Lucknow/Ayodhya: he 104th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj, widely regarded as a pioneer of social justice and equality, was observed with reverence at Bihari village in the Mayabazar development block under Gosainganj Assembly constituency.
A tribute ceremony was held to honour the legacy of the reformist ruler, where leaders, social workers, and local residents paid floral tributes and remembered his contributions to building an egalitarian society.
Addressing the gathering, Gosainganj in-charge Chaudhary Lautanram Nishad described Shahu Ji Maharaj as a “towering figure of social justice, equality, and humanity.” He said the day is not only a remembrance of a king but also a tribute to a visionary who transformed governance into a tool for public welfare.
Nishad said Shahu Ji Maharaj represented a rare blend of compassion and leadership. “He did not treat the throne as a symbol of power but as a responsibility towards society’s upliftment,” he said.
Highlighting his reformist vision, Nishad noted that the Maharaj identified deep-rooted social inequalities such as caste discrimination, lack of education, and marginalisation of weaker sections. He said Shahu Ji Maharaj actively worked to dismantle these barriers through progressive governance.
He credited the ruler for promoting education as a tool of empowerment by establishing schools, hostels, scholarships, and free education for backward classes, Dalits, farmers, labourers, and women. “He illuminated lives that were pushed into darkness,” Nishad added.
A key highlight of his legacy, Nishad said, was the introduction of reservation for backward classes in 1902, which marked a historic milestone in India’s social justice movement. He described it as a revolutionary step that laid the foundation for constitutional values of equality in modern India.
Shahu Ji Maharaj’s policies, he said, directly challenged caste discrimination and ensured equal access to education, public services, and administrative opportunities. He emphasised that the Maharaj firmly believed that human dignity is defined not by caste but by humanity.
The leaders also highlighted his support for social reform movements led by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his inspirational influence on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s struggle for equality.
The tribute meeting described his administration as a “laboratory of social justice,” where policies were designed to uplift the marginalised and ensure dignity for all sections of society.
Speakers stressed that his ideology remains relevant today for policymakers, administrators, educators, and social activists. They called for renewed commitment to building an inclusive and equitable society.
The event was presided over by Vijay Bahadur Verma, National Secretary of the Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade, and coordinated by Jagannath Pal, State Secretary of the Samajwadi Party Backward Class Cell.
Several leaders, including Sandeep Yadav Sunny, Shrichand Chaurasia, Rambachan Saini, Chhotu Pal, Tribhuvan Prajapati, Chandrashekhar Singh Yadav, and Ravindra Verma, also addressed the gathering and paid their respects.
The ceremony concluded with a collective pledge to uphold the principles of equality, social justice, and inclusivity envisioned by Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj.
