It is a magazine run by Dalits for Dalits, and has relentlessly worked towards promoting an understanding of their problems among other communities and striven to achieve a casteless society. After completing 15 years, Dalit Murasu, a monthly, is reeling under financial crisis and has missed its periodicity for months.
“The last issue was brought out in April. But we are working on bringing out subsequent issues. Creating a corpus fund alone will enable us to ensure its sustenance,” Punitha Pandian, Editor of the monthly told The Hindu .
Launched in 1997, the objective of the magazine was “to give voice to the people, who could not find adequate space in the mainstream media.”
Probably the longest surviving Dalit magazine after Oru Paisa Tamilan run by Pundit Iyothee Thass , it was sustained by regular subscription and the magazine sold around 10,000 copies.
“We are not able to sell it through stalls as it is viewed as a magazine for a particular caste,” Mr Pandian said.
It has been going through difficult times in the last five years and it stopped coming out early this year. But, the editorial team led by Mr Punitha Pandian brought out four issues together until till April.
“Moulded in the ideology of Periyar and Ambedkar, it discussed in detail issues concerning Dalits, that included reservation, political awakening and assertion, prevention of atrocities act,” Mr Pandian said.
A fund-raising campaign has begun and well-known writers are supporting the cause. Tamil writer Jayamohan has posted the matter in his website.
