List of Dalits

{{short description|Notable people of the Dalit Community}} {{Dynamic list|multiple=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}

This is a list of notable Dalit individuals, categorized by their contributions across various fields and professions.

== Academics == thumb|Babasaheb Ambedkar *Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, economist and politician<ref name="IAS1">{{Cite web |last=Library |first=International and Area Studies |title=LibGuides: Dalits: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar |url=https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=532151&p=3668213 |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=guides.library.illinois.edu |language=en}}</ref> *Meghnad Saha, astrophysicist who developed the Saha ionization equation<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-02 |title=Dr Meghnad Saha & Rocket Boys |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/samvad/dr-meghnad-saha-rocket-boys/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=Times of India Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> *Narendra Jadhav, economist, writer and educationist<ref name="jadhav">{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Dalit Dreams | website=Times of India | date=16 January 2004 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/Dalit-Dreams/articleshow/425683.cms? | access-date=14 September 2016}}</ref> *Satyendra Murli, researcher, media pedagogue and journalist<ref>{{Cite web|title='A largely Upper-caste Media is Not Good for India's Democracy'|url=https://thewire.in/media/a-largely-upper-caste-media-is-not-good-for-indias-democracy|access-date=5 September 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=13 August 2013|title=Dalits in media feel the sting of caste discrimination|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/dalits-in-media-feel-the-sting-of-caste-discrimination-1029885.html|access-date=5 September 2020|website=Firstpost}}</ref> *Sukhadeo Thorat, economist and Padma Shri recipient<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dalits-beat-the-drums-of-pride/articleshow/32096892.cms |title=Dalits beat the drums of pride |first=Vidyadhar |last=Date |date=22 December 2002 |access-date=12 September 2022 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Activists == * Anand Teltumbde, Indian scholar, writer, and human rights activist<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-21 |title=Anand Teltumbde: Of a frank and fearless mind |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/anand-teltumbde-of-a-frank-and-fearless-mind-9119494/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 September 2020 |title=Anand Teltumbde: Cards and letters for jailed India scholar as he turns 70 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53400138 |language=en}}</ref> * K.P. Ashwini, UN Special rapporteur on racism from 2022<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=DHNS |title=Kolar woman appointed UNHRC special rapporteur |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/kolar-woman-appointed-unhrc-special-rapporteur-1154800.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=R |first=Jayanth |date=2022-10-19 |title=Dalit woman scholar from Karnataka appointed UNHRC Special Rapporteur |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/dalit-woman-scholar-from-karnataka-appointed-unhrc-special-rapporteur/article66032248.ece/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> * Ayyankali, Indian social reformer<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2017|title=Forgotten Hero: Ayyankali, the Dalit Legend Who Brought Social Justice to Travancore |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/118521/forgotten-hero-ayyankali-dalit-legend-who-brought-social-justice-to-travancore/ |access-date=5 April 2022|website=The Better India |language=en}}</ref> * Gopal Baba Walangkar, activist<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zelliot |first=Eleanor |year=2010 |title=India's Dalits: Racism and Contemporary Change |url=http://www.worlddialogue.org/content.php?id=490 |url-status=dead |journal=Global Dialogue |volume=12 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430015723/http://www.worlddialogue.org/content.php?id=490 |archive-date=2013-04-30 |authorlink=Eleanor Zelliot |df=dmy}}</ref> * Immanuvel Sekaran, a freedom fighter and civil rights activist<ref>{{cite news |date=11 September 2016 |title=Freedom fighter, Dalit icon: Remembering Tamil Nadu's Immanuel Sekaran |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/freedom-fighter-dalit-icon-remembering-tamil-nadu-s-immanuel-sekaran/story-EzBsVdnsQj9gQzuuNKdDiI.html |language=en |access-date=2026-04-08}}</ref> *Kuyili, freedom fighter and Commander in Chief of Velu Nachiyar<ref>{{Cite news |last=Basu |first=Soma |date=2013-07-25 |title=Of valour and victory |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/of-valour-and-victory/article4952581.ece |access-date=2022-05-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> *Meena Kandaswamy, poet and Dalit activist<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stancati|first=Margherita|date=2011-01-23|title=A Female Dalit Poet Fights Back in Verse|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-IRTB-9747|access-date=2021-05-18|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> * Manu Bheel former bonded laborer and human rights activist from Pakistan<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan: Manu Bheel, Sindh Province |url=https://idsn.org/pakistan-manu-bheel-sindh-province/ |website=The International Dalit Solidarity Network |access-date=23 October 2024}}</ref> *Rettamalai Srinivasan, activist and politician<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remembering Rettamalai Srinivasan, the Lasting Emblem of Dalit Political Aspiration |url=https://thewire.in/caste/remembering-rettamalai-srinivasan-the-lasting-emblem-of-dalit-political-aspirations |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=thewire.in |language=en}}</ref> *Uda Devi, freedom fighter<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-18 |title=Don't remember the 1857 Mutiny with Rani of Jhansi alone. You're missing out on Uda Devi |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/dont-remember-the-1857-mutiny-with-rani-of-jhansi-alone-youre-missing-out-on-uda-devi/920357/ |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Art == * Savindra Savarkar, Indian artist, known for his use of Buddhist imagery and Dalit subjectivity<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Kamayani |title='In all my years, no gallery has represented me': Savindra Sawarkar on Brahmanism in the arts |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/1033348/in-all-my-years-no-gallery-has-represented-me-savindra-sawarkar-on-brahmanism-in-the-arts |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Cinema and television == * Kanjibhai Rathod, an Indian director, is considered the first successful director of Indian cinema<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-05-20 |title=A dalit director called shots in '20s |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/a-dalit-director-called-shots-in-20s/articleshow/13309560.cms |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kothari |first=Urvish |date=2023-08-01 |title=Gujarati Dalit Kanjibhai Rathod was Bollywood's 1st professional director, made 50+ silent films |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/gujarati-dalit-kanjibhai-rathod-was-bollywoods-1st-professional-director-made-50-silent-films/1694949/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> * thumb|198x198px|Pa. RanjithKalabhavan Mani, actor and singer<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=8 March 2016|title=Kalabhavan Mani could sing, dance and act with his entire body|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/south-actor-kalabhavan-mani-could-sing-dance-and-act-with-his-entire-body/}}</ref> * Pa. Ranjith, director and filmmaker<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 July 2016|title=I don't want to be known as a Dalit filmmaker: Kabali director|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/kabali-rajinikanth-dalit-director-2942155/|access-date=31 March 2021|website=Indian Express|language=en-US}}</ref> *P.K. Rosy, first heroine in Malayalam cinema<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2021|title=How a Grass Cutter's Child Became Indian Cinema's First Dalit Woman Actor |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/248147/pk-rosy-malayalam-cinema-first-dalit-woman-actor-vigathakumaran-the-lost-child-j-c-daniel-first-feature-film-women-in-cinema-collective-film-society-caste-bias-nair-div200/ |access-date=5 April 2022|website=The Better India |language=en}}</ref> * Tun Tun, actress and comedian of Hindi cinema<ref>{{Cite web|last=चैहान|first=Jitesh Singh Chauhan जीतेश सिंह|date=1 February 2015|title=Dalits in Indian cinema|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2015/02/dalits-in-indian-cinema/|access-date=5 September 2020|website=Forward Press|language=en-US}}</ref> * Neeraj Ghaywan, director<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/neeraj-ghaywan-responds-to-vivek-agnihotris-dalit-tweet-twitter-lines-up-in-support-of-the-masaan-director-4286357.html|newspaper=Firstpost|date=2022-01-04|access-date=2022-09-11|title=Neeraj Ghaywan responds to Vivek Agnihotri's Dalit tweet; Twitter lines up in support of the Masaan director}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/ghaywan/status/948569584231002113?lang=en|first=Neeraj|last=Ghaywan|title=I am a Dalit. I won the Cannes film award for our country...|user=ghaywan|number=948569584231002113}}</ref> * Nagraj Manjule, director<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/the-caste-story-is-not-over-yet-nagraj-manjule/story-gnTDce3hY91UibJCA4s2nI.html|newspaper=Hindustan Times|first=Lena|last=Saha|access-date=2022-09-11|date=2014-03-02|title=The caste story is not over yet: Nagraj Manjule}}</ref> *Archana Gautam, Indian actress and winner of Miss Bikini India 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/i-have-come-to-break-draupadis-curse-archana-gautam-/articleshow/89028545.cms|website=Times of India|title=I have come to break draupadi's curse|access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref>

== Literature == *Annabhau Sathe, Indian folk poet, writer, and social worker from Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annabhau Sathe: Revolutionary Poet, Novelist, Playwright and Social Reformer – Janata Weekly |url=https://janataweekly.org/annabhau-sathe-revolutionary-poet-novelist-playwright-and-social-reformer/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Shailendra, Indian poet and lyricist<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kusnur |first=Narendra |date=2021-08-26 |title=Shailendra: Poet of the masses |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/lyricist-shailendra-poet-of-the-masses/article36117282.ece/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> *Baburao Bagul, Marathi writer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pant |first=Parth |date=2019-12-15 |title=The Epic Of Dalit Literature: When I Hid My Caste By Baburao Bagul |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2019/12/16/the-epic-of-dalit-literature-when-i-hid-my-caste-by-baburao-bagul/ |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Feminism In India |language=en-GB}}</ref> *Daya Pawar, Marathi writer who received Padma Shri<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daya Pawar |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/650720.Daya_Pawar |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> *Lal Singh Dil, Punjabi poet<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/dalit-writing-global-contexts-re-examining-the-legacy-of-lal-singh-dil-punjabs-poet-of-the-revolution-7107711.html |title=Dalit writing, global contexts: Re-examining the legacy of Lal Singh Dil, Punjab's 'Poet of the Revolution' |first=Yogesh |last=Maitreya |date=5 August 2019 |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref> *Namdeo Dhasal, Marathi poet and writer from Maharashtra<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poem/item/10554|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731221310/http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poem/item/10554|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 31, 2013|title=Kamatipura (poem)|website=www.poetryinternationalweb.net|language=en|access-date=2017-07-09}}</ref> *Neerav Patel, first Dalit poet to write poetry in English<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2019|title=Neerav Patel, poet and pioneer of Dalit literature in Gujarat, passes away; but power of his verses lives on |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/neerav-patel-poet-and-pioneer-of-dalit-literature-in-gujarat-passes-away-but-power-of-his-verses-lives-on-6670581.html |access-date=11 April 2022|website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> *Om Prakash Valmiki, Hindi poet and writer<ref>{{Cite book |last=Valmiki |first=Omprakash |url=http://cup.columbia.edu/book/joothan/9780231129725 |title=Joothan: An Untouchable's Life |date=July 2008 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-50337-2 |translator-last=Mukherjee |translator-first=from the Hindi by Arun Prabha}}</ref> *P. Sivakami, Dalit-feminist Tamil writer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/bureaucracy-treated-me-like-an-untouchable-ex-ias-officer-sivakami-ians-interview-116020400249_1.html |title=Bureaucracy treated me like an untouchable: Ex-IAS officer Sivakami (IANS Interview) |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=4 February 2016 |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> *Yashica Dutt, Indian writer and journalist<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-29|title=Hiding myself and coming out as a Dalit was a privileged decision: Yashica Dutt|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/yashica-dutt-coming-out-as-dalit-interview-6239687/|access-date=2021-07-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> *Manoranjan Byapari, Bengali writer, Activist and chairman of west Bengal Dalit Sahitya Academy

== Music == *Ilaiyaraaja, Indian music composer<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Artiste of the Millennium: Ilaiyaraaja at 75 |url=https://thewire.in/the-arts/an-artiste-of-the-millennium-ilaiyaraaja-at-75 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-13 |title=Ilayaraja ranked no. 9 in global ranking of Top 25 Composers {{!}} MediaNews4U |url=https://www.medianews4u.com/ilayaraja-ranked-no-9-in-global-ranking-of-top-25-composers/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Amar Singh Chamkila, Indian Punjabi singer and songwriter<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mehsampur: A film in search of a film on the 'Elvis of Punjab' |url=https://www.theweek.in/leisure/society/2018/10/17/mehsampur-a-film-in-search-of-film-on-elvis-of-punjab.html |access-date=7 April 2022 |work=The Week |language=en}}</ref> *Arivu, Indian rapper and songwriter<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-31 |title=How rapper Arivu of Enjoy Enjaami fame, is channeling the stories of his ancestors to assert himself culturally |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/how-rapper-arivu-of-enjoy-enjaami-fame-is-channeling-the-stories-of-his-ancestors-to-assert-himself-culturally-9542439/lite/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> *Ginni Mahi, Indian singer<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-05 |title=Ginni Mahi: Meet the young Punjabi Dalit singer spreading Ambedkar's message |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/ginni-mahi-meet-the-young-punjabi-dalit-singer-spreading-ambedkars-message-2817520.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}}</ref> *Sumeet Samos, Indian anti-caste rapper<ref>{{Cite news |last=Samos |first=Sumeet |date=2017-10-22 |title=Rapper Sumeet Samos Narrates A Short Story of Caste Based Institutional Discrimination In JNU - The Companion |url=http://thecompanion.in/rapper-sumeet-samos-narrates-short-story-caste-based-institutional-discrimination-jnu/ |access-date=2018-08-12 |work=The Companion |language=en-US}}</ref> *Vedan, Indian rapper and songwriter <ref>{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Korah |date=2021-05-30 |title=Casteism is deep-rooted in Kerala: Malayalam anti-caste rapper Vedan |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/casteism-deep-rooted-kerala-malayalam-anti-caste-rapper-vedan-149793 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

== Politicians == === Presidents === *K. R. Narayanan, 10th president of India (1997–2002) and 9th vice president of India (1992–1997)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-09 |title=KR Narayanan — the President who didn't hesitate to call a spade a spade |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/kr-narayanan-the-president-who-didnt-hesitate-to-call-a-spade-a-spade/317705/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> *Ramnath Kovind, 14th President of India<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/world/asia/india-dalit-president-ram-nath-kovind.html|title=India Picks Ram Nath Kovind, ' as President|last=Najar|first=Nida|date=20 July 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=31 March 2021|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Deputy Prime Ministers === * thumb|217x217px|Babu Jagjivan RamBabu Jagjivan Ram, 4th deputy prime minister of India, Indian freedom fighter and founder of Depressed Class Association<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |first= |date=26 August 1979 |title=Jagjivan Ram |url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-40348689.html |access-date=2020-08-04 |newspaper=Der Spiegel}}</ref><ref name=":1">The Dalit who was not allowed to sit with the Upper Castes had passed Matriculation from Benaras Hindu University. From ''Untouchables "''Chamars" to Minister of India. Jagjivan Ram, the Dalit Leader of India {{ISBN|81-7041-496-2}} by S.R, Bakshi.</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bakshi |first=S. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9td-jPgcIwC&q=Jagjivan+Ram&pg=PP1 |title=Jagivan Ram: The Harijan Leader |date=1992-01-01 |publisher=South Asia Books |isbn=978-81-7041-496-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jagjivan Ram – Deputy Prime Minister of India |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/jagjivan-ram |access-date=6 October 2025 |website=National Portal of India}}</ref>

=== Speakers of the Lok Sabha === * G. M. C. Balayogi, 12th Speaker of the Lok Sabha and MP of Amalapuram<ref>{{Cite web |agency=TNN|date=Jul 17, 2002 |title=Suraj Bhan for Vice-President? {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/suraj-bhan-for-vice-president/articleshow/16184222.cms |access-date=5 April 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> * Meira Kumar, 1st Woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha. *Suraj Bhan, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Himachal Pradesh and UP, Bihar<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-08 |title=Wankhede or Punjab or Bengal, why Dalit rights panel is accused of being partisan to BJP |url=https://theprint.in/india/wankhede-or-punjab-or-bengal-why-dalit-rights-panel-is-accused-of-being-partisan-to-bjp/761851/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> === Chief Ministers ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" !S.no ! Photo ! Name ! State ! Remarks |- |1 | 100px | Damodaram Sanjivayya | Andhra Pradesh | First Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-13 |title=Old-age pension, the brainchild of Sanjeevaiah |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/oldage-pension-the-brainchild-of-sanjeevaiah/article8235399.ece |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-05-08 |title=Damodaram Sanjivayya Dead; Head of India's Congress Party (Published 1972) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/08/archives/damodaram-sanivayya-dead-head-of-indias-congress-party.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007091535/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/08/archives/damodaram-sanivayya-dead-head-of-indias-congress-party.html |archive-date=2023-10-07 |access-date=2024-12-15 |language=en}}</ref> |- |2 | 100px | Bhola Paswan Shastri | rowspan="2" |Bihar | First Dalit Chief Minister of Bihar.<ref name="htimes top">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Before Punjab CM Channi, here are Dalit leaders who held top post in country |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/before-punjab-cm-channi-dalit-leaders-who-held-the-top-post-in-country-101632209770895.html |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> |- |3 | 100px | Ram Sundar Das | Former Chief Minister of Bihar.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 7, 2015 |title=Former Bihar Chief Minister Ram Sundar Das passes away at 95 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/former-bihar-chief-minister-dies-243272-2015-03-07 |access-date=2022-03-22 |magazine=India Today |language=en}}</ref> |- |4 | 100px | Mayawati |Uttar Pradesh | First Dalit woman Chief Minister in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2013-04-27 |title=Mayawati plays Dalit card after being checked twice by Election Commission's flying squad |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/mayawati-searched-by-election-commission-flying-squad-160292-2013-04-26 |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> |- |5 | 100px | Jagannath Pahadia | Rajasthan | First Dalit Chief Minister of Rajasthan.<ref name="htimes top"/> |- |6 | 100px | Sushilkumar Shinde | Maharashtra | First Dalit Chief Minister of Maharashtra. |- |7 | 100px | Jitan Ram Manjhi |Bihar | Former Chief Minister of Bihar. |- |8 | 100px | Charanjit Singh Channi | Punjab | First Dalit Sikh Chief Minister.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/charanjit-singh-channi-punjabs-first-dalit-sikh-chief-minister-know-all-about-him/814132|title=Charanjit Singh Channi: Punjab's first Sikh Chief Minister - Know all about him|work=Times Now|date=20 September 2021|access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theprint.in/politics/as-charanjit-channi-takes-oath-as-punjabs-1stsikh-cm-a-look-at-other-dalit-cms-of-india/736380/|title=As Charanjit Channi takes oath as Punjab's 1st Dalit Sikh CM, a look at past Dalit CMs of India|work=The Print|date=20 September 2021|access-date=22 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.india.com/news/india/charanjit-channi-takes-oath-as-first-dalit-cm-of-punjab-amid-fresh-infighting-4969072/|title=Charanjit Channi Takes Oath as First Dalit CM of Punjab Amid Fresh Infighting, Gets 2 Deputies|work=india.com|date=20 September 2021|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/cong-picks-channi-as-punjab-cm-first-dalit-to-get-the-top-spot-in-state-121091900789_1.html|title=Cong picks Channi as Punjab CM, first Dalit to get the top spot in state|work=Business Standard|date=20 September 2021|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref> |}

=== Governors === {| class="wikitable sortable" !S.no !Photo !Name !State(s) !Remarks |- |1 |100px |Suraj Bhan |Uttar Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Bihar |Served as Governor of multiple Indian states and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-08-07 |title=Suraj Bhan sworn in as Bihar Governor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/suraj-bhan-sworn-in-as-bihar-governor/story-xyz.html |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> |- |2 |100px |Buta Singh |Bihar |Former Union Home Minister; served as Governor of Bihar.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-11-05 |title=Buta Singh appointed Bihar Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/05/stories/2004110501230100.htm |work=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref> |- |3 |100px |Ram Nath Kovind |Bihar |Served as Governor of Bihar (2015–2017); later became the 14th President of India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-08-08 |title=Ram Nath Kovind appointed Bihar Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ram-nath-kovind-appointed-bihar-governor/article7512047.ece |work=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref> |- |4 |100px |Baby Rani Maurya |Uttarakhand |Served as Governor of Uttarakhand (2018–2021).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-08-26 |title=Baby Rani Maurya appointed Uttarakhand Governor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/baby-rani-maurya-appointed-uttarakhand-governor/story-xyz.html |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> |- |5 |100px |Thawar Chand Gehlot |Karnataka |Former Union Minister; appointed Governor of Karnataka in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-06 |title=Thawar Chand Gehlot appointed Karnataka Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/thawar-chand-gehlot-appointed-karnataka-governor/article35161445.ece |work=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref> |- |6 |100px |R. S. Gavai |Bihar<br>Sikkim<br>Kerala |Former Governor of multiple Indian states; senior Dalit leader of the Republican Party of India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-06-22 |title=R.S. Gavai appointed Kerala Governor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rs-gavai-appointed-kerala-governor/article3121194.ece |work=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-25 |title=Former Kerala Governor R.S. Gavai passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-kerala-governor-rs-gavai-passes-away/article6931255.ece |work=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref> |} === Politicians=== thumb|203x203px|Bahujan Nayak Kanshi Ram * Jogendra Nath Mandal, one of the central figures in creation of the state of Pakistan; later a government minister<ref>{{cite news |date=9 May 2016 |title=Dalits' dream of Pakistan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1257165 |work=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> *Dakshayani Velayudhan, Indian politician and the sole Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chetan |first=Achyut |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/founding-mothers-of-the-indian-republic/401118B1A1771BA14CBECDB4C9455EA4 |title=Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic |date=2023 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-83256-4 |series=South Asia in the Social Sciences |location=Cambridge |pages=1–13 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Balan |first=Saritha S. |date=2018-11-26 |title=Remembering Dakshayani Velayudhan, the lone Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/remembering-dakshayani-velayudhan-lone-dalit-woman-constituent-assembly-92265 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> *Ram Vilas Paswan, 11 times Member of Parliament and many times Minister in the Union Government; founder and President of Lok Janshakti Party<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-07-29|title='Ram Vilas Dalit face wherever you go, Jitan Ram Manjhi can be Mahadalit face'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/ram-vilas-dalit-face-wherever-you-go-manjhi-can-be-mahadalit-face/|access-date=2020-08-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> *Ram Ratan Ram, Member of Parliament 1984-1989, MLA and Minister in Bihar State 1952-1984 <ref>{{Cite book |last=Paswan |first=Sanjay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHO-_dm6E0YC |title=Encyclopaedia of Dalits in India: Struggle for self liberation |date=2002 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-066-0 |language=en}}</ref> *Kanshi Ram, founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, a Dalit leader and Bahujan Nayak of India<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-07|title=Kejriwal to visit BSP founder Kanshi Ram's family|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/kejriwal-to-visit-bsp-founder-kanshi-ram-s-family/story-UBJGoXVvIZDM3Pbojua3oO.html|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> *Bangaru Laxman, former President of Bharatiya Janta Party<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2014 |title=Who was Bangaru Laxman? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/bangaru-bangaru-laxman-bjp-hyderabad-andhra-pradesh-operation-west-end-183290-2014-03-01 |access-date=3 January 2022 |website=India Today |quote=...Bangaru Laxman was born in a Madiga Dalit family..}}</ref> *Kirpa Ram Punia, Dalit leader, former IAS officer, and politician<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20100622/1532463.html |title=Former Haryana Minister K R Punia joins Cong |date=22 June 2010 |access-date=3 January 2022 |quote=...Mr Punia was a Dalit leader and he enjoyed the support of Dalit mass base...}}</ref> * B. Shyam Sunder, founder of Bharatiya Bhim Sena<ref name="Hegde 2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/sanjay-hegde-on-br-ambedkar-the-hero-who-built-an-independent-india/article7099218.ece|title=There were some Dalit leaders like B. Shyam Sunder, who vociferously said: "We are not Hindus, we have nothing to do with the Hindu caste system, yet we have been included among them by them and for them."|last=Hegde|first=Sanjay|date=14 April 2015|website=The Hindu|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> * Shambhavi Choudhary, Lok Sabha MP from Samastipur<ref>{{Cite web |last=MASIH |first=ARCHANA |title=Meet The Youngest Dalit Lady Candidate |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/india-votes-2024-shambhavi-choudhury-meet-the-youngest-dalit-lady-candidate/20240424.htm |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref>

== Religion and reform == *Chokhamela, poet and saint from Maharashtra, India during 13th–14th century<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zelliot |first=Eleanor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkQwAQAAIAAJ |title=From Untouchable to Dalit: Essays on the Ambedkar Movement |date=1996 |publisher=Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-143-3 |pages=4–10 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sud |first=Nina |date=5 July 2018 |title=Chokhamela: The Outcast Who Found His Way Into The Hearts of Many |url=https://medium.com/paraphernalia/chokhamela-the-outcast-who-found-his-way-into-the-hearts-of-many-4087ad48a826 |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=Paraphernalia |language=en}}</ref> *Ravidas, Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th–16th century CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zelliot |first1=Eleanor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7jsvAAAAYAAJ |title=Untouchable Saints: An Indian Phenomenon |last2=Mokashi-Punekar |first2=Rohini |date=2005 |publisher=Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-644-5 |pages=38 |language=en}}</ref> *Harichand Thakur, established the Matua sect of Vaishnavite Hinduism<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=As PM Modi Addresses Event on His 211th Birth Anniversary, A Glimpse of The Life of Harichand Thakur |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/as-pm-modi-addresses-event-on-his-211th-birth-anniversary-a-glimpse-of-the-life-of-harichand-thakur-4921274.html |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> *Swami Achhootanand, 20th century Indian social reformer, established the Adi Hindu movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remembering Swami Achutanand: The Pioneer of Dalit Identity and Consciousness in North India |url=https://thewire.in/caste/remembering-swami-achutanand-the-pioneer-of-dalit-identity-and-consciousness-in-north-india |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref> *Marampudi Joji, third Archbishop of Hyderabad<ref>{{cite news|title=India's First Dalit Archbishop Holds 'No Grudge' Over Predecessor's Attack|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/mayweb-only/44.0a.html|work=ChristianityToday.com|language=en}}</ref> *Gallela Prasad, fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India<ref>{{cite news|title=Church hierarchy accused of ignoring attack on Dalit bishop|url=http://www.ucanews.com/news/church-hierarchy-accused-of-ignoring-attack-on-dalit-bishop/76621|work=ucanews.com}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalits}} Category:Dalit people Category:Lists of Indian people by community