<R V Bhuskute> Shattered to hear about the passing away of Mr R V Bhuskute, a great scholar and activist who worked tirelessly for land rights of Dalits & Adivasis. I am not sure if he liked to be called a legal activist, but he certainly was a pioneering legal activist in India.

Mr Bhuskute was a government servant- a Tehsildar if I am not wrong. While in service and later, he wrote pioneering texts on land laws, focusing on Dalits and Adivasis in Maharashtra. The best thing was these books were written for general audience, like a guide for action.

I was a great beneficiary, especially during my PhD years, of his scholarship, activism and commitment towards this cause. I met him a few years ago at his house in Ambernath- he had grown old and forgetful but he still gave me some imp suggestions.

I can never forget his library that had really old pamphlets, movement writings and classics. He had the hard copies of all 3 vols of Baden Powell's The Land Systems of British India. His collection reflected his participation in leftist, Ambedkarite and civil rights movements.

This thread cannot end without reminiscing how I got to hear about him. During my first village study in Latur, every expert mentioned his name as the most important reference for any research on the land question in India.

I remember going to ABC chowk in Pune once in 2010 to look for some basic texts on land laws, etc. Every shop I went to suggested Bhuskute saheb's name. I bought all his books in Marathi & English. His articles are available in EPW too.

Bhuskute saheb was the main petitioner in Bombay HC demanding proper implementation of the 1991 GR regarding regularisation of gairan in the name of Dalit and Adivasi farmers.

Jai Bhim and Salaam to Bhuskute saheb- the tireless fighter!