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| Dr Narendra Dabholkar |
‘We must think for ourselves and examine the logic of our superstitions. We must be progressive and embrace change.’ These were the wise words uttered by a voice of reason that sought to liberate the people of India from the bondage of superstition and blind faith. Alas! the voice that echoed several times before, encouraging the people of Maharashtra to become a soldier of rationalism and dare to rely on reason has been silenced.
On the dawn of August 20, 2013, in Pune, Dr Narendra Dabholkar (67), a man who waged a war against superstition and the practice of black magic in Maharashtra was shot dead. This terrible news spread like wildfire; saddening and flabbergasting thousands of people within the country. His murder not only highlights the risk a social activist faces but also the threat to rationality that exists in this country. It highlights that a large number of population in India are still in the clutches of outdated beliefs, false godmen and witch doctors and look at them as a panacea to their life’s adversities.
The reason why I speak of Dr Dabholkar is because there is a deep connection to the work he did and the practice of medicine. Superstition has always reflected the darker side of Indian culture. Medicine is one discipline that has challenged these beliefs. Many medical practitioners in India have even given up their lives to build people’s trust in medicine. Dr Dabholkar was one such martyr who made emancipating Indian society his life’s work and never looked back. Distressed on seeing people getting exploited by blind faith in quacks and pseudo healers, he gave up his lucrative medical career of 12 years. He trained his focus on creating awareness amongst the public and at the political level. His journey from a medical practitioner to a full-time social worker not only speaks of his selfless personality but also about his concern towards the people he worked for.
Dr Dabholkar’s tireless labour towards promoting a culture of education in the remote villages of Maharashtra and his valour to fight against all self acclaimed godmen within the country is indeed noteworthy. He has been an inspiration to thousands of social crusaders within the state of Maharashtra. He set up the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti in 1989 to help eradicate superstition and worked towards getting an Anti-superstition Bill passed by the Maharashtra Assembly yet did not live to see the results of his efforts. It is an irony that when Dr Dabholkar was living, he fought for many years against quackery, but it took only 24 hours after his death to get the sanction on this very important bill.
Dr Dabholkar also campaigned against rituals that harmed the environment. He started a movement to promote eco-friendly ganpatis which would be made of clay in order to curb water pollution during Ganesh visarjans. His endeavours helped him win the court judgement that mandated all Ganesh idols to be made of clay and natural colours in Mumbai, where Ganeshotsav is very fervently celebrated. Additionally, he became involved with movements like Baba Adhav’s Ek gaav, ek panavtha (One village, one well) agitation to fight social evils like casteism and supported social justice for Dalits.
His work has been revered and acclaimed by many healthcare experts as well. Some experts from Mumbai say that efforts of martyrs like Dr Dabholkar and several such healthcare practitioners who have worked towards educating people about their healthcare needs have contributed to the progress of medicine in India. Today, in many remote villages of India the doctor saheb is considered to be next to god. This goodwill can be used to influence people positively. There are still many healthcare aspects that go untouched in many parts of the country. Doctors practising in these regions, apart from treating patients, also have an added responsibility of educating people on various aspects such as sanitation, immunisation, HIV and other STDs, IMR, MMR, illegal practice of female foeticide, illegal sex determination and many other healthcare concerns.
It is to be hoped that his life would continue to inspire many who would carry on his good work to bring about the much needed change in the society. All in all, I would finally say that Dr Dabholkar by his work chose to be the candle that spreads the light, we must atleast choose to be the mirror that would reflect his light.
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