Jotirao Phooley was born in Pune in 1827 in a poor parant family. His father was Govindrao and mother Chimnabai. Jotirao began his studies at the age of seven in Marathi school and later went to a Scottish Mission School where he completed his studies in 1847. The young Jotirao was full of energy. He read avidly about the lives of Shivaji and George Washington and was inspired by their heroism and love for the motherland. Another great influence o Jotirao was the book 'Rights of man' by Thomas Paine. He decided to devote his life to the task of helping the down troden to break their shackles of bondage. In 1848 Phooley started a school the door of which he threw open to the 'untouchables' and the Girls' School dspite much opposition from certain quarters.

Jotirao carried on a crusade against caste system. In 1833 he founded Satya-Shodhak Samaj for spreading the message of emancipation of exploired masses and the weaker sex. Phooley also laboured for the amelioration of the lot of Indian peasants. He firmly believed in the axiom 'Truth Alone Triumphs'. Jotirao Phooley died on November 28, 1890.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India