We were shocked to hear of the demise of V.T.Rajshekar, the Editor of ‘Dalit Voice’ and the distinctive fighter against oppression of all sorts. He breathed his last at a private nursing home in Mangalore on 20th November 2024, at the age of 93.
V.T. Rajshekar edited, ‘Dalit Voice’, a fierceful fortnightly in English for about 28 years from Bengaluru. The sharp, liberating tone in his incisive writing created wider readership throughout the country and abroad. Many of his writings render their service as social activists. He spent his life in bringing together all the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Backward classes and the Minorities with the identity ‘DALIT’ to fight against the oppressive hegemony in society.
He analysed and compared the oppressed masses in India to the Black people in Africa and America. Dalit – ‘The Black Untouchables of India’ is an analogy of his vital works. His legacy created many admirers and writers for the cause, fought for by him. He was a powerful thinker and a prolific writer throughout his life.
V.T.Rajshekar was of the strong opinion that the ideals of Thanthai Periyar and Baba Saheb Dr.B.R. Ambedkar are the only path to be trodden by the ‘DALITS’.
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He participated and addressed many a time in the conferences / meetings organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam and he had always been in contact with us. He did not fail to visit Periyar Thidal, whenever he had visited Chennai, to meet us and discuss deeply the current situation in social and political arena. The demise of V.T.Rajshekar is not only an irreparable loss for his family but also more to the wider ideological fraternity he had developed in his life time.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to his family members, admirers and activists. Our Salute of honour to veteran social writer – fighter V.T.Rajshekar!
K. Veeramani
President, Dravidar Kazhagam
