The correct answer is Option 3: an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra.

Satya Shodhak Samaj was a social reform movement founded by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 in Maharashtra, India. The main objective of this movement was to challenge and eradicate the caste-based discrimination prevalent in the Indian society during that time. The movement aimed to uplift the lower castes and promote social equality.

Jyotirao Phule, who was a social reformer and a prominent figure in the Satya Shodhak Samaj, advocated for the rights and welfare of the oppressed castes, including the untouchables or the Dalits. He strongly opposed the Brahminical dominance and caste-based discrimination, and worked towards creating a society based on equality, liberty, and fraternity.

The Satya Shodhak Samaj organized various campaigns and initiatives to achieve its objectives. These included spreading awareness about the oppressive caste system, advocating for equal rights and opportunities for all castes, promoting education among the lower castes, and encouraging inter-caste marriages. The movement also criticized traditional Hindu practices, rituals, and superstitions that reinforced caste discrimination.

The Satya Shodhak Samaj played a significant role in empowering the lower castes and challenging the existing social hierarchy. It emphasized the need for social and economic reforms, and worked towards creating a more just and inclusive society. The movement also inspired other social reform movements across India and contributed to the broader social reform movement during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In conclusion, Satya Shodhak Samaj was primarily an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra that aimed to eradicate caste-based discrimination and promote social equality. It focused on the upliftment of the lower castes and played a crucial role in advocating for their rights and welfare.