“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
We as a nation suffer from chronic amnesia. We often forget our lessons, we wipe out the worst of our memories, and paint the societal stains over. And therefore we are fated to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. So here is a Hero we have all but wiped off our memory, wjile our brains fill up with vacuous Insta reels and memes.
Context:
In September 2016, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet naming Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the primary perpetrators responsible for the assassination of Narendra Dabholkar. However, in a subsequent charge sheet filed in August 2018, the names of Sachin Prakashrao Andure and Sharad Kalaskar were put forward as the actual shooters. Later, in November 2019, an additional charge sheet was filed against Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave, the latter already being in custody at the time. Punalekar, a lawyer by profession, was granted bail, with reports indicating his long-standing association with the Sanatan Sanstha, as he had represented the organisation in multiple legal cases. Bhave was accused of having conducted a reconnaissance of the crime scene, aiding in the planning of the murder, facilitating the escape of the assailants, and arranging the exchange of vehicles to avoid detection.
Earlier, arms dealer Manish Nagori and his associate Vikas Khandelwal were arrested when the case was being handled by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in October 2013. A subsequent raid on their premises led to the recovery of 40 illegal firearms. Despite this, the two were released on bail, and no formal charge sheets were filed within the required timeframe. Due to a lack of concrete evidence connecting them to the murder, they were not charged in the case.
A significant breakthrough in the investigation came when Sanjay Sadwalkar, a Hindutva activist, named Dr Virendra Tawade as the mastermind behind the series of murders. Despite Tawade being consistently mentioned in various charge sheets, the courts repeatedly ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish him as the primary conspirator. The Sanatan Sanstha, founded by Jayant Athavale, promotes an ideology known as 'Kshatra Dharma Sadhana,' which calls for the elimination of individuals perceived as obstacles to the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra. This ideology has raised serious concerns regarding the erosion of India's secular values, including the principles of equality, freedom of expression, and the right to dissent.
In 2015, Narendra Dabholkar’s children filed a petition in the Mumbai High Court seeking the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and judicial oversight of the investigation. At the time, the CBI assured the court that, out of 32 witnesses, only eight remained to be examined and that the trial could be concluded within two months. By December 2022, Virendra Tawade appealed for the discontinuation of judicial monitoring, citing the completion of the investigation. The court eventually agreed, stating that continuous oversight was not feasible. However, key evidence remained unaccounted for, including the motorcycle used by the attackers and the murder weapon.
Forensic experts later confirmed that the same firearm had been used in the assassination of Govind Pansare in February 2015. This indicated that the murder weapon had not been destroyed but instead retained by the perpetrators. The failure of investigators to recover this crucial evidence was a major setback in securing justice.
The involvement of the Pune police in the investigation was also met with controversy. Some officers, including retired personnel brought in for their expertise, were found to be practising occult rituals—ironically, the very practices that Dabholkar sought to eradicate. When this was exposed, the Pune Police Commissioner was transferred. In 2014, an RTI activist named Ketan Tirodkar filed a petition in the High Court requesting that the case be transferred to the CBI. Initially, the Dabholkar family resisted this move, fearing delays in the investigation. However, due to the lack of progress by local police, the court handed over the case to the CBI. The change in political leadership, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power in 2014, further hindered the investigation, as cooperation from government agencies was notably reduced. Eventually, in June 2016, Tawade was arrested.
The primary motive behind the assassination of Dabholkar and other rationalists was their campaign against superstitious practices, including human sacrifice and black magic. Their efforts to secure legal bans on such practices placed them in direct opposition to radical Hindu nationalist groups advocating for a theocratic Hindu state. Investigative agencies ultimately confirmed that the murders of four rationalists—Dabholkar, Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi, and Gauri Lankesh—were interconnected.
After years of delays, Judge Prabhakar Jadhav of the Pune Special Court delivered a verdict condemning the investigative agencies' ineffectiveness. The judgement explicitly stated that the accused had no personal enmity with the victims and that the murders were carried out solely due to ideological differences. The judge also noted that the level of planning involved suggested the existence of a more influential mastermind behind the attacks, someone operating beyond the immediate perpetrators. He further criticised the defence counsel for using unnecessary and irrelevant cross-examinations to prolong the trial. During the final arguments, the defence even attempted to justify Dabholkar’s murder by portraying him as anti-Hindu.
Significantly, the court ruled that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was misapplied in the case. The judge urged the CBI and police to reflect on whether their failures were the result of undue political influence. This was a strong statement, as courts generally refrain from making such assertions without substantial indications of external pressure. However, despite the ruling, the judgement failed to identify and convict the ultimate conspirators. The Dabholkar family expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that the real masterminds remained at large, as those orchestrating such crimes typically leave no traceable evidence of their involvement.
Mukta Dabholkar, Narendra Dabholkar’s daughter, declared that this legal battle was not just for her family but for all who valued democracy and rationalism. Megha Pansare, the daughter-in-law of Govind Pansare, joined forces with the Dabholkars in their pursuit of justice, questioning how a suspect like Tawade could be acquitted despite his involvement in multiple murders.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also criticised the failure of investigating agencies in gathering sufficient evidence against the conspirators. Meanwhile, members of the Sanatan Sanstha displayed brazen confidence, accusing Chavan of pushing a false narrative to propagate the concept of 'Hindu terrorism' following Dabholkar’s murder. They even blamed the Dabholkar family for allegedly using the trial as an opportunity to malign their organisation. Those who labelled the Sanatan Sanstha a Hindu terror outfit were themselves branded ‘Urban Naxals,’ with some extremists openly suggesting that such individuals deserved to be eliminated. Given the current political climate, where radical Hindutva groups appear emboldened, the only recourse for justice seems to be an appeal against the judgement, seeking conviction of those who masterminded these assassinations.
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Narendra Dabholkar: A Decade Since His Assassination and the Long Road to Justice
On the morning of 20 August 2013, noted rationalist and anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead at point-blank range while on a morning walk. The assailants, arriving and fleeing on motorcycles, left Dabholkar dead on the spot. In keeping with his wishes, his body was donated to a medical college. However, the post-mortem examination revealed such severe mutilation that it was deemed unfit for academic purposes and returned to his family. His cremation took place in Satara without any rituals, with his daughter, Mukta, lighting the pyre. His ashes were later scattered over his organic farm.
The Verdict: Convictions and Acquittals
A decade after the assassination, following nearly three years of trial, a Pune court delivered its verdict on 10 May 2024. Sessions Court Judge P. P. Jadhav sentenced two individuals, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh on each. Meanwhile, three others—Virendrasinh Tawade, Vikram Bhave, and Sanjeev Punalekar—were acquitted due to a ‘lack of evidence’.
Tawade, long suspected to be one of the masterminds behind the murder, had earlier been arrested in connection with the assassination of Govind Pansare, a prominent Marathi author. As the trial progressed, emerging evidence indicated a clear link between the murders of four rationalists—Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M. M. Kalburgi, and Gauri Lankesh—between 2013 and 2017. Investigations revealed that the same group was responsible for all four killings, even using the same weapons, implicating the Hindutva organisation Sanatan Sanstha.
A Pattern of Targeting Rationalists
Between 2013 and 2015, three prominent rationalists were assassinated for their outspoken stance against superstition and Hindu nationalism. However, government officials showed reluctance in condemning these killings. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, then Minister for Minority Affairs in the Central Cabinet, dismissed concerns, stating, “You cannot judge the government on isolated incidents of violence.”
The Life and Legacy of Narendra Dabholkar
Born in the seaside village of Dabhol, located on Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, Narendra was the youngest of eleven siblings. He graduated as a doctor from Miraj Government Medical College, where he captained the Shivaji University Kabaddi team, earning the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Yuva Award for his contributions to the sport. He was married to Shaila Dabholkar and had two children, a son and a daughter.
For twelve years, Dabholkar practised medicine while simultaneously leading a social justice movement called One Village, One Well, which fought against untouchability. An atheist, he never consulted almanacs or adhered to religious customs.
From 1983 onwards, he became a target for orthodox and revivalist groups, frequently receiving death threats. Despite this, he refused police protection, asserting:
“If I have to take police protection in my own country from my own people, then there is something wrong with me. I am fighting within the framework of the Indian Constitution—not against anybody, but for everybody.”
Dabholkar, a reformer who dedicated his life to eradicating blind faith, placed unwavering trust in the people he sought to enlighten—right until the end.
Founding Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS)
In 1989, Narendra Dabholkar founded the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), an organisation committed to eradicating blind faith and superstition from society. He devoted his life to exposing fraudulent godmen, tantrics, and self-styled Hindu ascetics. He also played a crucial role in forming a Committee for the Eradication of Superstition in Maharashtra, challenging irrational practices and beliefs.
Dabholkar was also a founding member of Parivartan, a Satara-based organisation working towards the empowerment of marginalised communities. Narayanrao Patil, a minister at the time, was one of the founding members and the first chairman of MANS. In 1993, a trust was formally established in Satara, with Prataprao Pawar as chairman and Avinash Patil as a trustee. After Narayanrao Patil’s death on 17 January 2022, his wife Saroj Patil (sister of Sharad Pawar) was appointed as chairperson. Today, MANS operates 250 branches across Maharashtra and has a network of 5,000 volunteers monitoring the implementation of the Anti-Superstition Act.
Dabholkar’s Role in Rationalist Movements
Dabholkar maintained close ties with renowned rationalist Sanal Edamaruku of Kerala. He also served as:
• Editor of the Marathi weekly Sadhana
• Vice-President of the Federation of Indian Rationalists Associations
A strong advocate for Dalit rights, Dabholkar supported the renaming of Marathwada University after Dr B.R. Ambedkar and addressed over 3,000 public meetings on issues concerning Dalit welfare. In March 2013, he publicly confronted Asaram Bapu (now convicted of multiple rape cases) for wasting water during Holi celebrations while Maharashtra was suffering from a severe drought.
The Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill
Dabholkar was the driving force behind the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill, which remained pending before the Maharashtra government for eighteen years. He campaigned relentlessly for its passage, facing strong opposition from BJP and Shiv Sena, who claimed the bill was an attack on Hindu culture. Dabholkar countered these allegations, clarifying that the legislation did not oppose religion or faith but sought to criminalise exploitative and fraudulent practices.
Despite his efforts, the Congress-led Maharashtra government failed to act on the bill through seven legislative sessions. The day before his assassination, Dabholkar returned from Mumbai after meeting officials to push for the bill’s approval. Following his murder on 20 August 2013, the Maharashtra cabinet convened the next day and, under mounting public pressure, issued an ordinance on 24 August 2013—just four days after his death.
However, the final legislation was significantly watered down and burdened with a cumbersome title:
Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013
Moreover, the public’s right to report such practices was restricted. Under the revised law, only affected individuals could file complaints, severely limiting its effectiveness. The Act remained stalled in Parliament until an amended version was finally approved on 18 December 2013.
Honours and Recognition
In 2014, Dabholkar was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for his tireless contributions to social reform.
In his memory:
• The All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) declared 20 August as National Scientific Temper Day.
• India Publishers produced a short film, Bookshelf, in his honour.
Dabholkar’s legacy continues to inspire those fighting against superstition and for a rational, progressive society.
Reluctant Investigators and a Delayed Trial - Initial Investigation and Political Response
Following Narendra Dabholkar’s assassination on 20 August 2013, a bandh (shutdown protest) was organised in Pune. The then Chief Minister announced a ₹1 million reward for information on the perpetrators. On 2 September 2013, the police sent CCTV footage to the London Forensic Laboratory for analysis. Activist Ketan Tirodkar filed a petition demanding that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) handle the case, alleging the involvement of Hindutva activists. However, the NIA refused, stating that the case fell under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and could not be taken up solely based on suspicions of right-wing involvement. The Union Home Minister assured that the case would be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if local police failed to make progress. Eventually, the CBI took over, and the trial was conducted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Delays in Implementing the Anti-Superstition Law
Passing a law is only the first step in legislation. For it to take effect, the executive must draft implementation rules—a process known as secondary legislation. However, the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, passed in December 2013, remained unenforced for nine years due to the absence of these rules. During this time, Maharashtra witnessed three government changes, and countless individuals continued to suffer under exploitative superstitions.
Breakthrough in the Case
The investigation was marred by negligence and delays. Despite invoking sections of the UAPA, the court noted that negligence by the competent officer led to the failure in proving certain charges.
A major breakthrough came on 20 January 2014, when two individuals were arrested based on ballistic reports. However, it took more than four years for the CBI to arrest Sachin Prakasrao Andure on 18 August 2018, identifying him as one of the gunmen. In May 2019, two more individuals with links to Sanatan Sanstha were arrested, including Sharad Kalaskar, who was later identified as the shooter. Meanwhile, due to mounting public pressure, the Karnataka government passed the Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill in 2017, reflecting a broader movement against superstition-driven violence.
The Confession and Connections to Other Murders
During interrogation, Sharad Kalaskar described in chilling detail how he shot Dabholkar:
• He first shot from behind, hitting Dabholkar in the head.
• As Dabholkar fell, Kalaskar aimed again above the right eye, but his bullet jammed.
• After ejecting the faulty bullet, he fired another round.
• Sachin Andure also fired at Dabholkar.
Kalaskar later confessed to his involvement in the murders of Govind Pansare (2015) and Gauri Lankesh (2017). He admitted having links with Hindutva groups, where he underwent a crash course in ideological indoctrination, firearms training, and bomb-making. Kalaskar named Virendra Tawade as the mastermind, who had instructed him to target rationalists. Tawade introduced Kalaskar to Amol Kale, another key conspirator, who was later arrested in connection with Gauri Lankesh’s murder.
In an August 2016 meeting, the group discussed eliminating individuals they deemed “anti-Hindu”. By August 2017, they had finalised plans, assigning specific roles in the assassination of Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead in September 2017. Kalaskar also revealed that the group had plans to target B.G. Kalsa Patil, a retired Bombay High Court judge.
Political Controversy and Allegations Against MANS
As the investigation progressed, the CBI examined Hamid Dabholkar, Narendra Dabholkar’s son. During his cross-examination before the Special UAPA Court, he was questioned about allegations that funds received by MANS (Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti) had been diverted to Sodhana Trust, in relation to Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) violations. Hamid denied any knowledge of such transactions but asserted that MANS’ financial accounts were regularly audited and reported.
In December 2015, then Law Minister Kiran Rijiju told Rajya Sabha that there was no evidence linking the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare, and Kalburgi. His statement was immediately challenged by the Dabholkar family, who pointed to emerging connections between the killings.
Legal Proceedings and Hindutva Links in the Murder Case - CBI Charges and Court Proceedings
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed charge sheets against five individuals, including:
• Virendra Tawade – an ENT surgeon
• Sanjeev Punalekar – a lawyer
• Vikram Bhave – Punalekar’s assistant
• Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar – identified as the gunmen
On 15 September 2021, the Special UAPA Court framed charges under Section 16 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act. Tawade, Andure, Kalaskar, and Bhave faced charges for murder, conspiracy to murder, and terrorist acts, while Punalekar was charged with destruction of evidence. All the accused pleaded not guilty.
The Changing Political Landscape and Delayed Justice
At the time of Dabholkar’s murder in August 2013, Maharashtra was ruled by the Congress-NCP government. When Govind Pansare was murdered in February 2015, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was in power. From 2019, the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition took charge. Despite Maharashtra’s reputation as a progressive state inspired by Phule and Ambedkar, the slow progress of justice exposed a different reality.
Punalekar was later granted bail, despite being a lawyer himself. Meanwhile, the CBI recovered a firearm from Thane creek, confirming that it was used in the murder of Gauri Lankesh.
Threats and Opposition from Sanatan Sanstha
Before his assassination, Dabholkar had submitted a file on Sanatan Sanstha to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, highlighting its extremist activities. Sanatan Prabhat, the mouthpiece of Sanatan Sanstha, openly condemned Dabholkar’s work, even issuing thinly veiled death threats. One article warned:
“If you don’t stop eradicating superstitions, you will be made the second Gandhi.”
This statement directly implied that he could be assassinated like Mahatma Gandhi.
Dabholkar’s organic farming initiative also became a target. Through his trust Parivartan, he facilitated private and government funding for social reform projects. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti accused the trust of having Naxalite links, demanding an investigation—an apparent act of retaliation. When Parivartan received funds from Swissaid, a Swiss NGO promoting organic farming, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti manipulated the narrative, pointing to a map published in Switzerland that depicted Kashmir as part of Pakistan. This was used to allege FCRA violations, falsely accusing Dabholkar of diverting funds to “anti-Hindu activities.”
Dabholkar was frequently questioned on why he focused on Hindu superstitions and did not challenge other religious practices. The futility of this argument was self-evident, as his activism aimed at social reform rather than religious bias.
Temple Entry Campaign and Posthumous Justifications
In 2000, Dabholkar led a group of women attempting to enter the Shani Shingnapur temple, challenging gender discrimination. The temple trust filed a case against him, which remained unresolved. Following his assassination, Sanatan Sanstha’s publication Sanatan Pratibha wrote an editorial justifying his death, calling it “God’s wish”—a chilling reflection of its ideology.
Family, Trust Allegations, and Internal Disputes
After Dabholkar’s death, his wife Shaila Dabholkar took charge of Parivartan, which had accumulated ₹7 crore over 25 years. However, trustee Avinash Patil accused the Dabholkar family of taking over the organisation, despite no evidence of financial misuse. In reality, the trust continued to function from premises provided by the Dabholkar family. The Sanatan Sanstha sought to exploit these disputes for its own agenda. Dabholkar’s nephew, Atish Shripad Dabholkar, was later appointed Director of the Abdul Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.
Branding of Rationalists as ‘Urban Naxals’
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti labelled Dabholkar an “Urban Naxal”, revealing the forces behind his assassination. The term, frequently used in UAPA-related arrests, has become a catch-all label for silencing activists.
Those branded as “Urban Naxals” face baseless accusations of:
• Tax evasion
• Money laundering
• Foreign fund misuse
• Anti-India activities
At the same time, when final charge sheets were filed in September 2021, the UAPA was invoked against the five accused, alleging they aimed to “terrorise a section of society”—namely, rationalists and social reformers. However, despite overwhelming evidence, no steps were taken to declare Sanatan Sanstha a terrorist organisation.
Arrests, Explosives, and Uncovered Plots
A search of the Mumbai residence of Vaibhav Raut, a Sanatan Sanstha member, led to the discovery of explosives and crude bombs. Investigators also uncovered plans to assassinate Professor K.S. Bhagwan, a rationalist from Karnataka. Two of Raut’s associates—Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar—were arrested, along with ten other individuals connected to the murders of rationalists.
Among those arrested was Amol Kale, the former convener of Sanatan Sanstha and leader of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, along with Bharat Kurne, both implicated in planning the murders of Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh.
Legacy of Narendra Dabholkar
Hamid Dabholkar, Narendra Dabholkar’s son, is a psychiatrist known for his intellectual depth and empathy. During his school years, he was often teased about his name, as ‘Hamid’ is typically associated with the Muslim community. Eventually, he questioned his father about the choice of name. Dabholkar had anticipated this moment and explained to his son that he was named after Hamid Dalwai, a Muslim reformer who opposed regressive religious practices, particularly the practice of instant triple talaq in the Muslim community. Dabholkar firmly believed that names carried no religious significance and were instead symbols of ideals. To help his son understand, he showed him the documentary Hamid: The Unsung Humanist, directed by Maruti and Jyoti Subhash and featuring Naseeruddin Shah.
Hamid Dalwai had famously asserted that Hindus and Muslims must first identify as Indians above all else. Narendra Dabholkar, deeply influenced by Mahatma Phule, modelled his Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal on Phule’s Satyashodhak Samaj. His commitment to social reform put him at odds with communal forces that sought to radicalise young minds for political ends. He remained steadfast in his fight against superstition and religious dogma, even in the face of threats to his life, a testament to his unwavering dedication to rationalism and social justice.
