About Dalit Voice
Dalit Voice was a political magazine based in Bangalore, India, known for its forthright advocacy on behalf of persecuted nationalities denied human rights. Founded in 1981 by V. T. Rajshekar, a former journalist with the Indian Express, Dalit Voice became the largest circulated Dalit journal in India. The magazine appeared fortnightly in both digital and print formats.
Characterised by its strong anti-Brahminist, anti-caste, and anti-racist stance, Dalit Voice vigorously advocated for liberation from Brahminism and addressed the plights of Dalits, Backward Castes, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and women—all of whom it considered victims of Aryan Brahminical racism. Columbia University described the magazine as polemical, serving as “the sole spokesman for the entire deprived, dehumanized lot of India.”
Dalit Voice was an integral wing of the broader movement for Dalit interests, promoting the strengthening of each caste. The magazine did not shy away from controversial topics, publishing articles that critiqued Hinduism, Zionism, Judaism, Communism, and American neoconservatism. In addition to its regular issues, Dalit Voice published books on a variety of subjects pertinent to oppressed groups, expressing the views of Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Castes in India.
Dalit Voice magazine and its website were closed in 2011. This portal has been developed as a one-stop archive of all the publications of the magazine, arranged both sequentially and as per key themes addressed in the writings.
About VT Rajshekar
Vontibettu Thimmappa (VT) Rajshekar, born in 1932, is a pioneering ideologue of Dalit-Bahujan empowerment with a distinguished history of advocating for the rights of Dalits and other vulnerable groups in India. He began his journalism career at the Deccan Herald in 1959, later joining the Indian Express, where he served for 25 years. His profound understanding of social issues and commitment to fighting caste-based discrimination led him to found Dalit Voice, which Human Rights Watch describes as “India’s most widely circulated Dalit journal.”
Rajshekar’s work has spanned over half a century, during which he has tirelessly represented the sentiments and issues of Dalits, using his platform to challenge upper-caste hegemony and the Indian apartheid manifested in untouchability and casteism. Through Dalit Voice and numerous pamphlets and books, he has highlighted how caste serves as the foundational structure influencing politics, law, religion, and social institutions in India.
An accomplished author, Rajshekar has written over 100 books on various subjects, including caste, history, economics, politics, and religion. In 2005, his book “Caste – A Nation within the Nation” earned him the LISA International Award in London. Other books authored by Rajshekar include “Dalit: The Black Untouchables of India,” “Brahminism: Weapons To Fight Counter Revolution,” and “How Marx Failed In Hindu India,” among others.
Despite facing significant opposition, including arrests and being labelled a “dangerous person” by the Indian state, Rajshekar’s contributions have been widely recognised. In 2018, he was honoured with the Mukundan C. Menon Award for his unwavering dedication to advancing civil liberties and human rights. Rajshekar’s legacy continues to inspire the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality in India.