Martin Macwan

Martin Macwan is a prominent Dalit rights activist, lawyer, and founder of Navsarjan, a Gujarat-based organization working to combat caste discrimination and advance human rights. Born into a poor Dalit family in Nadiad, Gujarat, Martin experienced caste and economic discrimination from an early age. His experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to fighting inequality. In 1986, following the tragic killings at Golana, he founded Navsarjan, which went on to work across thousands of villages in Gujarat. A key figure in the Dalit rights movement in India, Martin has worked at grassroots, national, and international levels. He has also played a significant role in strengthening Dalit organisations, research, and advocacy. His work has been recognised with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2000) and the Activist of the Year Award from the Gleitsman Foundation.