April is considered the Dalit history month in India. Why April? 11 April is Jotiba Phule’s birth anniversary; 14 April Babasaheb Ambedkar’s; on 7 April 1930, Dalits stormed the Kalaram temple in Nashik, and in April 1972, the Dalit Panther was founded in Bombay.

‘Dalit Movements in India: an overview’ is a aprt of Lamakaan lecture series jointly delivered by Surepally Sujata, Professor of Sociology, Satavahana University and a Dalit Rights Activist & U Sambasiva Rao aka U.Sa, Chief Editor and founder of Dasi-Disha magazine and Dalit-Bahujan & Leftist Movements Activist.

About the Topic: Dalit Movements in India; an overview: The Dalit Movements began as a protest movement in India against the barbarism and discrimination of caste. But the ideologies, approaches, and strategies, of Dalit movements varied from leader to leader, place to place and time to time. Some adapted to Brahmin manners, including vegetarianism, putting sandalwood paste on forehead, wearing sacred thread, etc. So what do these movements convey in the present day context? Justice/equalit for social change…

About the speakers:

Surepally Sujata: Works as a Professor of Sociology at Shatavahana University, Karimnagar. She is well-known Dalit and anti-displacement, anti-SEZ activist. She was in the forefront of anti-Polepally SEZ movement happened in Mahabubnagar dist. She is the Editor of Desi Disha, a tri-monthly Telugu magazine. She actively participated in Telangana statehood movement.

U. Sambasiva Rao: With a nom-de-guerre U.Sa, U. Sambasiva Rao is well-known in Dalit-Bahujan and Leftist movements in Telugu states. He is a prolific writer and good orator. He stands in support of all progressive movements ranging from Dalit to anti-displacement movements. He is the Chief Editor and founder of Desi-Disha, a tri-monthly Telugu magazine.

Date: 12 April 2015 (Sunday) Time: 04.30 p.m.

Lecture followed by Q & A session. All are welcome.

Entry - Free.