Dear Friends,
One of the most active members of social justice movement who stood with secular values all his life, Prof D Prempati passed away in the early hours today morning in Banglore. He was not keeping well for past few months and was staying with his son in Banglore.
Prempatiji taught in Delhi University but frankly speaking his public life was vast and open to all. He travelled to nook and corner of north India in particular, UP and Bihar and tried to unite the Mandal forces, the OBCs and Dalits. His oratory was made for common man and despite Hindi not being his first language, he focused on writing in it.
Young people like me had a lot to learn from him. He did not suffer from 'academic arrogance' which is the order of the day and worked like a commoner. Many time, people never knew that he was a professor of English and a very senior person.
His death is a loss to secular movement for social justice. He worked to unite the non brahmanical progressive forces all over the country. He was uncompromising in his fight against Brahmanical Hindutva and wrote extensively after the demolition of Babari Masjid. His book 'Hindutva hai kya' became very popular with grassroots activists.
We will keep you updated when we organise a meeting in his memory.
regards,
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
