Keshav Meshram
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keshav Tanaji Meshram | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 November 1937 |
| Died | 3 December 2007 (aged 70) |
Keshav Tanaji Meshram (24 November 1937 – 3 December 2007) was a Marathi poet, critic, novelist, and short-story writer from Maharashtra, India. He wrote about 40 books.
Meshram was born in a poor dalit family in Akola on 24 November 1937. He spent his teens and early adulthood working as a railway wagon loader, a construction worker, and an oil mill worker. While struggling to make a living, he continued his education. After graduation from college, he joined Western Railways as a clerk, but later secured the position of a Marathi lecturer at Maharshi Dayanand College in Parel area of Mumbai.[1]
Conversion to Buddhism
Meshram was one among the six lakh Dalits who embraced Buddhism in the historic 1956 conversion rally held by Babasaheb Ambedkar.[2]
Literary works
Meshram's collection of poems Utkhanan established him as an important poet. His most popular novel Hakikat ani Jatayu portrayed the anguish of a brilliant dalit youth, Abhiman, who was sidelined because of his low social status. Abhimaan fought against superstitions. He unsuccessfully tried to save a "possessed" girl from being molested and beaten up. His "interference" with the rituals of a tantrik priest brought him disaster. The girl died and the police framed him at just the time he had received his appointment letter for a job.
Meshram's autobiography Hakikat shows the development of a sensitive mind in an adverse world. His other literary works deal with the plight of dalits, but he always exercised restraint in attacking the privileged classes for the plight.[1]
"ज्वाला कल्लोळ" is the title of one of Meshram's works.
