Jignesh Mevani – Dalit leader and politician from the state of Gujarat

Jignesh Mevani is a social activist and Dalit leader turned politician from the state of Gujarat. He is also a lawyer by profession, who completed his law studies in 2017. Same year he joined state legislative assembly as first-time legislator with the support of Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. Among all his protests as a dalit leader against BJP led government, his Dalit Asmita Yatra from Ahmedabad to Una in 2016, attended by approximately 20,000 Dalits in protest to an attack on dalit men by a proclaimed cow protection group earned him immense popularity as a young dalit leader of the state.

Jignesh Mevani was born in 1982 in Ahmedabad. His ancestors are from Meu, a village in Mehsana district. As a social activist and leader, he gained popularity for his revolts and agitations of lower caste people. As a dalit leader he is best known for leading Dalit Asmita Yatra, a dalit protest against cow protection group in 2016. He also demanded land for the uplift of lower castes. He was booked under an FIR for giving ‘provocative’ speeches in Pune in 2018. He was also accused of promoting enmity between different groups through such public speeches. Left wing activist Umar Khalid was also booked for the same.

Jignesh Mevani – Some less-known and interesting facts

1. Apart from his LLB degree, he is a graduate in English and also holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication.

2. In association with Hardik Patel from INC and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, he led a state-wide protest against BJP led state government and many of their policies. It helped in the unification of SC, ST and OBC as well.

3. He worked as a journalist and reporter for Abhiyan, a Gujarati magazine during 2004-2007, while he was doing his diploma Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication.