Siddalingaiah (poet)

Siddalingaiah was one of the most prominent Kannada poet, writer and social activist in India. He is particularly remembered for his work benefitting the poor, the down-trodden and the marginalised castes to which he himself belonged to. He was also one of the founders of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, which is a major political organisation fighting for the rights of the Dalit people since the 1970s. His writings and poetry reflected his own experiences and also through which he conducted his social activism by employing his wit, humour and irony to highlight the cause of the Dalits and their indomitable spirit.

Siddalingaiah (1954 in Magadi, Bangalore – 11 June 2021), was an Indian poet, playwright, and Dalit activist, writing in the Kannada language. He is credited with starting the Dalit-Bandaya movement in Kannada and with starting the genre of Dalit writing. He is one of the founders of the Dalita Sangharsh Samiti along with B. Krishnappa.