Shahiri

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: How Vithhal Umap strove to keep the art form alive

Vitthal Umap almost rescued some of the old genres in the Shahiri tradition and tirelessly performed them to keep them alive

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Prahlad Shinde's dual approaches to music

Prahlad Shinde sang many of the Ambedkarite movement’s songs. But he also sang ‘devotional’ and ‘folk’ songs which brought him widespread popularity.

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Prakash Patankar's songs against caste

“Song is not a means of livelihood for me [sic]. It is a weapon to bring awareness in society,” Prakash Patankar said

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Anna Bhau Sathe's powerful songs

Anna Bhau Sathe voiced the pain of an entire generation of untouchable workers, who migrated from the villages to cities in search of a life of dignity

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Wamandada Kardak's anti-caste metaphors

Wamandada Kardak's work as a Dalit shahir was a breakthrough in terms of defining ‘culture’ in a Hindu Brahminical society

Shantanu Kamble passes away: Remembering the power, influence of the Dalit shahir's rebellion

Shantanu Kamble, who was one of the founding members of the Kabir Kala Manch, died on 13 June