One of the most outstanding philosophers and guides of India’s Dalit-Bahujan Movement, V T Rajshekar, founding Editor of Dalit Voice passed away at the age of 93, in Mangaluru, Karnataka.
Reminiscing him, eminent ecologist Dr S Faizi wrote on Facebook:
“Adieu Mr VT Rajshekar.
A true hero who was instrumental in stirring an intellectual resurgence and liberation struggle among india’s masses. He left his journalist job with Indian Express to found Dalit Voice, a fortnightly that was a university of education about India and its people. He used an intemperate language, but presented hard facts that are not known to those who depend on the mainstream for their education about our country’s issues.
Many of the current intellectuals and activists had the Dalit Voice for expressing themselves, and its letters to the editor part were especially vibrant. His books expanded Ambedkar for our time, he was also a force behind the publication of the full collection of Ambedkar.
He was once arrested and jailed, but never did he compromise. He was very close to VP Singh government but he never sought positions or favours. He was constantly under attack by the Hindutva fascist forces. In the final year of Dalit Voice he had to move to Mangalore for health reasons where the it was printed by a church press, but when they were threatened I guess Dalit Voice stoped publishing. A silent close down, even Amnesty International did not protest even as his son was its international head. Dalits, OBCs, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs have to introspect whether they have been at least grateful to him for his relentless writings for them.”
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Social activist Vidya Bhushan Rawat wrote:
” V.T. Rajshekar popularised the word ‘Dalit’ the world over through his powerful writings. I learnt a lot from him and can say in all my sincerity that he was one of the sources of my understanding of Ambedkarism and Bahujan movement all over the country.
Just sharing a rare interview that I was able to extract from him when I visited him in Mangalore several years back. We have lost an outstanding critique of the Brahmanical system in India. His command over language, his efficiency and his commitment for the cause remain unquestioned.”
