List of Dalits

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This is a list of notable Dalit individuals, categorized by their contributions across various fields and professions.

Academics

Babasaheb Ambedkar

• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, economist and politician ^[1]
• Meghnad Saha, astrophysicist who developed the Saha ionization equation ^[2]
• Narendra Jadhav, economist, writer and educationist ^[3]
• Satyendra Murli, researcher, media pedagogue and journalist ^{[4] [5]}
• Sukhadeo Thorat, economist and Padma Shri recipient ^[6]

Activists

• Anand Teltumbde, Indian scholar, writer, and human rights activist ^{[7] [8]}
• K.P. Ashwini, UN Special rapporteur on racism from 2022 ^{[9] [10]}
• Ayyankali, Indian social reformer ^[11]
• Gopal Baba Walangkar, activist ^[12]
• Immanuvel Sekaran, a freedom fighter and civil rights activist ^[13]
• Kuyili, freedom fighter and Commander in Chief of Velu Nachiyar ^[14]
• Meena Kandaswamy, poet and Dalit activist ^[15]
• Manu Bheel former bonded laborer and human rights activist from Pakistan ^[16]
• Rettamalai Srinivasan, activist and politician ^[17]
• Uda Devi, freedom fighter ^[18]

Art

• Savindra Savarkar, Indian artist, known for his use of Buddhist imagery and Dalit subjectivity ^[19]

Cinema and television

• Kanjibhai Rathod, an Indian director, is considered the first successful director of Indian cinema ^{[20] [21]}
• Kalabhavan Mani, actor and singer ^[22]
• Pa. Ranjith, director and filmmaker ^[23]
• P.K. Rosy, first heroine in Malayalam cinema ^[24]
• Tun Tun, actress and comedian of Hindi cinema ^[25]
• Neeraj Ghaywan, director ^{[26] [27]}
• Nagraj Manjule, director ^[28]
• Archana Gautam, Indian actress and winner of Miss Bikini India 2018. ^[29]

Literature

• Annabhau Sathe, Indian folk poet, writer, and social worker from Maharashtra. ^[30]
• Shailendra, Indian poet and lyricist ^[31]
• Baburao Bagul, Marathi writer ^[32]
• Daya Pawar, Marathi writer who received Padma Shri ^[33]
• Lal Singh Dil, Punjabi poet ^[34]
• Namdeo Dhasal, Marathi poet and writer from Maharashtra ^[35]
• Neerav Patel, first Dalit poet to write poetry in English ^[36]
• Om Prakash Valmiki, Hindi poet and writer ^[37]
• P. Sivakami, Dalit-feminist Tamil writer ^[38]
• Yashica Dutt, Indian writer and journalist ^[39]
• Manoranjan Byapari, Bengali writer, Activist and chairman of west Bengal Dalit Sahitya Academy

Music

• Ilaiyaraaja, Indian music composer ^{[40] [41]}
• Amar Singh Chamkila, Indian Punjabi singer and songwriter ^[42]
• Arivu, Indian rapper and songwriter ^[43]
• Ginni Mahi, Indian singer ^[44]
• Sumeet Samos, Indian anti-caste rapper ^[45]
• Vedan, Indian rapper and songwriter ^[46]

Politicians

Presidents

• K. R. Narayanan, 10th president of India (1997–2002) and 9th vice president of India (1992–1997) ^[47]
• Ramnath Kovind, 14th President of India ^[48]

Speakers of Lok Sabha

• G. M. C. Balayogi, 14th Speaker of Lok Sabha and MP of Amalapuram ^[49]
• Meira Kumar, Speaker of Lok Sabha ^[50]
• Suraj Bhan, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Himachal Pradesh and UP, Bihar ^[51]

Chief Ministers

• Damodaram Sanjivayya, 2nd Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state. ^{[52] [53]}
• Ram Sundar Das, former Chief Minister, Bihar ^[54]
• Bhola Paswan Shastri, former Chief Minister of Bihar ^[55]
• Jagannath Pahadia, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan ^[55]
• Mayawati, 18th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the first Dalit woman to hold the position of Chief Minister in the country. ^{[56] [57]}
• Sushilkumar Shinde, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra ^{[58] [59]}
• Charanjit Singh Channi, 16th Chief Minister of Punjab ^[60]
• Jitan Ram Majhi, 23rd Chief Minister of Bihar

Members of the State Legislative council (MLC)

• Yashwant Ambedkar, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council
• Goreti Venkanna, Member of Telangana Legislative Council ^[61]

Politicians

• Jagjivan Ram, Dalit leader, 4th deputy prime minister of india, Indian freedom fighter and founder of Depressed Class Association ^{[62] [63] [64]}
• Mallikarjun Kharge, Indian lawyer and politician and current President of Indian National Congress. ^[65]
• Jogendra Nath Mandal, one of the central figures in creation of the state of Pakistan; later a government minister ^[66]
• Dakshayani Velayudhan, Indian politician and the sole Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly. ^{[67] [68]}
• Ram Vilas Paswan, 11 times Member of Parliament and many times Minister in the Union Government; founder and President of Lok Janshakti Party ^[69]
• Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, President of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, former Parliamentarian ^[70]
• Thol Thirumavalavan, President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Chidambaram
• Ashok Tanwar, President of Haryana Congress, former Member of Parliament ^[71]
• Ram Ratan Ram, Member of Parliament 1984-1989, MLA and Minister in Bihar State 1952-1984 ^[72]
• Kanshi Ram, founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, a Dalit leader and Bahujan Nayak of India ^[73]
• Bangaru Laxman, former President of Bharatiya Janta Party ^[74]
• Kirpa Ram Punia, Dalit leader, former IAS officer, and politician ^[75]
• B. Shyam Sunder, founder of Bharatiya Bhim Sena ^[76]
• Chandrasekhar Azad, Founder of Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party, and current Member of Parliament representing the Nagina constituency. ^{[77] [78]}
• Chirag Paswan, politician and former actor ^{[79] [80]}
• Jayanthi Rajan, National General Secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League ^[81]

Religion and reform

• Chokhamela, poet and saint from Maharashtra, India during 13th–14th century ^{[82] [83]}
• Ravidas, Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th–16th century CE. ^[84]
• Harichand Thakur, established the Matua sect of Vaishnavite Hinduism ^[85]
• Swami Achhootanand, 20th century Indian social reformer, established the Adi Hindu movement. ^[86]
• Marampudi Joji, third Archbishop of Hyderabad ^[87]
• Gallela Prasad, fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India ^[88]

See also

• Dalit Music
• Dalit Literature
• Dalit History Month
• Dalit activists
• Dalit saints

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