On 5th March, 2026, it was day, when the Ambedkarite movement lost Prof. Ranjit Meshram the most fearless journalist, academician and guiding light of anti-caste movement. His contribution in term of public intellectual, and the reflector of anti-caste views to form the Ambedkar’s enlighten India, would always remain the ideological vision to explore the dynamic of anti-caste movement across the Maharashtra. Despite of his last stage, he often having insecurity or instability in regard to the future of dalit communities and wanted to work for their development and progress.
He was such a towering figure who led the role of educator for the new generation and constantly investigating the social nuances of scheduled castes and others marginalised communities to bring their social issues in the mainstream media, reflect his commitment to social justice. Prof. Meshram was widely respected for his journalism ethics and roaring voice for voiceless communities. His journalism particularly in the period of 1970s to 1980s as a crime reporter in Nagpur expose exclusion and discriminative attitude of ruling state towards the Dalits struggle for social justice against the wronged done to them. He became the saviour and light for the dalit community and use to stated that crime against the dalit is the effect of caste system and unequal distribution of essential resources. Such logical and rational assertions in the public platform made him a respectful figure not only in police, administration but also in the universities circle.
Being a Professor of Sociology at P.W.S. College, Nagpur, he often perceived the caste structure as a supportive to the privileges savarna castes and brought the anti-caste pedagogy in the classroom to inspire his students. As a public intellectual, his speeches and writings reflected the Ambedkarite perspective to shape the individual mind to assert against caste inequality which are widely available in social and print media. His political sociological perspective reminds the dalit communities that constitutional mandates are imperative. He often stated that Babasaheb Ambedkar has provided two sphere to dalits that is Buddhis (Personal) and Political (Public) to shape identity in dignified way. He utilised the pen and social platform to address the caste issues of oppressed communities in an acrimonious manner to pull the attention of ruling class. He keeps on arguing that Ambedkarite politics has deeply rooted in the project of ‘annihilation of caste’ and thus, it could not disassociate! From his perspective, the republican identity provided by Ambedkar is to generate constitutional subjects rather just a passive voter. His tirelessly work for dalit and other marginalised communities provided the prestigious position of chairman in the Maharashtra State Mining corporation which was equal to Ministry rank and having close relation with various political leaders in Maharashtra.
“He wanted the dalit journalism must be inspired based on the Ambedkarite thoughts and democratic practices to transform it into public pedagogy and consider it as one of the tools for dignity and social justice.”
Ambedkarite movement lost the great thinker and guiding light of anti-caste movement that has profoundly created emptiness in Ambedkarite based ideological journalism and the discourse on the material resources associated to dalit communities. He wanted the dalit journalism must be inspired based on the Ambedkarite thoughts and democratic practices to transform it into public pedagogy and consider it as one of the tools for dignity and social justice. His activism in term of journalist, social activists and committed Ambedkarite inspire the young generation how to be a man of clarity, integrity and always a fighter in the forefront for the social justice.
OM MANI PADME HUM!!