Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to social reformer Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary and hailed him for his role in transforming the plight of women and lower castes.

"I bow to Mahatma Phule on his jayanti. His selfless efforts towards social reform, women empowerment and education had transformative impacts," Modi tweeted.

I bow to Mahatma Phule on his Jayanti. His selfless efforts towards social reform, women empowerment & education had transformative impacts.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 11 अप्रैल 2017

Jyotiba Phule was born in 1827 in Maharashtra and belonged to the family of flower-sellers, a profession which gave him his surname.

He, along with his wife, Savitribai Phule, are remembered for fighting for women's rights and people of lower castes.

Phule is also credited with opening the first school for girls in India.