Dalit Panthers

In the early ’70s, educated teenagers from Mumbai’s slums founded the Dalit Panther Movement (DPM), inspired by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. In addition, inspired by the Black Panthers’ civil rights and anti-racism campaign, writer-poets J V Pawar and Namdeo Dhasal formed the Dalit Panthers .Their rage was fueled by recent atrocious crimes against Dalits, including the parading of a nude Dalit lady in Pune district and the horrific incident gouging out of the eyes of two Dalit males in Dhakali village in Akola district.  Dalit Panther arose as a spontaneous and forceful response to atrocities committed against Dalits in Maharashtra. It altered the state’s political scene and had an unquestionable influence on Indian Dalit politics.

The need for the movement:

The British government provided lower caste people separate elections and electorates. The change was intended to give the community greater authority and make it stronger. Dr Ambedkar believed it would benefit the lower caste people, Gandhi opposed it, believing it would simply widen the difference. This resulted in the Poona Pact, in which Ambedkar pledged to oppose separate elections. This, however, aided Ambedkar in the creation of the “Reservation Act for Scheduled Castes”.

Following Babasaheb’s death, the young who remained were deeply inspired by his principles and wished to keep his legacy alive. Namdeo Dhasal and J. V. Pawar were youthful poets and storytellers who began organising Dalit youth. They adopted the term Dalit since it was devoid of religious connotations. The movement’s principles were Marxist theories blended with Buddhist virtues.

About the founders:

Namdev Dhasal, a Marathi poet, was their most recognised and admirable leader. His poetry, such as Golpitha, drew attention from throughout India. His demeanour was enticing and intriguing. Namdev, a Dalit himself, was a cab driver on Mumbai’s streets. Raja Dhale, also a founding member of the trio, was a young author, smart, and well-spoken.

Some of the achievements of Dalit Panthers:

• Dalit Panther has had a massive influence on both the national political and social landscapes. Few people realise that Dalit Panther influenced the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Kashiram, who elevated the Dalit politics game to another level in North India.
• The Dalit Panther Party offered the guts to rise and battle against the heinous crimes against Dalits.
• Dalit Panther fought the mainstream power politics of the day with poems and novels, and subsequently with plays, street plays, and other forms of art, resulting in an obvious rival movement. This movement provided Dalits and labourers with a voice. It is Dalit Panther’s most notable accomplishment.
• They spoke out against the oppressive caste system.
• They served as a deterrent to power politics.
• They began a discussion on Dr Ambedkar’s beliefs.
• They made significant contributions to Dalit literature.
• They were successful in establishing a counterculture and a distinct identity.
• They popularised the name “Dalit” in place of phrases like “Harijans” and “Untouchables.”

Conclusion:

Panther is an inspiring movement for today’s Maharashtrian youth, particularly Dalit youth. Panther’s 50th anniversary is being planned and organised by young people.

Although it was short-lived, the movement had a significant influence on Dalits in India. It ushered in a new period of Dalit literature, poetry, and storytelling, allowing them to display their ability and bring their issue to the forefront. The Maharashtra-based movement quickly extended to other states. 

In both the United States and India, the Panthers addressed basic and important concerns about the essence of freedom, liberty, and justice for the oppressed — blacks in the United States and Dalits in India. What they were fighting for back then is still a matter of life and death for black and Dalit communities today, as evidenced by ongoing incidences of police violence, lethal vigilante justice and denial of equal rights.