Namdeo Laxman Dhasal (15 February 1949 – 15 January 2014) was a Marathi poet, writer and Dalit activist from Maharashtra, India. He was one of the founders of the Dalit Panthers in 1972, a social movement aimed at destroying caste hierarchy in Indian society. The movement was active in the 1970s and the 1980s during which time it popularised the usage of the term dalit in India. Dhasal was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999[1] and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sahitya Akademi in 2004.
Namdeo Dhasal was born in 1949, in the village of Pur in Khed taluka, Poona, India. He and his family moved to Mumbai when he was six. A member of the Mahar caste, he grew up in dire poverty.[2] He was a Buddhist.[3]
Following the example of the American Black Panther movement, he founded the Dalit Panther movement with friends in 1972. This social movement worked for the reconstruction of society on the basis of the Phule, Shahu, and Ambedkar movements.[2]
Dhasal wrote columns for the Marathi daily Saamana. Earlier, he worked as an editor for the weekly Satyata.[4] In 1972, he published his first volume of poetry, Golpitha. More poetry collections followed: Moorkh Mhataryane (By a Foolish Old Man), inspired by Maoist thoughts; Tujhi Iyatta Kanchi? (How Educated Are You?); Khel; and Priya Darshini, about former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
During this time, Dhasal also wrote two novels and published pamphlets such as Andhale Shatak (Century of Blindness) and Ambedkari Chalwal (Ambedkarite Movement), a reflection on the socialist and communist concepts of B. R. Ambedkar.
Later, he published two more collections of poetry: Mi Marale Suryachya Rathache Sat Ghode (I Killed the Seven Horses of the Sun), and Tujhe Boat Dharoon Mi Chalalo Ahe (I'm Walking, Holding Your Finger).
In 1977 Dhasal married noted Marathi writer Malika Amar Sheikh after a brief courtship. However, the marriage was troubled due to Dhasal's alleged domestic violence, alcoholism and problems with debt.[5] In 1981, Dhasal was diagnosed with myasthenia. Later, he suffered from colorectal cancer. He was admitted for treatment in a Mumbai hospital in September 2013. He died in 2014 at age 64.
ActivismEdit
In 1972 cracks began to appear in the Dalit Panther movement. Ideological disputes began to eclipse the common goal of liberation. Dhasal wanted to engender a mass movement and widen the term Dalit to include all oppressed people, but the majority of his comrades insisted on maintaining the exclusivity of their organization.
Dhasal's illness and alcoholism overshadowed the following years, during which he wrote very little. In the 1990s, he became politically active again.
Dhasal was one of the founding members and part of the 10-member national presidium of the Republican Party of India, which was formed under leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1952 by merger of all leading Dalit parties.[6]
Literary styleEdit
Arundhathi Subramaniam describes his poetry: "Dhasal is a quintessentially Mumbai poet. Raw, raging, associative, almost carnal in its tactility, his poetry emerges from the underbelly of the city — its menacing, unplumbed netherworld. This is the world of pimps and smugglers, of crooks and petty politicians, of opium dens, brothels and beleaguered urban tenements."[7]
Sahitya Akademi's Golden Life Time Achievement[10][11]
Personal lifeEdit
Dhasal was married to Malika Amar Sheikh, the daughter of poet Amar Sheikh. They had one son, Ashutosh.
DeathEdit
Dhasal died of colorectal cancer at Bombay Hospital on 15 January 2014.[12]
ReferencesEdit
^"Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
^ abc. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
^De, Ranjit Kumar; Shastree, Uttara (4 October 1996). Religious Converts in India: Socio-political Study of Neo-Buddhists. Mittal Publications. ISBN9788170996293 – via Google Books.
^"International Literature Festival website – Namdeo Dhasal".
^"The Heart is a Lonely Woman - Malika Amar Sheikh". indianexpress.com. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
^Kuber, Girish (December 2006). "Dalit Fury : Blame it on Leaders". The Economic Times. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
^Subrahmaniam, Arundhati (1 December 2007). "Namdeo Dhasal (India, 1949)". Poetry International. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
^Chitre, D. (tr.) (2006) Namdeo Dhasal: Poet of the Underworld, Poems 1972–2006, Navayana Publishing, New Delhi 26 September 2013 at the Wayback MachineISBN81-89059-10-6
^Namdeo Dhasal, a special Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee award 26 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine The Hub -Tehelka, 23 October 2004.
^"Marathi poet Namdeo Dhasal dead". The Hindu. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
External linksEdit
October 20, 2023
namdeo, dhasal, namdeo, laxman, dhasal, february, 1949, january, 2014, marathi, poet, writer, dalit, activist, from, maharashtra, india, founders, dalit, panthers, 1972, social, movement, aimed, destroying, caste, hierarchy, indian, society, movement, active, . Namdeo Laxman Dhasal 15 February 1949 15 January 2014 was a Marathi poet writer and Dalit activist from Maharashtra India He was one of the founders of the Dalit Panthers in 1972 a social movement aimed at destroying caste hierarchy in Indian society The movement was active in the 1970s and the 1980s during which time it popularised the usage of the term dalit in India Dhasal was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 1 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sahitya Akademi in 2004 Namdeo Laxman DhasalBorn 1949 02 15 15 February 1949Poona Bombay Presidency IndiaDied15 January 2014 2014 01 15 aged 64 Mumbai IndiaOccupationWriter PoetLanguageMarathiGenreMarathi literatureLiterary movementDalit PantherNotable worksAndhale Shatak Golpitha Moorkh Mhataryane Tujhi Iyatta Kanchi Priya DarshiniNotable awardsPadma Shri Soviet Land Nehru Award Maharashtra State Award Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee AwardSpouseMalika Amar Sheikh Contents 1 Biography 2 Activism 3 Literary style 4 Works 4 1 Poetry 4 1 1 English 4 1 2 Hindi 4 1 3 Marathi 4 2 Prose 5 Awards and honors 6 Personal life 7 Death 8 References 9 External linksBiography EditNamdeo Dhasal was born in 1949 in the village of Pur in Khed taluka Poona India He and his family moved to Mumbai when he was six A member of the Mahar caste he grew up in dire poverty 2 He was a Buddhist 3 Following the example of the American Black Panther movement he founded the Dalit Panther movement with friends in 1972 This social movement worked for the reconstruction of society on the basis of the Phule Shahu and Ambedkar movements 2 Dhasal wrote columns for the Marathi daily Saamana Earlier he worked as an editor for the weekly Satyata 4 In 1972 he published his first volume of poetry Golpitha More poetry collections followed Moorkh Mhataryane By a Foolish Old Man inspired by Maoist thoughts Tujhi Iyatta Kanchi How Educated Are You Khel and Priya Darshini about former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi During this time Dhasal also wrote two novels and published pamphlets such as Andhale Shatak Century of Blindness and Ambedkari Chalwal Ambedkarite Movement a reflection on the socialist and communist concepts of B R Ambedkar Later he published two more collections of poetry Mi Marale Suryachya Rathache Sat Ghode I Killed the Seven Horses of the Sun and Tujhe Boat Dharoon Mi Chalalo Ahe I m Walking Holding Your Finger In 1977 Dhasal married noted Marathi writer Malika Amar Sheikh after a brief courtship However the marriage was troubled due to Dhasal s alleged domestic violence alcoholism and problems with debt 5 In 1981 Dhasal was diagnosed with myasthenia Later he suffered from colorectal cancer He was admitted for treatment in a Mumbai hospital in September 2013 He died in 2014 at age 64 Activism EditIn 1972 cracks began to appear in the Dalit Panther movement Ideological disputes began to eclipse the common goal of liberation Dhasal wanted to engender a mass movement and widen the term Dalit to include all oppressed people but the majority of his comrades insisted on maintaining the exclusivity of their organization Dhasal s illness and alcoholism overshadowed the following years during which he wrote very little In the 1990s he became politically active again In 2001 he made a presentation at the first Berlin International Literature Festival 2 Dhasal was one of the founding members and part of the 10 member national presidium of the Republican Party of India which was formed under leadership of Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1952 by merger of all leading Dalit parties 6 Literary style EditArundhathi Subramaniam describes his poetry Dhasal is a quintessentially Mumbai poet Raw raging associative almost carnal in its tactility his poetry emerges from the underbelly of the city its menacing unplumbed netherworld This is the world of pimps and smugglers of crooks and petty politicians of opium dens brothels and beleaguered urban tenements 7 Works EditPoetry Edit English Edit A Current of Blood 2019 Narayana Publishers ISBN 978 8189059927Hindi Edit Aakrosh Kaa Kooras 2015 Marathi Edit Golpitha 1973 Tuhi Iyatta Kanchi 1981 Khel 1983 Moorkh Mhataryane dongar halvle Amchya itihasatil ek aprihary patra Priya Darshini 1976 Ya Sattet Jiv Ramat Nahi 1995 Gandu Bagichha 1986 Mi Marale Suryachya Rathache Sat Ghode Tuze Boat Dharoon Mi Chalalo AheDilip Chitre translated a selection of Dhasal s poems into English under the title Namdeo Dhasal Poet of the Underworld Poems 1972 2006 8 9 Prose Edit Ambedkari Chalwal 1981 Andhale Shatak 1997 Hadki Hadavala Ujedachi Kali Dunia Sarva Kahi Samashtisathi Buddha Dharma Kahi Shesh PrashnaAwards and honors EditThe following table shows list of awards won by Namdeo Dhasal Year Award For1973 Maharashtra State Award for literature Literature1974198219831974 Soviet Land Nehru Award Golpitha1999 Padma Shri Literature2004 Sahitya Akademi s Golden Life Time Achievement 10 11 Personal life EditDhasal was married to Malika Amar Sheikh the daughter of poet Amar Sheikh They had one son Ashutosh Death EditDhasal died of colorectal cancer at Bombay Hospital on 15 January 2014 12 References Edit Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2015 Retrieved 21 July 2015 a b c Voice of the oppressed 7 February 2014 Archived from the original on 3 February 2014 Retrieved 11 June 2014 De Ranjit Kumar Shastree Uttara 4 October 1996 Religious Converts in India Socio political Study of Neo Buddhists Mittal Publications ISBN 9788170996293 via Google Books International Literature Festival website Namdeo Dhasal The Heart is a Lonely Woman Malika Amar Sheikh indianexpress com 26 November 2016 Retrieved 15 June 2020 Kuber Girish December 2006 Dalit Fury Blame it on Leaders The Economic Times Retrieved 18 January 2022 Subrahmaniam Arundhati 1 December 2007 Namdeo Dhasal India 1949 Poetry International Retrieved 25 July 2017 Namdeo Dhasal www ambedkar org Chitre D tr 2006 Namdeo Dhasal Poet of the Underworld Poems 1972 2006 Navayana Publishing New Delhi Archived 26 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 81 89059 10 6 1 November 2004 Sahitya Akademi website Namdeo Dhasal a special Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee award Archived 26 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine The Hub Tehelka 23 October 2004 Marathi poet Namdeo Dhasal dead The Hindu 16 January 2014 Retrieved 11 June 2014 External links EditAn essay on Namdeo Dhasal 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Namdeo Dhasal amp oldid 1169918008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
