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{{Short description|Marathi newspaper}}
{{Distinguish|The Mooknayak}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = ''Mooknayak''
| image = Cover_page_of_Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar's_'Mooknayak'.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = The masthead of the first issue of ‘Mooknayak’<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2020/01/100-years-of-the-launch-of-mooknayak/ |title=100 Years of the launch of Mooknayak |date=29 January 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| type = [[Weekly newspaper]]
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-books-written-by-dr-bhimrao-ambedkar-1519194502-1 |title=List of Books Written by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar |date=6 December 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| format =
| founded = {{Start date|1920|1|31|df=yes}}
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/48768/1/Block-4.pdf |title=Page 18 - 14.6.1 Mooknayak |language=en-US}}</ref>
| ceased_publication = {{End date|1923|4|df=yes}}
<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/48768/1/Block-4.pdf |title=Page 18 - 14.6.1 Mooknayak |language=en-US}}</ref>
| circulation =
| headquarters = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| political_position =
| editor =
| founder = [[B. R. Ambedkar]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/editorial/ravivar-mata/100-years-of-the-makers-of-mukuneka/articleshow/68865388.cms |title=100 years of the makers of 'mukuneka' |language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ambedkar/timeline/1920s.html |title=Columbia Edu Dr. Ambedkar's Timeline |language=en-US}}</ref>
| language = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
}}

[[File:A page of the paper 'Mooknayak' - The Leader of the Dumbs. First paper started in 1920 by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that vanguarded the glorious Ambedkarite Movement in India.jpg|thumb|Mooknayak Cover, First Issue]]

'''Mooknayak''' (Marathi: मूकनायक; lit. "the Leader of Voiceless" or "The Hero of the Dumb") was a [[Marathi language|Marathi]] fortnightly newspaper founded by [[B. R. Ambedkar]] in 1920.<ref name="The Wire 2020">{{cite web | title=100 Years of Mooknayak, Ambedkar's First Newspaper that Changed Dalit Politics Forever | website=The Wire | date=31 Jan 2020 | url=https://thewire.in/media/mooknayak-ambedkar-newspaper | access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref> The newspaper aimed to reveal the pain and rebellion of society.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/editorial/ravivar-mata/100-years-of-the-makers-of-mukuneka/articleshow/68865388.cms |title=100 years of the makers of 'mukuneka' |language=en-US}}</ref> The first issue of Mooknayak was published on 31 January 1920. This paper was published from Mumbai. An educated youth of [[Mahar]] caste named Pandurang Nandram Bhatkar edited this Newspaper. Because Ambedkar was working as a professor in Sydenham College. Therefore, he could not work as an editor openly. So he appointed Gyandev Dhruvanath Gholap as the manager of Mooknayak. Ambedkar himself wrote the foreword in the first issue titled 'Manogat'. He also wrote articles in the next thirteen issues. Chhatrapati Rajarshi [[Shahu of Kolhapur]] had given financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for Mooknayak. Ambedkar published Mooknayak in the [[Marathi language|Marathi]] language, Because [[Marathi language]] was the common language or folk language of that time and B. R. Ambedkar's area of work was [[Maharashtra]]. Also at that time the [[Dalit]] people of Maharashtra were not very educated, they could only understand [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://velivada.com/2018/03/28/dr-ambedkar-as-a-journalist/ |title=Dr. Ambedkar as a Journalist |date=28 March 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2017/07/vartma-ke-sandrbh-men-ambedkar-ki-patrakarita-ka-mahatv/ |title=वर्तमान के सन्दर्भ में आंबेडकर की पत्रकारिता का महत्त्व |date=5 July 2017 |language=hi-IN}}</ref><ref name="Narain 2021 p. 365">{{cite book | last=Narain | first=S. | title=Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Innovative Multi-Directional Reformist for Indian Lives | publisher=Notion Press | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-68538-924-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARtPEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT365 | access-date=16 May 2023 | page=365}}</ref>

The main objective of this [[Newspaper]] was to raise the voice of [[Dalit]], poor and oppressed people to the government and other public. For that, [[B. R. Ambedkar]] in his writings highlighted the injustice being done to the excluded [[Untouchability|untouchable]] community and suggested some measures to the then [[British government]] for the upliftment of that community. He always felt that for the salvation or development of the [[Untouchability|untouchables]], it was necessary for the [[Untouchability|untouchables]] to acquire [[political]] power and educational knowledge. On 5 July 1920, Ambedkar left for London for further education. Then from 31 July 1920, the post of editor of Mooknayak came to Dnyaneshwar Dhruvanath Gholap.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gaikwad |first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath |title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar |publisher=Riya Publication |year=2016 |isbn= |location= |pages=102 |language=Marathi}}</ref>

Currently 19 issues of Mooknayak are available. [[Ambedkar]] wrote ideologically in it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mahanews.gov.in/Home/FrontMantralayDetails.aspx?str=utYf%2FMWKOh8%3D |title=डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर एक बहुआयामी व्यक्तीमत्त्व - डॉ. गंगाधर पानतावणे |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210546/https://www.mahanews.gov.in/Home/FrontMantralayDetails.aspx?str=utYf%2FMWKOh8%3D |archive-date=2019-01-03 |language=Mr-IN}}</ref> Mooknayak created awareness that the [[Untouchability|untouchables]] should create a stronger position in the political sphere as well as in the social and religious spheres. 'Mooknayak' newspaper had various thoughts, current affairs, excerpts from selected letters, Kshem, Samachar, Kushal question, and Shela Pagot. Mooknayak closed in April 1923.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mahanews.gov.in/Home/FrontMantralayDetails.aspx?str=utYf%2FMWKOh8%3D |title=डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर एक बहुआयामी व्यक्तीमत्त्व - डॉ. गंगाधर पानतावणे |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210546/https://www.mahanews.gov.in/Home/FrontMantralayDetails.aspx?str=utYf%2FMWKOh8%3D |archive-date=2019-01-03 |language=Mr-IN}}</ref>

== First Issue ==
[[File:MookNayak_(Mute_Hero_-_1920)_and_Bahishkrit_Bharat_(India_Ostracised_-_1927)_were_two_Marathi_journals_edited_by_Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar.jpg|right|thumb|305x305px|The two fortnights started by Babasaheb Mooknayak and Behishkrit Bharat]]
[[Babasaheb Ambedkar]] said, "For any movement to succeed, it must have a newspaper. A movement without a newspaper is like a wingless party." This newspaper created awareness among the untouchables and made them aware of their rights. The following verses of Sant [[Tukaram]] were printed on it as titles to explain the mission policy of Mooknayak.

:: ''काय करून आता धरुनिया भीड |''
:: ''निःशक हे तोड वाजविले ||१||''
:: ''नव्हे जगी कोण मुकियाचा जाण |''
:: ''सार्थक लाजोनी नव्हे हित ||२||''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.esakal.com/blog/dr-br-ambedkar-worked-liberating-india-journalist-blog-written-priyanka-deshmukh-381579 |title='मुकनायका'ने, 'बहिष्कृत भारता' तील, 'जनते' ला, दिली 'प्रबुद्ध भारता' ची दीक्षा |date=6 December 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:B. R. Ambedkar]]
[[Category:Dalit]]
[[Category:Marathi-language newspapers]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Abolitionist newspapers]]
[[Category:Biweekly journals]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1920]]

Mooknayak - Revision history

RaymondLoewentha: created some data more to come