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Anti superstiation campaigner murdered in India

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India anti-superstition campaigner Narendra Dabholkar shot dead

BBC News - India anti-superstition campaigner Narendra Dabholkar shot dead

20 August 2013 Last updated at 06:35 ET Share this pageEmailPrint
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India anti-superstition campaigner Narendra Dabholkar shot dead

A high-profile Indian anti-superstition activist, who was campaigning for a law to ban black magic, has been shot dead in the city of Pune, police say.

Narendra Dabholkar, 71, was attacked by two gunmen on motorbikes while he was taking his morning walk.

He was known for founding the Committee for the Eradication of Blind Faith more than 20 years ago.

Critics accused him of being anti-religion in a country where mysticism and spirituality is venerated.

But in an interview with the Agence France-Presse news agency two years ago he rejected such charges.

"In the whole of the bill, there's not a single word about God or religion. Nothing like that. The Indian constitution allows freedom of worship and nobody can take that away," he said.

"This is about fraudulent and exploitative practices."

Mr Dabholkar and his committee (Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti) was particularly well-known for openly criticising some of India's so-called "godmen", the self-styled Hindu ascetics who claim to perform miracles and are revered by many. He also campaigned against animal sacrifices used in certain rituals.

The chief minister of Maharashtra state expressed his grief at the murder and announced a reward for any information.

Media reports say his killing comes days after the state government said it would introduce the controversial anti-superstition bill.

India anti-superstition campaigner slain

India anti-superstition campaigner slain - World - CBC News

India anti-superstition campaigner slain
Narendra Dabholkar, 72, wanted to eradicate black-magic in India
By Farida Hussain, CBC News Posted: Aug 20, 2013 11:07 AM ET Last Updated: Aug 20, 2013 3:34 PM ET

A Hindu tantric holds skulls as he performs black magic. Anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, 72, was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle while on his morning walk. Dabholkar openly criticized 'godmen' and tantrics who take advantage of people's religious devotion. (Sucheta Das/Reuters)

An anti-superstition campaigner in India has been slain by gunmen on a motorcycle.

Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, 72, who led a committee for the eradication of blind faith (Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti), was found outside in a pool of blood Tuesday morning in Pune, southeast of Mumbai, and rushed to a hospital where he died.

Dabholkar, a celebrated rationalist, was at the forefront of a movement to legislate against superstition in a country where bogus witchcraft guised as religious ceremony regularly gets the better of both educated and uneducated Indians.

His death comes days after the Maharashtra state government announced plans to introduce a controversial anti-superstition bill, one that Dabholkar has been pushing for the last 14 years, much to the consternation of Indian right-wing groups.

“I'm fighting against religious practices that are 5,000 years old," said Dabholkar in an Indian Express newspaper interview published on his committee website. "I am asking people to rethink.”

Dabholkar's committee members note that they aren't against God and religion as much as they are against bogus rituals, sacrifices and fraudulent "godmen" with dubious origins.

'I'm fighting against religious practices that are 5,000 years old.'
— Dr. Narendra Dabholkar
Deepak J. Girme, a volunteer with the anti-blind-faith committee for nearly 20 years, told CBC News Dabholkar had received death threats in the past, but never thought the "terrorists" would actually go through with it.

Two months ago at a Mumbai rally, a fundamentalist Hindu organization announced that they would "make a Gandhi of Dhabolkar," Girme said, "meaning that they would assassinate him."

Girme said religious groups were afraid that Dabholkar and his followers were encroaching on their territory by educating people to give up blind faith, appreciate science and adopt an attitude of reason.

"Faith is the last word of the conperson," Girme said. "They ask you to have faith when they have no other explanation," he added, referring to Indian priests, witch doctors and politicians whom he said prey on people's religious devotion.

Girme told CBC News that in certain Maharashtran villages people have been fooled into seeing witch doctors rather than seeking necessary medical attention, and have even been persuaded to sacrifice children to appease the gods.

Dhabolkar was trying to get people out of that "hellhole," and was attacked because fundamentalists were losing power over people, Girme said.

"If you can’t fight thought with thought, reason with reason, then the only weapon that they have is to shoot him," Girme said. "But that will not stop the progress that has been made."

Dhabolkar also ran an addiction treatment centre and worked to improve education among women.

Girme said that there are currently no plans for a memorial, though Dhabolkar's followers have already organized a march in Pune.

"He was a simple man," said Girme, pointing out that Dhabolkar was not one for ceremony.
 
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RIP..These things needs to be taken care of.Black magic among other things are still present in rural India.Only good education can help us counter this.Moreover govt needs to provide adequate security to people like these and whitsle blowers.

What a corrupt country and society.
What an idiot...what has this to do with corruption? Or make me understand this better Oh Chinese high IQ lord!!!
 
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RIP..These things needs to be taken care of.Black magic among other things are still present in rural India.Only good education can help us counter this.Moreover govt needs to provide adequate security to people like these and whitsle blowers.


What an idiot...what has this to do with corruption? Or make me understand this better Oh Chinese high IQ lord!!!

Really? You don't think some politician was involved in this?
 
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Dude,people from all parts of the society are part of this in rural India..what has this black magic to do with corruption and government?

I was referring to your comment that Govt needs to provide security to people like these......... with the close association of religious god men and politicians its highly unlikely that is ever going to happen
 
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I was referring to your comment that Govt needs to provide security to people like these......... with the close association of religious god men and politicians its highly unlikely that is ever going to happen

Yeah,that makes the life of whistle blowers and other good men difficult.

With religion earning in millions and political parties having an eye on the share who would deny the involvement.
 
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This is what happens when witch doctors are allowed to run wild:

'Witch doctor' rapes girl in Banaskantha

'Witch doctor' rapes girl in Banaskantha - Times Of India

'Witch doctor' rapes girl in Banaskantha

Pramod Panwar, TNN Aug 24, 2013, 04.29AM IST

PALANPUR: A witch doctor allegedly raped a sixteen-year-old in Deodar in Banaskantha district on Friday.

The father of victim told Deodar police that he had approached accused witch doctor Hirabhai Brahman of Sardarpura Ravela village for finding solutions to his problems and ensuring the well being of his family.

On Thursday night, the accused landed at the victim's house in Baba Society and started preparing for some rituals. He asked for a plate filled with the water, vermillion and some other articles. He told the entire family to leave the room except for the victim and said he would exorcise an evil spirit. He then shut the door from inside and sexually assaulted the girl.

Sources said it was after a few hours of his leaving the house that the victim narrated her experience to her brother's wife following, which he father approached the police.

Police sub-iInspector R P Patel said the victim's family wanted a solution to a land dispute and some other domestic problems. In the villages of this area it is a common practice to approach witch doctors.

The police have booked Brahman for rape and are trying to nab him.
 
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As the few people who can stir India back to the normal course are killed off, India is sinking deeper into barbarism.
 
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this sucks ... he must have made lot of enimies with babas and other magic people.
 
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As the few people who can stir India back to the normal course are killed off, India is sinking deeper into barbarism.

yeah eating tiger penises and cockroaches is the path to enlightenment.

this sucks ... he must have made lot of enimies with babas and other magic people.

His death fastened the approval of anti-blackmagic bill, making it illegal and a punishable offence.
 
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yeah eating tiger penises and cockroaches is the path to enlightenment.



His death fastened the approval of anti-blackmagic bill, making it illegal and a punishable offence.

I remember a famous kerala guy who on tv challenged a black magic guy to kill him .. :cheesy: @seiko do you know.. he got christian name but probably atheist
 
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