VT Rajshekar, the founding editor of Dalit Voice, passed away on Wednesday, 20 November, at the age of 92, leaving behind the voice of immortal truth he had been speaking throughout his life.
Published Nov 20, 2024 | 8:23 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 20, 2024 | 8:23 PM
VT Rajshekar (1932 - 20 November 2024). Pic: Vartha Bharati.
Each word in the articles he filed for The Indian Express stung like a gadfly. He wielded his pen like a sword, swishing and slashing, as he put forth his thoughts straight and loud.
His words were not to be taken lightly. They conveyed profound, uncompromising thoughts, straight, brilliant, and captivating to the reader. Dalit scholar and Senior Fellow at the University of Oxford Suraj Yengde described him as a tall thinker and the voice of truth.
The man who Yengde spoke about — VT Rajshekar — passed away on Wednesday, 20 November, at the age of 92, leaving behind the voice of immortal truth he had been speaking throughout his life.
VT Rajshekar’s name resonates deeply with Ambedkarites, Dalits, activists, and those involved in the anti-caste movement. Known for his bold critique of caste oppression, he was a relentless adversary of Brahminism and the Sangh Parivar.
His powerful thoughts, speeches, and writings earned him recognition not only in India but worldwide as a champion of Dalit rights.
Born Vonthibettu Thimmappa Rajshekar Shetty in Udupi in 1932, he was a journalist, writer, and thinker, who devoted his life to amplifying the voice of the oppressed. A staunch fighter against caste discrimination, Rajshekar’s commitment to his ideology was unwavering.
He stood firm in his beliefs, ready to challenge anyone who sought to silence the marginalised.
In 1981, he founded Dalit Voice, a newspaper that advocated Dalit rights. Through this platform, he fearlessly addressed the systemic oppression of Dalits and sought to awaken societal consciousness.
Rajshekar’s journalism journey included an illustrious two-decade stint with The Indian Express. His articles sparked national debates, shaking the foundations of casteist mindsets and challenging deeply entrenched inequalities.
“VTR held no punches when it came to delivering his finest against the hypocrisies of the Brahminical state order,” Yengde wrote about Rajshekar.
“He spent most of his time attacking the Hindu caste violence. Part of his daring zeal can be attributed to his background. Born in a Dravidian Bunt community, VTR is known to have gangsterised his reign of terror on savarna elites,” he added.
A staunch advocate of reservation and Dalit empowerment, Rajshekar was an unapologetic critic of Brahminism and Hindutva ideologies.
He often referred to the BJP as a “Brahmin Jaathi Party” and believed that the unity of Dalits and Muslims could dismantle the power structures of the Sangh Parivar. He tirelessly worked to foster such unity throughout his life.
Rajshekar authored several books, shedding light on caste oppression and envisioning a more equitable society. His contributions earned him numerous national and international accolades, solidifying his legacy as a trailblazer for social justice.
He began his journalism career with the Deccan Herald in 1959 and later joined The Indian Express, where he worked for 25 years.
During his stint, he stood up for the rights of the marginalised communities, even challenging the influential leadership of The Indian Express in a legal battle — and emerging victorious.
Rajshekar’s understanding of social issues and his commitment to fighting caste-based discrimination drove him to establish Dalit Voice. His work in this field spanned over five decades, during which he tirelessly documented the struggles and aspirations of Dalits.
Using his newspaper, writings, and speeches, Rajshekar questioned the systemic racism perpetuated by upper-caste dominance, untouchability, and casteism.
Through Dalit Voice and his numerous books, he highlighted how caste continued to shape the foundations of Indian politics, law, religion, and social institutions.
Rajshekar authored more than 30 books on a wide range of subjects, including caste, history, economics, politics, and religion. In 2005, his book Caste — A Nation Within in the Nation earned him the prestigious LISA International Award.
Some of his other significant works include The Dalit Movement in Karnataka, Dalit: The Black Untouchables of India, Brahminism: Weapons to Fight Counter-Revolution, and How Marx Died in Hindu India. These writings remain powerful tools for understanding and confronting caste-based oppression in the country.
Under Rajshekar’s leadership, Dalit Voice became the most debated Dalit journal in India. The full title of the — Dalit Voice: The Voice of the Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights — reflects the mission of its founder and editor, Rajshekar. The magazine was unapologetically direct in its purpose and vision.
Published from Bengaluru, Dalit Voice became a powerful platform for addressing caste discrimination and advocating the rights of the marginalised. However, the magazine’s website was closed in 2011, and publication stopped after threats to the Mangalore-based printing press in an RSS-dominated environment.
Rajshekar often paid a steep price for his fearless editorials. His passport was once confiscated over a controversial editorial but was later restored through the intervention of the then-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.
He was also arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and was accused of activities deemed controversial by the establishment. Yet, he fought on undeterred.
Recently, an online archive of Dalit Voice was launched. The archive has all the writings and publications from the magazine, which influenced countless Bahujan intellectuals, students, activists, and organisations. The archive is organised sequentially and thematically, offering a platform for contemporary debates among Bahujan youth.
Dalit Voice was known for its strong anti-Brahminical, anti-caste, and anti-racist stance. It advocated liberation from Brahminism and often carried a controversial tone. Columbia University Library described Dalit Voice as “India’s only spokesperson for an entire deprived, dehumanised community.”
Despite arrests and numerous challenges. Rajshekar remained steadfast in his pro-Dalit advocacy and staunch opposition to Brahminism throughout his life.
He had been living a retired life in Shivbhag, Mangaluru. Recently, he had fallen ill.
His wife predeceased him. His son, Salil Shetty, is a former Secretary-General of Amnesty International and a prominent human rights activist.
Rajshekar’s last rites will be performed at Onthi Bettu in Udupi on Thursday, 21 November.
(This article was originally published in Vartha Bharati. Translated from the Kannada by Ismail Zaorez, Senior Sub-Editor, Vartha Bharati).
