Vilas Wagh (1939–2021)

Vilas Wagh, a prominent Ambedkarite scholar and a social activist, passed away on 26 March 2021 at Pune due to COVID-19. He was one of the most important public intellectuals in Maharashtra who sought to bridge the gap between two generations of the followers of B R Ambedkar. His greatest contribution was to have published a large number of books on Jotirao Phule, Ambedkar and Dalit Movement.

Wagh was born on 1 March 1939 at Morane village in Dhule district. When he was young, he lost his father but his mother was determined to see that her sons got good education. He took primary education at Morane and then joined Rajendra hostel at Dhule to take secondary education. He passed SSC exam in 1958. This hostel was managed by Gandhians and Wagh was introduced to Gandhian ideas and practices. Then he moved to Pune, joined S P College and secured his BSc degree in 1962. During this period, he read a number of books written by Ambedkar and was greatly influenced by his ideas.