'Society never forgave Namdeo Dhasal': An Interview with Malika Amar Shaikh
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'Society never forgave Namdeo Dhasal': An Interview with Malika Amar Shaikh

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Subuhi Jiwani

Subuhi Jiwani is a researcher based in Mumbai. She shares her findings through writings and video.

Interview conducted by Subuhi Jiwani in August 2015

In this interview, Malika Amar Shaikh reminisces about her late husband and fellow poet, Namdeo Dhasal. She speaks about what first drew her to him, his poetry, his prose, his political party, Dalit Panthers, his poem on Indira Gandhi, and his alliance with the Shiv Sena. Despite his controversial political positions in later years, which Shaikh herself disagreed with, she says that he never played political games. He erred because he was a human being and a poet, but society never forgave him. (This interview was conducted in Mumbai by Subuhi Jiwani with translation assistance from Shashikant Sawant.)