Organisation · 29 May 1972 to 2 Oct 1972

Founding of the Dalit Panthers

Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra

Few sources so far.

In 1972, Dalits in Bombay took their cue from the Black Panthers.

On 29 May 1972, J. V. Pawar and Namdeo Dhasal decided to start a militant movement like the Black Panthers in America. They called it the Dalit Panther and announced it in Marathi newspapers. Pawar says reports of atrocities against Dalits drove them. That July, Raja Dhale and other young people joined, and their first public meeting followed on 2 October 1972.

Pawar writes that the Dalit Panther was disbanded within three years.

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What the sources record

On 29 May 1972, in Bombay, J.V. Pawar and Namdeo Dhasal decided to start a militant movement like the Black Panthers in America (Pawar). (1)
They named it the Dalit Panther and announced it in Marathi newspapers. (1)
A melava (conference) on 9 July 1972, presided over by A.S. Kasabe, was attended by Raja Dhale, Sangare and other young people. (1)
The first public meeting was held on 2 October 1972, with Pawar, Dhasal and Dhale as the main speakers. (1)
On 15 August 1972 the Pune weekly Sadhana published an article by Raja Dhale (Pawar). (1)
Onmanorama names Raja Dhale, of Sangli district, among the founders in 1972. (2)
Onmanorama calls Sadhana the Dalit Panthers' official publication, which Pawar's account does not. (2)
The Dalit Panther was disbanded within three years (Pawar). (1)

Linked records

In answer to: Pawar says newspaper reports of atrocities against Dalits prompted the movement; the specific case he cites is not named in this record. (1)

People in this record

J.V. Pawar, co-founder
Namdeo Dhasal, co-founder
Raja Dhale, co-founder (Onmanorama); attended the 9 July melava (Pawar)
Sangare, attended the 9 July melava
A.S. Kasabe, presided over the 9 July melava

Sources

Press. Outlook (J.V. Pawar, co-founder). Dalit Panthers: Founding A Movement. 6 Dec 2025.
Press. Onmanorama. Founder of Dalit Panther Raja Dhale dies. 16 Jul 2019.

On the map at the centre of Maharashtra.