Raja Dhale

{{Short description|Indian politician and writer (1940–2019)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Raja Dhale

| image = Raja dhale.jpg

| caption = Political activist, social reformer and Dalit Panther member Raja Dhale

| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|9|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maharashtra

| residence = Kannamwar Nagar 1, Vikhroli (E), Mumbai, Maharashtra

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|7|16|1940|9|30|df=y}}

| death_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra

| constituency =

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| party = Republican Party of India
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh

| spouse = Deexa Dhale

| children = Gatha Dhale

| website =

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}}

Rajaram Piraji Dhale (30 September 1940 – 16 July 2019{{cite news |title=Raja Dhale, co-founder of Dalit Panther, dies aged 78 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/raja-dhale-co-founder-of-dalit-panther-dies/article28475090.ece |access-date=16 July 2019 |work=The Hindu |date=16 July 2019 |language=en-IN}}), commonly referred to as Raja Dhale, was an Indian writer, artist and activist for Dalit rights. In April 1972, he, along with Namdeo Dhasal and J. V. Pawar, founded the Dalit Panthers, an organization dedicated to fighting for the rights of the Dalit community.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7IwDwAAQBAJ&q=caste+question|title=The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India|last=Rao|first=Anupama|date=2009-10-13|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520257610|pages=118|language=en}}{{cite book|last=Rajawat |first=Mamta |title=Encyclopaedia of Dalits in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ocjlRwK1y5cC&dq=Raja+Dhale&pg=PA330|year=2004|publisher=Anmol Publications |page = 326 |isbn=81-261-2084-3}} Dhale was a veteran Ambedkarite and Buddhist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/lokrang-news/jv-pawar-dalit-panthers-raja-dhale-mpg-94-1934764/|title=वाकविण्यात वाकबगार राजा ढाले!|date=21 July 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/raja-dhale-a-panther-no-more/article28494856.ece|title=Raja Dhale, a Panther no more|first=Alok|last=Deshpande|date=17 July 2019|work=The Hindu}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/dalit-panthers-co-founder-raja-dhale-dies-at-78-union-minister-ramdas-athawale-expresses-grief-2232585.html|title=Dalit Panther's Co-founder Raja Dhale Dies at 78, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Expresses Grief|website=News18}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/raja-dhale-1940-2019-a-real-fighter-there-cant-be-another-ambedkarite-like-him-5833125/|title=Raja Dhale (1940-2019): 'A real fighter… there can't be another Ambedkarite like him'|date=17 July 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/mumbai/politics/dalit-panther-co-founder-raja-dhale-passed-away/articleshow/70239365.cms|title=Dalit Panther: दलित पैंथर के सह-संस्थापक राजा ढाले का निधन – dalit panther co founder raja dhale passed away|date=16 July 2019|website=Navbharat Times}}