Can his sacrifice pave way for anti-superstition bill?

The death of a man like Dr Narendra Dabholkar and the way he died were both shocking.

But this must actually have come as a relief to those who believe that thoughts can be suppressed by violence and weapons.

Dabholkar was carrying a baton of long tradition of rationalists and reformists, a tradition which one can stretch as long as 2,000 years upto charvak. He was a simple man who brought his work of eradicating superstition and inducing rationality in people, to the forefront. It was his painstaking fieldwork and innovative ways due to which Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANiS) became a movement with major force. Narendra was better known to Maharastrians as a reformist.

For the past few months, ANiS was keen on putting anti-superstition bill in the assembly. Dabholkar, did extensive field work across Maharashtra creating awareness against sadhus, maharajas, buas who were manipulating people by leading them to old rituals. Among these was bhanamati, which was used to “cure” people of mental illnesses. From devdasi system to throwing new borns from a height, ANiS challenged all the traditional rituals.

ANiS announced half a million rupees’ award for those who could perform any of the following miracles:
1. Read the serial number of a sealed up currency note.
2. Produce the replica of a currency note.
3. Stand stationary on burning cinders for half a minute without blistering the feet.
4. Materialise from nothing an object I ask.
5. Move or bend a solid object using psychokinetic power.
6. Read the thought of another person using telepathic powers.
7. Make an amputated limb grow even one inch by prayer, spiritual or faith healing powers, Lourdes’ water, holy ash, blessing, etc.
8. Levitate in the air by yogic power.
9. Stop the heart-beat for five minutes by yogic power.
10. Stop breathing for thirty minutes by yogic power.

Similarly, Dabholkar and ANiS fought against godmen all over Maharashtra valiantly with his four-point formula.
1. Finding rational behind their unbelievable feats.
2. Perform the feats. ANiS volunteers started performing feats like burning coal as human skin can sustain touch of extensive heat for a few seconds.
3. Finding psycho-pathological reasons and finding background of patients who were hounded by all psychological traits.
Dabholkar fought against tradition and customs of every religion, including Christianity and Islam. During Mother Teresa’s coronation as a saint he wrote to Pope trying to make the Church go by reason instead of miracles.

In the last few months, anti-superstition bill evoked the ire of Hindu fundamentalists and sects like warkaris. Dabholkar was never against god and he used to say that belief of people were like shock absorbers for daily challenges, but he made his life a mission to spread rationality and scientific reasoning.

The task was difficult. There were life threats. And his continued fight against supersitions and medievel rituals did cost him his life.

He was a warm person who loved poetry, books and naturally intellectual debate. In his young days he was a national-level kabaddi player and also played against Bangladesh.
It remains to be seen if his sacrifice helps get the bill passed, against the huge tyranny and power of godmen across the country.
Shashikant Sawant, freelance writer