The government on Monday notified a 126-member committee, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to coordinate the upcoming celebrations of the bicentenary birth anniversary of social reformer Jyotirao Govindrao Phule.
Former presidents Pratibha Patel and Ram Nath Kovind, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, former CJIs B R Gavai and KG Balakrishnan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot are among other prominent members of the committee.
However, it does not include Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and Congress and Rajya Sabha president Lope Mallikarjun Kharge.
The committee was notified by the Ministry of Culture on Monday. “To celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Shriman Jyotrao Govindrao Phule during the period from April 11, 2026 to April 11, 2028, the relevant authority has approved the formation of a high-level committee.”
The mandate of the team is to “approve policies/plans and programmes, supervise and direct the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, including preparatory activities…”
The notification stated that the Indian government would consider the committee’s recommendations for implementation, taking into account established rules, instructions and practices.
Born in 1827, Phule remains a cornerstone of the anti-caste movement in India. He was celebrated for his tireless work in women’s education and his role in establishing the Satyashodhak Samaj, which sought to secure equal rights for marginalized communities.
Except for the chief ministers of the election-bound states, the committee comprises several chief ministers, including Omar Abdullah, Siddaramaiah and Rekha Gupta, as its members.
A senior official indicated that after the elections, new representatives will be included from these states. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is set to resign after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, is also missing.
The committee also has 34 Union ministers, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari as members, along with MPs S Vanjun Konyak, R Krishnaiah, Amol Kolhe, Jyoti Waghmar, PT Usha and Upendra Kushwaha.
Cabinet Minister T V Somanathan, Home Minister Govind Mohan, Social Justice Minister S Pant, Culture Minister Vivek Agarwal, Agriculture Minister Atish Chandra, Education Minister Sanjay Kumar and NCBC chief Niranjan Jyoti were included in the committee. Spiritual leaders like Jaggi Vasudev, Mata Amritanandamayi, and Baba Ramdev are also included.
