The correct option is (d).
Explanation
Jyotirao Phule was a prominent 19th-century social reformer from Maharashtra who led a movement against the caste system and Brahmanical supremacy. His ideology, famously articulated in his book Gulamgiri (1873), offered a radical reinterpretation of history to challenge the social hierarchy.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Phule argued that the Aryans were foreigners ("aliens") who came from outside the subcontinent. He claimed they subjugated the indigenous population, whom he referred to as the "true children of the country," and established their dominance through conquest.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Based on his theory of the Aryan invasion, Phule asserted that the "upper" castes, being descendants of these foreign conquerors, had no moral or historical right to the land and power they held. He argued that the land rightfully belonged to the indigenous people, the lower castes, who had been displaced and oppressed.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Phule actively proposed that the Shudras (labouring castes) and Ati Shudras (untouchables) must unite to challenge caste discrimination. This unity was central to the mission of the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers Society), which he founded to secure human rights and social justice for the marginalized.
Key Takeaway: Jyotirao Phule utilized the "Aryan Invasion Theory" to argue that upper castes were foreign oppressors, thereby delegitimizing their authority and calling for the unity of Shudras and Ati Shudras to reclaim their rights.