A news item that hardly registered a blip on media's screen was killing of anti-superstition activist, Mr. Narendar Dabholkar. Even I didn't know about his activities until I read the news about his killing.
He rubbed some establishment in a wrong way and had to pay for it by losing his life. A month has passed by but the police hasn't been able to track the killers
Being a rationalist, such events affect me very deeply. And time to time, I see postings on this board that makes me think - people are able to leave the country but not able to leave the age old mindset. Gives me a mixed feeling of sorry and disgust.
Here is his ideas against "Vastushastra"
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=64
And here is writes against astrology
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=58
Critics will always make stupid arguments about him targetting evils only in Hindu society, or that such beliefs are universal. But that still does not justify killing a person who takes a stance against irrational beliefs.
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
A news item that hardly registered a blip on media's screen was killing of anti-superstition activist, Mr. Narendar Dabholkar. Even I didn't know about his activities until I read the news about his killing.
He rubbed some establishment in a wrong way and had to pay for it by losing his life. A month has passed by but the police hasn't been able to track the killers
Being a rationalist, such events affect me very deeply. And time to time, I see postings on this board that makes me think - people are able to leave the country but not able to leave the age old mindset. Gives me a mixed feeling of sorry and disgust.
Here is his ideas against "Vastushastra"
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=64
And here is writes against astrology
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=58
Critics will always make stupid arguments about him targetting evils only in Hindu society, or that such beliefs are universal. But that still does not justify killing a person who takes a stance against irrational beliefs.
Let me start with emphatic denunciation of killing of Narendra Dabholkar. Those who opposed him should have challenged him intellectually and peacefully. Killing him was heinous and cowardly act. That said, I have little respect for so called rationalists. They are motley group of cowards who speak only against those people and religions who would not retaliate by beating them up and in extreme case like what happened to Narendra, by killing him. Narendra Dhabholkar was one such creature. Many people asked him many a times as to why he spews so much venom against just Hindu religion and Hindu superstitions when such irrationality and superstitions are pervasive in all religions. Now it is too late to know the reasons for such an attitude for he is dead. If I may venture a guess, I would say that there were two reasons for such an attitude and behavior.
One was that MSM, especially English MSM’s antipathy towards Hindu religion is well known. By criticizing Hindu superstitions and practises, he had become darling of English MSM. With anti-Hindu dynasty in saddle for 60 years, he was darling of Kangress too. Further, his PERCEIVED anti-Hindu rant elevated him to the league of leftist intellectuals.
The second reason was that his movement was totally funded and sustained by NGOs who receive money from abroad. In this respect, he was in same league as Arundhati and her ilk. The easiest way to earn accolades of left wing nuts is to denigrate anything that is connected with Hinduism.
I do not think Dhabholkar was honest to his beliefs. I know I am making insinuation against him but I always look to the behavour of people rather than words, for words can be deceiving. He had no guts to say against Christianity which too has many superstitious beliefs and practices. If you were not Christian, you would not know it for the image of Christianity that you would have would be based on your text book readings of love of Jesus and image of Padre projected by Bollywood, which has always cast a Hindu priest as villain and Padre in white robe as epitome of love and kindness. Very few of you would know that to achieve sainthood, “miracles” are must. Lol! I guess it was this hypocrisy of Narendra not to say a word against such miracles that annoyed people. Likewise, Islam also has many “miracles” and superstitious practises.
I guess that so called “rationalists” are basically cowards who project to other peace loving people as “intellectuals”.
I am not intellectual guy and hence not a rationalist but I still admire truly rationalist people. I am a fan of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. I admire their conviction and courage. I have read their books and loved it. Though I disagree with their rationalist view that there is no God, I admire their arguments and logic. I admire their courage of convictions.
As I said right in the beginning that killing any person for their views is absolutely wrong. I believe in free speech and value contribution of free speech in evolution of modern world and contribution to peace.
However, I do not consider Narendra Dabholkar a true rationalist. He was a coward who unfortunately was killed by some deranged criminal. The platform on which he should have been exposed and humiliated is the platform of free speech.
I would not wish “may his soul rest in Heaven” for he did not believe in one.
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 28-09-13 04:10:04
To the OP,
It was covered extensively by the Indian media, although rape cases took the spotlight.
Peace by Murali
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 28-09-13 04:11:46
To the OP,
It was covered extensively by the Indian media, although rape cases took the spotlight.
Peace by Murali
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Respect for you Meghal. Remembering him and his efforts time and again is least we can do to keep his efforts going against superstition.
Narendra Dabholkar was less understood and his view point on superstition was linked to him being against hindu Religion and him being non believer which he was not. But that is an irony that Indian mass have blessed with miniscule common sense which is further stemmed by following some paths which religions advocated.
He was a social worker and highlighting ills of superstition, went few steps ahead and called for a anti-superstition law and anti black magic bill which would have been applicable to people of (some times against) ALL religions and not only hindus. Not well taken by some factions of society and those cowards killed him to keep their business going which is based on superstition.
Quote:
Originally posted by Nightmare
Quote:
Originally posted by meghal
A news item that hardly registered a blip on media's screen was killing of anti-superstition activist, Mr. Narendar Dabholkar. Even I didn't know about his activities until I read the news about his killing.
He rubbed some establishment in a wrong way and had to pay for it by losing his life. A month has passed by but the police hasn't been able to track the killers
Being a rationalist, such events affect me very deeply. And time to time, I see postings on this board that makes me think - people are able to leave the country but not able to leave the age old mindset. Gives me a mixed feeling of sorry and disgust.
Here is his ideas against "Vastushastra"
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=64
And here is writes against astrology
http://www.antisuperstition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=58
Critics will always make stupid arguments about him targetting evils only in Hindu society, or that such beliefs are universal. But that still does not justify killing a person who takes a stance against irrational beliefs.
Let me start with emphatic denunciation of killing of Narendra Dabholkar. Those who opposed him should have challenged him intellectually and peacefully. Killing him was heinous and cowardly act. That said, I have little respect for so called rationalists. They are motley group of cowards who speak only against those people and religions who would not retaliate by beating them up and in extreme case like what happened to Narendra, by killing him. Narendra Dhabholkar was one such creature. Many people asked him many a times as to why he spews so much venom against just Hindu religion and Hindu superstitions when such irrationality and superstitions are pervasive in all religions. Now it is too late to know the reasons for such an attitude for he is dead. If I may venture a guess, I would say that there were two reasons for such an attitude and behavior.
One was that MSM, especially English MSM’s antipathy towards Hindu religion is well known. By criticizing Hindu superstitions and practises, he had become darling of English MSM. With anti-Hindu dynasty in saddle for 60 years, he was darling of Kangress too. Further, his PERCEIVED anti-Hindu rant elevated him to the league of leftist intellectuals.
The second reason was that his movement was totally funded and sustained by NGOs who receive money from abroad. In this respect, he was in same league as Arundhati and her ilk. The easiest way to earn accolades of left wing nuts is to denigrate anything that is connected with Hinduism.
I do not think Dhabholkar was honest to his beliefs. I know I am making insinuation against him but I always look to the behavour of people rather than words, for words can be deceiving. He had no guts to say against Christianity which too has many superstitious beliefs and practices. If you were not Christian, you would not know it for the image of Christianity that you would have would be based on your text book readings of love of Jesus and image of Padre projected by Bollywood, which has always cast a Hindu priest as villain and Padre in white robe as epitome of love and kindness. Very few of you would know that to achieve sainthood, “miracles” are must. Lol! I guess it was this hypocrisy of Narendra not to say a word against such miracles that annoyed people. Likewise, Islam also has many “miracles” and superstitious practises.
I guess that so called “rationalists” are basically cowards who project to other peace loving people as “intellectuals”.
I am not intellectual guy and hence not a rationalist but I still admire truly rationalist people. I am a fan of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. I admire their conviction and courage. I have read their books and loved it. Though I disagree with their rationalist view that there is no God, I admire their arguments and logic. I admire their courage of convictions.
As I said right in the beginning that killing any person for their views is absolutely wrong. I believe in free speech and value contribution of free speech in evolution of modern world and contribution to peace.
However, I do not consider Narendra Dabholkar a true rationalist. He was a coward who unfortunately was killed by some deranged criminal. The platform on which he should have been exposed and humiliated is the platform of free speech.
I would not wish “may his soul rest in Heaven” for he did not believe in one.
Good post. Same can said of the Dravidian supremacist movements of south India. The cowards, who profess to be adherents of "rationalist" movement", selectively target Hindus while ignoring(sometimes encouraging conversion to) other faiths. Karunanidhi is exibit A.
