List of Dalits

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

Academics

• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, economist and politician
• Meghnad Saha, astrophysicist who developed the Saha ionization equation
• Narendra Jadhav, economist, writer and educationist
• Satyendra Murli, researcher, media pedagogue and journalist
• Sukhadeo Thorat, economist and Padma Shri recipient

Activists

• Anand Teltumbde, Indian scholar, writer, and human rights activist
• K.P. Ashwini, UN Special rapporteur on racism from 2022
• Ayyankali, Indian social reformer
• Gopal Baba Walangkar, activist
• Immanuvel Sekaran, a freedom fighter and civil rights activist
• Kuyili, freedom fighter and Commander in Chief of Velu Nachiyar
• Meena Kandaswamy, poet and Dalit activist
• Manu Bheel former bonded laborer and human rights activist from Pakistan
• Rettamalai Srinivasan, activist and politician
• Uda Devi, freedom fighter

Art

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

Cinema and television

• Kanjibhai Rathod, an Indian director, is considered the first successful director of Indian cinema
• Kalabhavan Mani, actor and singer
• Pa. Ranjith, director and filmmaker
• P.K. Rosy, first heroine in Malayalam cinema
• Tun Tun, actress and comedian of Hindi cinema
• Neeraj Ghaywan, director
• Nagraj Manjule, director
• Archana Gautam, Indian actress and winner of Miss Bikini India 2018.

Literature

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

Music

• Ilaiyaraaja, Indian music composer
• Amar Singh Chamkila, Indian Punjabi singer and songwriter
• Arivu, Indian rapper and songwriter
• Ginni Mahi, Indian singer
• Sumeet Samos, Indian anti-caste rapper
• Vedan, Indian rapper and songwriter

Politicians

Presidents

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

Deputy Prime Ministers

• Babu Jagjivan Ram, 4th deputy prime minister of India, Indian freedom fighter and founder of Depressed Class Association

Speakers of the Lok Sabha

• G. M. C. Balayogi, 12th Speaker of the Lok Sabha and MP of Amalapuram
• Meira Kumar, 1st Woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Suraj Bhan, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Himachal Pradesh and UP, Bihar

Chief Ministers

Governors

Politicians

• Jogendra Nath Mandal, one of the central figures in creation of the state of Pakistan; later a government minister
• Dakshayani Velayudhan, Indian politician and the sole Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly.
• Ram Vilas Paswan, 11 times Member of Parliament and many times Minister in the Union Government; founder and President of Lok Janshakti Party
• Ram Ratan Ram, Member of Parliament 1984-1989, MLA and Minister in Bihar State 1952-1984
• Kanshi Ram, founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, a Dalit leader and Bahujan Nayak of India
• Bangaru Laxman, former President of Bharatiya Janta Party
• Kirpa Ram Punia, Dalit leader, former IAS officer, and politician
• B. Shyam Sunder, founder of Bharatiya Bhim Sena
• Shambhavi Choudhary, Lok Sabha MP from Samastipur

Religion and reform

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

See also

• List of Jatav
• Dalit Music
• Dalit Literature
• Dalit History Month

References