Dalit History Month

Dalit History Month is an annual observance as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Dalits or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It is celebrated in April all over the world by Ambedkarites, followers of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Discussions, storytelling, history projects, special publications in media, and art works are organized during this month. The Canadian Province of British Columbia recognized April as Dalit History Month.

History
Inspired by Black History Month, a group of Dalit women launched the Dalit History Month project in April 2015. The Dalit History Month collective originally included Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Christina Dhanuja, Maari Zwick-Maitreyi, Sanghapali Aruna, Asha Kowtal, and Manisha Devi. Sanghapali Aruna and Thenmozhi Soundararajan came up with the idea during discussions at the Color of Violence conference in Chicago. Dalit History Month is now community-led.

Significance
Dalits are discriminated against because of their caste, despite such discrimination being illegal in India. Ignorance and absence of Dalits in Indian history by mainstream authors is discussed during Dalit History Month. Issues faced by Dalits are pondered upon by citizens.

In 2022, Canada's British Columbia province has recognised April as Dalit History Month.

In March 2024, the city of Burlington in Ontario Province, Canada, declared April as Dalit History Month and April 14th as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equity.