D. Ravikumar (born 1961) is an Indian Tamil intellectual, writer, lawyer politician and an anti-caste activist. He was the editor of the magazine, ''Nirapirikai''. ''Nirapirikai'' inspired several new writers in the 1990s in Tamil Nadu. He is an

Ambedkarite Ambedkarism is called as the teaching, ideology or philosophy of B.R. Ambedkar, an Indian econonist, polymath, barrister, social reformer, human-rights advocate, and the architect of Indian Constitution. Ambedkarism includes the principles of Nava ...

. Ravikumar is the current Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Viluppuram and member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Career

Ravikumar is the founder of the anti-caste publishing house Navayana, along with

S. Anand S. Anand is an Indian author, publisher and journalist. He, along with D. Ravikumar, founded the publishing house Navayana in 2003, which is "India’s first and only publishing house to focus on the issue of caste from an anticaste perspective." ...

, and the former president of the People's Education Movement (''Makkal Kalvi Eyakkam'') and PUCL ( Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry). Ravikumar was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from

Kattumannarkoil Kattumannarkoil is a panchayat town and taluk headquarters in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kattumannarkoil Town Panchayat constituted in 1892. The town is coming under the administrative territory of Cuddalore District. T ...

, Cuddalore district, and served from 2006 to 2011. He was instrumental in bringing a new policy to handle

EWaste Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage recycling through material recovery, or disposal are also considered e-waste. Informa ...

in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government started a skill development program and

Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018) was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011. He was popularly referred to as Kalaignar (Art ...

, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, created six welfare boards, both at the request of Ravikumar. In 2010, Ravikumar won the Aringar Anna Award, conferred by the Tamil Nadu Government. Vikatan Awards for Translation ( 2014) Thiranayvu chemmal award for literary criticism (2019) manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Bharathi Award (2019) Vitiyal Trust Chennai.

Positions held

*Syndicate Member, Tamil University *Senate Member, Annamalai University *Member, Enperayam, Central Institute of Classical Tamil *Member, Social Reforms Committee, Tamil Nadu Government *Member, Puthirai Vannar Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Government *Member of Legislative Assemby, Kattumannarkoil constituency, Tamilnadu (2006 - 2011) * Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (2019-Incumbent), Vilupuram Loksabha Constituency

Writings

Books

Prose

*"Kankanippin Arasiyal" (1995) Vidiyal Pathippagam *"Kothippu Uyarndu Varum" (2001) Kalachuvadu *"Kadakka Mudiyatha Nizhal" (2003) Kalachuvadu *"Malcolm X" (2003) Kalachuvadu *"Sonnal Mudiyum" (2007) Vikatan Publication *"Indrum Namadhe" (2008) Vikatan Publication *"Thuyarathin mel patiyum Thuyaram" (2009) Aazhi Publication *"Thamizharay Unarum Tharunam" (2010) Aazhi Publication *"Kaana Mutiyaa Kanavu" (2010) Aazhi Publication *"Bob Marley" (2010) Uyirmai Publication *"Andai Ayal Ulakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication *"Piravazhip payanam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication *"Katranaiththoorum" (2010) Uyirmai Publication *"Soolakam" (2010) Uyirmai Publication *"Meelum Varalaru" (2010) Ulakath Thamizaraychi niruvanam *"Kumbatchiyilirunthu kodungonmaikku" (2017) Kizhakku Pathipakam *"Kaalathai Thorkaditha Kalaingar" (2017) Manarkeni Kaanalaay marum kaveri (2018) Manarkeni Ayiram Pookkal Karukattum (2019) Manarkeni

Poetry

*"Avizhum Sorkal" (2009) Uyirmai *"Mazhai Maram" (2009) CreA *"Vaanil Vitterintha Kanavu" (2017) Manarkeni

Short Stories

*"Kadal Kinaru" (2014) Manarkeni

Translations

*''Uraiyadal Thodarkiradu'' (1995) (interviews and articles of philosophers including

Michel Foucault Paul-Michel Foucault (, ; ; 15 October 192625 June 1984) was a French philosopher, historian of ideas, writer, political activist, and literary critic. Foucault's theories primarily address the relationship between power and knowledge, and how ...

, Edward Said) Vidiyal Pathipakam *''Choli ke peche'' (2010) (short stories of women writers including Mahasweta Devi, Ismat Chuktai, Isabelle Allende) Aazhi *''Velichamum Thanneer Mathiritan'' (2003) (short stories of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and others) Dalit Veliyeedu *''Athikarathitam Unmaiyaip Pesuthal'' (2010) (writings of Edward Said) Manarkeni *''Varalaru Ennum Kathai'' (2010) (writings of Eduardo Galeano) Manarkeni *''Valasaip Paravai'' (2010) (poems of Yehuda Amichai,

Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and ...

Ethelbert Miller Eugene Ethelbert Miller, best known as E. Ethelbert Miller (born November 20, 1950), is an African-American poet, teacher and literary activist, based in Washington, DC.Hayley Garrison Phillips"Local Legend E. Ethelbert Miller Isn't Going Anywher ...

, Joy Goswami and others) Manarkeni

Editing

Tamil

*''Dalit Literature, Politics, Culture'' (1996) *''Dalit Engira Thanitthuvum'' (1998) Dalit Publication *''Iyothee Thaas Panditar Cintanaikal'' (four volumes) (1999) Dalit Sahitya Academy *''Rettaimalai Srinivasan Jeevida Carithira Curukkam'' (1999) (Autobiography) Dalit Sahitya Academy *''Mikai Naadum Kalai'' (2003) (Essays on cinema) kalachuvadu *''Dalit'' journal *''Bodhi'' journal *''Manarkeni'' journal

English

*''We, the Condemned'' (1999) (Against Death Penalty) PUCL, Pondicherry *