Braving incessant rains on November 30, civil society activists and intellectuals from diverse backgrounds gathered at St Joseph's College of Commerce to pay homage to Vontibettu Thimmappa Rajshekar Shetty (VTR), a renowned journalist, writer, and founder of the radical publication, The Dalit Voice. Honouring VTR’s legacy, the remembrance event was kept non-religious and featured nearly 20 testimonials from his colleagues, associates, and well-wishers.
A long-term associate of VT Rajshekar, Ruth Manorama, a Dalit feminist and Magasaysay award winner, reflected on her earliest conversations with VT Rajshekar. She remembered asking VTR how he was working for Dalits, though he belonged to the Shetty community. VTR responded that one need not be from a marginalised community to work for the social justice cause; it should be everyone’s cause. Manorama also reminded the audience of VTR’s sharp wit by sharing that he jokingly called her ‘Ruth-less Manorama’. She also lauded VTR for introducing a more direct and unflinching approach to caste discussions.
Rajshekar, once an editor at The Indian Express in Bengaluru, broke away from mainstream media in 1981 to establish The Dalit Voice. The publication aimed to challenge caste oppression and bring marginalised stories to the forefront. Known for its unapologetic critique of Brahmanism, casteism, racism, and other entrenched structures of marginalisation, The Dalit Voice played a role in shaping the anti-caste discourse for three decades before shutting down in 2011. Speakers at the event recalled how his writings had an outsized impact, particularly in vernacular media, influencing both public opinion and policy conversations.
Jasbir Singh, president of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Committee in Bengaluru, recalled his first encounter in the 1980s when Rajshekar intervened in a dispute over caste discrimination within a Gurudwara leadership election, where Hanuman Singh – a Dalit convert to Sikhism – was being blocked from assuming the role of president. Singh described Rajshekar as someone unafraid to challenge entrenched norms and spark uncomfortable but necessary conversations.
Several speakers also highlighted Rajshekar’s efforts to foster solidarity across marginalised communities, particularly between Dalits and Muslims. Retired advocate Dehlvi, who partnered with VTR on those initiatives, reflected on their half-century-long association. “VTR forced a change in the mindset of the governing classes towards the marginalised. Many important politicians, including Devaraj Urs, Bangarappa, and Basavalingappa, came to him for advice and perspective, which shaped efforts for the upliftment of Dalits, Bahujans, and minorities." Dehlvi also demanded that the government name a road in the city after VTR apart from being memorialised in a book.
Aakar Patel, journalist and chair of the board at Amnesty International in India, drew attention to the rarity of publications like The Dalit Voice seen globally. He observed that in today’s socio-political climate, it would be impossible to sustain a similarly critical platform without facing significant backlash from “the mob." Alluding to the alliance between the right-wing government, media, and vigilantes, Patel also noted the enduring relevance of Rajshekar’s work while commending the plans to digitise his writings to preserve their accessibility for future generations.
Ambedkarite educationist and activist K Chandrashekar said VT Rajshekar was a mentor whose ideas left a lasting imprint. Chandrashekar credited VYR with introducing the concept of Dalit-Muslim unity to many regions of India, which became a recurring theme in his advocacy. Similarly, Prabhakaran, who worked for the Dalit Voice in Kerala, noted how Rajshekar’s interventions and publications helped expose casteism in the communist state and introduced Ambedkarite ideas to a wider audience in Kerala.
Salil Shetty, Rajshekar’s son and the former secretary general of Amnesty International, acknowledged the challenges and risks that accompanied his father’s work. He said, “Apart from the difficulty of losing a parent, I can’t think of a better way for him to go after 92 years of living life on his own terms; it would take multiple lifetimes for us to match his contributions to society. He has had an incredibly impactful life and I think we should also celebrate that…”
A long-term associate and The Dalit Voice contributor, Kalai Selvi, noted that she was sad to lose a person like VTR at a time when social justice was being met with authoritarianism and India’s growth story was all about one industrialist. She likened VTR to a grand old banyan tree that gave rest and nest to a diverse range of activists and organisations. Pointing to the senior citizens who made up the majority in attendance, Kalaiselvam added that it was unfortunate that VTR was only recognised by people 50 years of age or older, while the younger generations were unaware of his contributions to society.
Beyond reverence
R Mohan Raj, the Karnataka state convener of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), spoke of VTR's role in inspiring rural youth (like him) by showing them it was possible to challenge caste hegemonies. He lauded VTR for introducing Dr BR Ambedkar’s thoughts to rural youth at a time when they were rarely read. Satya, an activist from Bihar who is an alumnus of the JNU from the 1990s, noted that The Dalit Voice percolated to almost every university in the country at the time, educating and informing youth on the key issues around caste, issues that other publications avoided.
The gathering was also attended by representatives from a range of political parties. M Gopinath, former state coordinator of the Bahujan Samaj Party, gave a message of condolence to family and friends. Former union minister CM Ibrahim demanded that a VT Rajshekar chair be instituted at the Karnataka University, along with giving VTR the title of Karnataka’s Ambedkar. Former MLC Prakash Rathod of the Congress conveyed a condolence message from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, passing on his regrets for being unable to attend.
Rajshekar’s legacy, as described by those at the event, is both significant and complex. While many praised his contributions to anti-caste activism, others indirectly alluded to the difficulties of sustaining such a polarising voice in today’s media landscape. His life and work, they said, continue to provoke questions about the role of independent media in addressing systemic inequities and the cost of challenging entrenched hierarchies.
