Dr. Ambedkar’s newspapers and journals
Dr. Ambedkar started or guided five Marathi papers between 1920 and 1956. He wrote his scholarly books in English, but he spoke to his own people mostly through Marathi journalism The Wire – Prabodhan Pol, “The journalistic legacy of B. R. Ambedkar, the editor” (14 Apr 2018). No English-language newspaper of his own has been found.
The most useful single source is a 1990 Government of Maharashtra volume, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkaranche Bahishkrut Bharat (1927–1929) ani Mooknayak, edited by Vasant Moon. It reprints both papers and explains where the surviving issues were found Internet Archive – 1990 Govt. of Maharashtra volume (user upload) CiNii record Open Library record. It is not a photographic facsimile: the preface says the text was reset line by line from photocopies.
His editorials and articles were later collected in the Marathi volumes of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches (BAWS):
- Vol. 19 (2005) – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar yanchi patrakarita 1920–1928: editorials and short articles from Mooknayak and Bahishkrit Bharat Internet Archive – BAWS Marathi Vol. 19.
- Vol. 20 (2005) – patrakarita 1929–1956: Bahishkrit Bharat (1929) and Janata Internet Archive – BAWS Marathi Vol. 20 CiNii record.
- Vol. 18 (3 parts, 2002) – his speeches, many of them reported first in these papers Internet Archive – BAWS Marathi Vol. 18 Part 1.
Warning about two look-alike names. “Prabuddha Bharata / Awakened India” is a different English journal published by the Ramakrishna Order’s Advaita Ashrama since 1896. It is not Ambedkar’s paper. Search results on the Internet Archive mix them up.
Warning about Velivada. The Velivada website (velivada.com), once a common source for Ambedkar material, now serves an unrelated gambling site. Use the archived 2018 copy only: Wayback Machine – Velivada, “Dr. Ambedkar as a journalist”.
At a glance
| Paper | First issue | Last issue | How often | Ambedkar’s role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooknayak | 31 Jan 1920 | No. 19, 23 Oct 1920 is the last surviving issue (some say 1922 or 1923) | Fortnightly | Founder and guide; not the named editor |
| Bahishkrit Bharat | 3 Apr 1927 | 15 Nov 1929 (some say 19 Nov 1929) | Fortnightly | Named editor and publisher |
| Samata | 29 Jun 1928 | March 1929 (after 19 issues) | Fortnightly | Issued “under his leadership”; did not write for it |
| Janata | 24 Nov 1930 (some say 25 Nov) | Renamed Prabuddha Bharat, 4 Feb 1956 | Weekly | Guide; never the named editor |
| Prabuddha Bharat | 4 Feb 1956 | Continued after his death until about 1960 | Weekly | Guide |
1. Mooknayak (मूकनायक – “Leader of the Voiceless”)
Dates. The first issue came out on Saturday 31 January 1920 The Wire – Prabodhan Pol, “Mooknayak at 100” (2020). It was a Marathi fortnightly published in Bombay on alternate Saturdays, from an office in Parel. The 1990 reprint lists issue dates such as No. 3 on 28 Feb 1920 and No. 19 on 23 Oct 1920, which fits a fortnightly schedule Internet Archive – 1990 Govt. of Maharashtra volume.
Where sources disagree.
- Frances Pritchett’s Columbia timeline calls it a “weekly” Columbia University – Pritchett timeline, 1920s. The issue dates support “fortnightly”.
- The last surviving issue is No. 19 of 23 October 1920 Maharashtra Times – Vaibhav Sonarkar (14 Apr 2019). But the 1990 volume’s preface, Forward Press and an EPW article all say the paper ran until 1923 Forward Press, “100 years of the launch of Mooknayak” (29 Jan 2020) EPW Engage – Pol (29 Oct 2022). LiveLaw says it closed in 1922 after Shahu Maharaj’s death LiveLaw – “100 years of Ambedkar’s journalism”.
Money and price. Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur gave Rs. 2,500 to start it. A single copy cost 2.5 annas and a year’s subscription Rs. 2.50 The Wire (2020).
Ambedkar’s role and the editors. Ambedkar was the founder and real guiding force, but he could not be the official editor because he was then a professor at Sydenham College The Wire (2018) Forward Press (2020). He wrote for the early issues before leaving for London in July 1920.
- The first named editor was Pandurang Nandram Bhatkar. Maharashtra Times gives his middle name as “Ranganath” – the sources disagree Maharashtra Times (2019).
- From July 1920, Dnyandev Dhruvnath Gholap took over The Wire (2020).
- The imprint lines reprinted in 1990 say it was printed at the Manoranjan Press, Girgaon, and published from Hararwala Building, Poibawdi, Parel Internet Archive – 1990 volume.
Motto. Its masthead carried two lines from the 17th-century saint-poet Tukaram, which say, roughly, that there is no point in staying silent out of shyness, and that the world does not care for the voiceless Maharashtra Times (2019). The Marathi lines appear on the reprinted mastheads in the 1990 volume.
Where the surviving issues are. According to the 1990 volume’s preface Internet Archive – 1990 volume:
- Issues 2, 3, 5, 6 and 13–19 – originals at the People’s Education Society’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research Centre, Rajgruha, Dadar, Mumbai.
- Issue 10 – Dr. Ambedkar Research Institute, Nagpur (received 1977).
- Issue 1 – the editorial survives only in a handwritten notebook in the Shivaji University library, Kolhapur.
- Issues 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 – not found.
These locations are from 1990. Their present condition has not been checked.
Reprints and translations.
- 1990 Government of Maharashtra volume (above).
- BAWS Marathi Vol. 19 (2005) Internet Archive.
- Gangadhar Pantawane, Mūkanāyaka (Aurangabad, preface 1976) UW–Madison catalogue.
- Forward Press mentions two Hindi translations (2019) by Vinay Kumar Vasnik and by Sheoraj Singh Bechain Forward Press (2020). These books were not seen.
2. Bahishkrit Bharat (बहिष्कृत भारत – “Excluded India”)
Dates. The first issue appeared on Sunday 3 April 1927, during the Mahad Satyagraha. From the second issue it came out every other Friday. A year’s subscription cost Rs. 3 Internet Archive – 1990 volume.
- A combined issue (nos. 22–24) came out on 3 February 1928. After a gap of about nine months, the second year began on 16 November 1928.
- The last issue was a combined no. 21–22 dated Friday 15 November 1929 (1990 volume).
- Forward Press, citing Vasant Moon, gives 19 November 1928 and 19 November 1929 instead – the sources disagree Forward Press, “Bahishkrit Bharat” (30 Jan 2020).
Role. This was the only paper where Ambedkar was formally named editor and publisher. The masthead read “Editor and Publisher: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar”, Rahim Building, Poibawdi, Parel Internet Archive – 1990 volume Forward Press (2020). It acted as the voice of the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha The Wire (2018).
Motto. From issue 2 the masthead carried verses addressed to Arjuna (“Partha”) urging him to take up his bow Internet Archive – 1990 volume. Marathi Wikipedia says they are by the saint Dnyaneshwar; this was not confirmed in the reprint.
Where copies were found (1990). The University of Mumbai library (photocopied about 1978–79); some issues at the Dr. Ambedkar Research Institute, Nagpur; and a full-size photocopy file kept by Ratnakar Ganvir of Bhusawal, made from originals owned by Punjaji Navsaji Jadhav of Nashik district Internet Archive – 1990 volume.
Reprints and translations.
- 1990 Government of Maharashtra volume; BAWS Marathi Vols. 19 and 20 Internet Archive – Vol. 19 Internet Archive – Vol. 20.
- Ratnakar Ganvir (ed.), collections of its editorials (1976) and short articles (1981) Open Library – editorials Open Library – short articles.
- English translation by B. R. Kamble in four parts (Kolhapur, 2011) Internet Archive – Part 1.
3. Samata (समता – “Equality”)
Samata was launched on Friday 29 June 1928 as the paper of the Samaj Samata Sangh (Social Equality League). It was a fortnightly of eight pages costing 1.5 annas The News Minute – extract from Ashok Gopal’s biography (30 Apr 2023).
- A note above the masthead said it was published under Ambedkar’s leadership, but he did not write for it.
- The editor was Devrao Naik, and the writers included B. V. Pradhan and D. V. Pradhan.
- Every editorial carried the “Golden Rule” – in Sanskrit from the Mahabharata and in English from the Bible.
- It closed after 19 issues in March 1929.
Vasant Moon (quoted by Forward Press) says Bahishkrit Bharat and Samata appeared on alternate Fridays Forward Press (2020).
Where sources disagree.
- The News Minute describes Naik as a Brahmin; another 2026 article calls him a non-Brahmin The Mooknayak (English) (2026).
- A 2017 Forward Press article says Samata was renamed Janata Forward Press (2017); Ashok Gopal treats Janata (1930) as a new paper.
Surviving issues: no holdings were found.
4. Janata (जनता – “The People”)
Dates. Janata started on 24 November 1930, just as the first Round Table Conference was opening EPW Engage – Pol (2022). Forward Press gives 25 November 1930 Forward Press, “From Mooknayak to Prabuddha Bharat” (26 Jan 2020). It was a weekly Government of Maharashtra, Directorate of Higher Education – Ambedkar source-material publications.
Role and editors. It was published under Ambedkar’s guidance until 1956, but he never held the editor’s title EPW Engage (2022).
- Devrao Naik was the first editor, until 1932.
- Bhaskarrao Kadrekar edited it from 1932; he also managed Ambedkar’s printing press.
- Gangadhar Sahastrabuddhe took over in 1939.
- All three from EPW Engage (2022).
- B. C. Kamble edited it from 1948 to 1954, after R. D. Bhandare Maharashtra Times – on B. C. Kamble.
The press is called “Bharat Bhushan” in some sources and “Buddha Bhushan” in others; this was not resolved.
Reprints. The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Source Material Publication Committee of the Government of Maharashtra is reprinting Janata in volumes. Volumes 7, 8 and 9 – covering 12 February 1938 to 1 February 1941, 48 issues each – were released by the Chief Minister at Mantralaya; the report says six volumes had come out before them Marathi e-Batmya – release of Janata Vols. 7–9 Directorate of Higher Education, Maharashtra. The dates of Vols. 1–6, and whether these are facsimiles, could not be checked.
Other collections: Arun Kamble (ed.), “Janata” patratil lekh (Popular Prakashan, 1992) Open Library; BAWS Marathi Vol. 20 Internet Archive.
Surviving issues: no public holding of the original run was found.
5. Prabuddha Bharat (प्रबुद्ध भारत – “Enlightened India”)
Dates. Janata was renamed Prabuddha Bharat from Saturday 4 February 1956, as Ambedkar moved towards Buddhism The Wire – Sukanya Shantha (16 Apr 2018) Forward Press (2020). It remained a weekly.
Where sources disagree. A 2017 Forward Press article dates the change to 1954 Forward Press (2017). Pritchett’s timeline says the paper took the new name after his conversion in October 1956 Columbia University – Pritchett timeline, 1920s.
A surviving issue online. The “Ambedkar Bauddha Deeksha” special issue of 27 October 1956, on the Nagpur conversion, has been uploaded to the Internet Archive Internet Archive – Prabuddha Bharat special issue (user upload). BAWS also quotes this special number BAWS Vol. 17 Part 3, p. 532.
After 1956. Yashwant Ambedkar tried to keep it going until about 1960. Most old prints were lost when Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar was demolished in June 2016. The name was revived in 2017 for a Marathi fortnightly The Wire (2018).
Other periodicals linked to his movement
- People’s Herald – weekly organ of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation, inaugurated by Ambedkar on 3 January 1945 in Bombay BAWS Vol. 17 Part 3, p. 346. Not founded or edited by him.
Books about Ambedkar as a journalist
- Gangadhar Pantawane, Patrakar Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (Nagpur: Abhijit Prakashan, 1987) Open Library.
What could not be checked
- Current holdings of these papers at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya, the British Library and other libraries.
- Any facsimile reprints of Mooknayak or Bahishkrit Bharat after 2017.
- The names of Prabuddha Bharat’s editors (Wikipedia names B. C. Kamble and Yashwant Ambedkar; not confirmed).