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
- 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
- Pa. RanjithKalabhavan 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 RamBabu 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
| S.no | Photo | Name | State | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damodaram Sanjivayya | Andhra Pradesh | First Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state. | |
| 2 | Bhola Paswan Shastri | Bihar | First Dalit Chief Minister of Bihar. | |
| 3 | Ram Sundar Das | Former Chief Minister of Bihar. | ||
| 4 | Mayawati | Uttar Pradesh | First Dalit woman Chief Minister in India. | |
| 5 | Jagannath Pahadia | Rajasthan | First Dalit Chief Minister of Rajasthan. | |
| 6 | Sushilkumar Shinde | Maharashtra | First Dalit Chief Minister of Maharashtra. | |
| 7 | Jitan Ram Manjhi | Bihar | Former Chief Minister of Bihar. | |
| 8 | Charanjit Singh Channi | Punjab | First Dalit Sikh Chief Minister. |
Governors
| S.no | Photo | Name | State(s) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suraj Bhan | Uttar Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Bihar | Served as Governor of multiple Indian states and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha. | |
| 2 | Buta Singh | Bihar | Former Union Home Minister; served as Governor of Bihar. | |
| 3 | Ram Nath Kovind | Bihar | Served as Governor of Bihar (2015–2017); later became the 14th President of India. | |
| 4 | Baby Rani Maurya | Uttarakhand | Served as Governor of Uttarakhand (2018–2021). | |
| 5 | Thawar Chand Gehlot | Karnataka | Former Union Minister; appointed Governor of Karnataka in 2021. | |
| 6 | R. S. Gavai | Bihar Sikkim Kerala | Former Governor of multiple Indian states; senior Dalit leader of the Republican Party of India. |
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
- Dalit activists
- Dalit saints