# List of Dalits

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

## Academics

* Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, economist and politician
* Meghnad Saha, astrophysicist who developed the Saha ionization equation
* Narendra Jadhav, economist, writer and educationist
* Satyendra Murli, researcher, media pedagogue and journalist
* Sukhadeo Thorat, economist and Padma Shri recipient

## Activists

* Anand Teltumbde, Indian scholar, writer, and human rights activist
* K.P. Ashwini, UN Special rapporteur on racism from 2022
* Ayyankali, Indian social reformer
* Gopal Baba Walangkar, activist
* Immanuvel Sekaran, a freedom fighter and civil rights activist
* Kuyili, freedom fighter and Commander in Chief of Velu Nachiyar
* Meena Kandaswamy, poet and Dalit activist
* Manu Bheel former bonded laborer and human rights activist from Pakistan
* Rettamalai Srinivasan, activist and politician
* Uda Devi, freedom fighter

## Art

* Savindra Savarkar, Indian artist, known for his use of Buddhist imagery and Dalit subjectivity

## Cinema and television

* Kanjibhai Rathod, an Indian director, is considered the first successful director of Indian cinema
* Kalabhavan Mani, actor and singer
* Pa. Ranjith, director and filmmaker
* P.K. Rosy, first heroine in Malayalam cinema
* Tun Tun, actress and comedian of Hindi cinema
* Neeraj Ghaywan, director
* Nagraj Manjule, director
* Archana Gautam, Indian actress and winner of Miss Bikini India 2018.

## Literature

* Annabhau Sathe, Indian folk poet, writer, and social worker from Maharashtra.
* Shailendra, Indian poet and lyricist
* Baburao Bagul, Marathi writer
* Daya Pawar, Marathi writer who received Padma Shri
* Lal Singh Dil, Punjabi poet
* Namdeo Dhasal, Marathi poet and writer from Maharashtra
* Neerav Patel, first Dalit poet to write poetry in English
* Om Prakash Valmiki, Hindi poet and writer
* P. Sivakami, Dalit-feminist Tamil writer
* Yashica Dutt, Indian writer and journalist
* Manoranjan Byapari, Bengali writer, Activist and chairman of west Bengal Dalit Sahitya Academy

## Music

* Ilaiyaraaja, Indian music composer
* Amar Singh Chamkila, Indian Punjabi singer and songwriter
* Arivu, Indian rapper and songwriter
* Ginni Mahi, Indian singer
* Sumeet Samos, Indian anti-caste rapper
* Vedan, Indian rapper and songwriter

## Politicians
### Presidents

* K. R. Narayanan, 10th president of India (1997–2002) and 9th vice president of India (1992–1997)
* Ramnath Kovind, 14th President of India

### Speakers of Lok Sabha

* G. M. C. Balayogi, 14th Speaker of Lok Sabha and MP of Amalapuram
* Meira Kumar, Speaker of Lok Sabha
* Suraj Bhan, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Himachal Pradesh and UP, Bihar

### Chief Ministers

* Damodaram Sanjivayya, 2nd Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state.
* Ram Sundar Das, former Chief Minister, Bihar
* Bhola Paswan Shastri, former Chief Minister of Bihar
* Jagannath Pahadia, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan
* Mayawati, 18th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the first Dalit woman to hold the position of Chief Minister in the country.
* Sushilkumar Shinde, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra
* Charanjit Singh Channi, 16th Chief Minister of Punjab

### Members of the State Legislative council (MLC)

* Yashwant Ambedkar, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council
* Goreti Venkanna, Member of Telangana Legislative Council

### Politicians

* Jagjivan Ram, Dalit leader, 4th deputy prime minister of india, Indian freedom fighter and founder of Depressed Class Association
* Mallikarjun Kharge, Indian lawyer and politician and current President of Indian National Congress.
* Jogendra Nath Mandal, one of the central figures in creation of the state of Pakistan; later a government minister
* Dakshayani Velayudhan, Indian politician and the sole Dalit woman in the Constituent Assembly.
* Ram Vilas Paswan, 11 times Member of Parliament and many times Minister in Central Government; founder and President of Lok Janshakti Party
* Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, President of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, former Parliamentarian
* Ashok Tanwar, President of Haryana Congress, former Member of Parliament
* Ram Ratan Ram, Member of Parliament 1984-1989, MLA and Minister in Bihar State 1952-1984
* Kanshi Ram, founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, a Dalit leader and Bahujan Nayak of India
* Bangaru Laxman, former President of Bharatiya Janta Party
* Kirpa Ram Punia, Dalit leader, former IAS officer, and politician
* B. Shyam Sunder, founder of Bharatiya Bhim Sena
* Chandrasekhar Azad, Founder of Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party, and current Member of Parliament representing the Nagina constituency.
* Chirag Paswan, politician and former actor

## Religion and reform

* Chokhamela, poet and saint from Maharashtra, India during 13th–14th century
* Ravidas, Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th–16th century CE.
* Harichand Thakur, established the Matua sect of Vaishnavite Hinduism
* Swami Achhootanand, 20th century Indian social reformer, established the Adi Hindu movement.
* Marampudi Joji, third Archbishop of Hyderabad
* Gallela Prasad, fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India