Who among the following established the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj' (Society of Seekers of Truth) in 1873 to uplift lower castes and oppressed classes in Maharashtra?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in Pune in 1873 to challenge social stratification and liberate Shudras and Ati-Shudras from upper-caste hegemony. Unlike moderate reformers such as Mahadev Govind Ranade who worked within institutional frameworks, Phule focused on direct grassroots mobilization and education for marginalized communities. His pioneering social activism remains a cornerstone of the non-Brahman movement in western India.