Namdeo Dhasal: Dalit Panthers Founder, Poet, Activist, and Voice of the Oppressed

• Namdeo Dhasal, a prominent Dalit poet, thinker, and activist, co-founded the Dalit Panther movement in June 1972 in Mumbai, inspired by America's Black Panthers Party.
• The Dalit Panther movement aimed to fight against poverty, exploitation, and discrimination faced by Dalits, drawing inspiration from Karl Marx and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• Dhasal's poetry, particularly his collection 'Golpitha', reflected his anger against adverse circumstances and his experiences growing up amidst poverty and social outcasts.
• Despite political setbacks and criticisms for alliances with Indira Gandhi and Shiv Sena, Dhasal's sympathizers argue his actions were aimed at protecting party workers and bringing Dalits into mainstream politics.
• Dhasal received the Soviet Land Nehru Award, Padma Shri in 1999, and Sahitya Akademi's Golden Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Marathi literature, passing away in 2014 after battling colon cancer.

Why It Matters: Namdeo Dhasal was a revolutionary Dalit poet and activist who founded the Dalit Panthers to fight for social justice.