later phases of the Dalit liberation movement, while the Prarthana Samaj focused on religious and social reforms within a different framework. Phule authored the seminal work Gulamgiri, which remains a key text for modern Indian history.