SPECIAL REPORT] We offer two reports on the murder of Indian rationalist/skeptic Narendra Dabholkar. Indian Skeptic Assassinated, World’s First Anti-Superstition Law Passed RYAN SHAFFER arendra Dabholkar was a famous skeptic in Maharashtra, India, Nwho spent thirty years crusading against superstition, faith healing, and Indian “godmen.” As one of the leaders of the anti-superstition movement, he received numerous death threats since becoming an active rationalist in 1983 and battling an industry against con- men, healers, astrologers, and godmen. It all came to an end in August 2013 when Dabholkar was assassinated as he went on a stroll near his home. Two sus- pects fired four times at close range and fled on a motorcycle. He died shortly after at a hospital. His death spawned massive protests, which forced the gov- bates, confronts godmen who claim ernment to finally act on a law he long Under Dabholkar’s to have paranormal powers, conducts championed. leadership, MANS took seminars for school children, and raises In 1989, Dabholkar cofounded and rationalist awareness during Hindu fes- served as president of the Maharash- several approaches to tivals. In 2011, Dabholkar helped get a tra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti challenge superstition. court to rule that Ganesh idols “must (MANS), which translates into English be made by using clay and natural co- as the Maharashtra Blind Faith Eradica- lours,” instead of with chemicals in the tion Committee. Previously, Dabholkar to a Hindu temple where she will not fluorescent paint that include toxic ma- completed his training to become a med- marry and her whole life is to be dedi- terial like lead and mercury. ical doctor at the Government Medical cated to that temple. Though it is illegal At the legislative level, the organi- College, Miraj, and became interested now, the practice still happens and is zation fought for eight years to get the in stopping godmen from exploiting connected to human trafficking. In ad- state government to pass anti-supersti- the sick and needy. The Committee’s dition, in Vibharba mentally challenged tion legislation, which includes prohibit- stated goals include encouraging “scien- people are re-cast as “holy” people, and ing the sale of “magical remedies for cur- tific attitude, scepticism, humanism and groups organize around them to solicit ing rabies and snake bites” and stopping critical thinking among the people” and money. those who “beat mentally ill patients opposing “harmful superstitions which Under Dabholkar’s leadership, in the belief that they are possessed by exploit people.” Besides healers, for- MANS took several approaches to evil spirits.” MANS described it as the tunetellers, and tantrics, MANS fights challenge superstition. Reminiscent of world’s first anti-superstition law, but to stop the nearly 500,000 to 600,000 James Randi’s million dollar challenge, right-wing critics denounced Dabhol- animal sacrifices that occur throughout MANS offers a twenty-one lakh prize kar and the law as being “anti-Hindu.” Maharashtra each year. There are 180 (2.1 million rupees, about $34,000) to Supporters of the legislation have cited branches of the organization throughout anyone who can demonstrate a mira- at least two cases of children being sacri- the state that deal with region-specific cle, such as being able to levitate with ficed, which the law prevents by banning superstitions. For instance, the central the “power of yoga,” or stopping their “black magic.” Nonetheless, the bill has part practices Devadasi culture, where a heartbeat for a minimum of five min- been pending in the state legislature for girl is forced at birth to be turned over utes. The group also engages in de- seven years after the cabinet approved it, Skeptical Inquirer | January/February 2014 29 but it was not put to a vote. million rupees, about $15,000) for in- “Challenges,” Maharashtra Andhashraddha Various political parties and social formation. There have been no arrests Nirmoolan Samiti, 2013. Online at http:// antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_ groups supported a bandh, or a strike/ at this time, but police say it will hap- content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=81. protest, in Pune, one of Maharashtra’s pen “soon.” There have been demands “Dabholkar supporters heckle politicians during Pune major cities. According to journalist to turn the case over to India’s federal protest march,” Hindustan Times, 22 August Tejas Mehta, Dabholkar’s murder “led police body, the CBI, from those blam- 2013. Online at http://www.hindustantimes.com/ India-news/Maharashtra/Dabholkar-supporters- to a massive outpouring of grief and ing the local police for the lack of prog- heckle-politicians-during-Pune-protest-march/ anger in Maharashtra,” which in turn ress. The CBI has a very good reputa- Article1-1111115.aspx. “prompted the state government to tion for not being corruptible. Burke, Jason. 2011. “Indian court orders Ganesh push an anti-superstition law that he In the meantime, Dabholkar’s sup- idols to be made of clay,” The Guardian, had championed for years.” The law porters are in mourning, vowing to keep 11 February 2011. Online at http://www. theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/11/ has been debated for years, but only his mission alive. Besides his activism ganesh-idols-clay-india-court. after his death was the law enacted. Yet as a rationalist, he served as editor of Mehta, Tejas. 2013. “After rationalist Narendra it still awaits support from the parlia- Sadhana, a weekly publication started Dabholkar’s killing, Maharashtra govt ment, which is required or the legisla- by Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, a famous clears anti-superstition ordinance,” NDTV, 21 August 2013. Online at http://www. tion will expire. crusader for independence from Britain ndtv.com/article/india/after-rationalist- Dabholkar was part of a growing but who fought against caste discrimina- narendra-dabholkar-s-killing-maharashtra- tight-knit movement that faces chal- tion. Some of Dabholkar’s articles are govt-clears-anti-superstition-ordinance- lenges in India. Dabholkar’s colleague, available on his organization’s website 408484?curl=1377134339. “Narendra Dabholkar murder: Parties call for a Sanal Edamaruku, a rationalist based in at http://antisuperstition.org, and vid- bandh in Pune,” Times of India, 21 August Delhi, fled India last year after investi- eos of his lectures are at http://www. ■ 2013. Online at http://timesofindia.india- gating a “miracle” in a church and mak- youtube.com/MaharashtraANiS. times.com/city/pune/Narendra-Dabholkar- murder-Parties-call-for-a-bandh-in-Pune/ PQ ing comments that authorities claimed References violated a law that forbids “deliberate articleshow/21951101.cms. Shivadekar, Sanjeev. 2011. “Anti-superstition and malicious acts, intended to outrage “About Us,” Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, 2013. Online at http:// Bill to be ready in this session: Ajit,” Times religious feelings or any class by insulting antisuperstition.org/index.php?option= of India, 8 April 2011. Online at http:// its religion or religious beliefs.” Edam- com_content&view=section&layout=blog articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011- aruku, now living in Finland, remem- &id=4&Itemid=65. 04-08/mumbai/29396060_1_anti-supersti- “Anti-Superstition Legislation,” Maharashtra tion-child-sacrifice-black-magic. bered Dabholkar as “one of the most Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, 2013. wonderful soldiers of rationalism in Online at http://antisuperstition.org/index. Ryan Shaffer is a writer and historian. He has Maharashtra because he was taking the php?option=com_content&view=arti- cle&id=97&Itemid=80. a PhD in history and is movement down to the villages on one Arun, George. 2013. “Narendra Dabholkar’s currently a postdoctoral side and the legislature on the other.” death should inspire Indians to battle supersti- fellow at the Institute for Police are investigating the murder tion,” FirstPost.com, 20 August 2013. Online at http://www.firstpost.com/india/narendra- Global Studies at Stony Brook Univer- as a “planned killing,” and the govern- dabholkars-death-should-inspire-indians- sity in New York. ment is offering a ten-lakh reward (one to-battle-superstition-1046929.html. The Sacrifice of a Skeptic BHASKAR SRIPADA n August 20, 2013, a sixty-seven- sician and worked in the medical pro- ication of Blind Faith. In the years be- year-old man was on a morn- fession for ten years when, at the age fore his assassination, he had been ac- Oing walk, near the Omkareshwar of forty, he decided to devote his life tively campaigning for the passage of an temple in Pune, in the state of to inculcating a scientific temperament ordinance to prevent “human sacrifice Maharashtra, India. Two gunmen and rational thinking in the common and black magic” in his Indian state. shot him with four bullets at point- man. His main goals were eradicating A witch, according to common In- blank range and reportedly fled on a superstitions such as belief in witches, dian superstition, is a woman with su- motorcycle. The man was Dr. Narendra uncovering black magicians who pur- pernatural powers and evil intent. Even Dabholkar, a tireless, nonviolent ratio- veyed witchcraft, and debunking so- today, and all too often, when a mis- nalist and fighter against superstition called miracles performed by the “god- fortune befalls a community, alarmed and false prophets. men” of India. To these ends, in 1989 villagers seek the guidance of a tantrik, Dr. Dabholkar was trained as a phy- he cofounded the Committee for Erad- or village witch doctor and black magic 30 Volume 38 Issue 1 | Skeptical Inquirer.