Martyrs for rationalism (part 1)

 

Tonight´s somewhat eclectic ChatGPT essay. Or rather part one. Could be interesting! 

How does atheism look in India? For instance, are supporters of leftist political parties atheists?

Atheism in India is a minority position but has deep roots, particularly in philosophical traditions and certain political movements. Here's a breakdown of its status, including among leftist political supporters:

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🔹 Atheism in Indian Society

1. Religious Identification

• Over 95% of Indians identify with a religion (mostly Hinduism, followed by Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, etc.).

• Religion is deeply embedded in culture, identity, and public life.

2. Atheists as a Minority

• Atheists, agnostics, or non-religious people likely make up less than 1–2% of the population.

• However, public declarations of atheism are more visible than the raw numbers suggest, particularly in urban and intellectual circles.

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🔹 Traditions of Atheism in India

India has ancient traditions of atheistic or non-theistic thought, especially within:

Tradition	Notes
Charvaka	An ancient materialist, explicitly atheistic school (rejected karma, afterlife, deities).
Buddhism	Non-theistic; does not posit a creator god.
Jainism	Non-theistic; gods exist but are not creators or central.
Certain Hindu schools	Some Vedantic and Samkhya schools focus on metaphysics rather than deity worship.

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🔹 Atheism and Indian Leftist Movements

1. Communist and Marxist Parties

• Parties like the CPI(M) and CPI have traditionally included atheism or secularism as part of their ideology.

• Many leaders and cadres of these parties are personally atheistic or strongly secular.

• However, party members often tolerate or even participate in cultural religious practices due to social and electoral realities.

2. Dravidian Movement (South India)

• The Dravidian movement (especially in Tamil Nadu) has a strong tradition of rationalism and atheism, linked to leaders like Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.

• The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) promoted atheism, anti-casteism, and opposition to Brahminical Hinduism.

• Today, explicit atheism is less emphasized, but the legacy of rationalism continues in parts of southern India.

3. Rationalist Organizations

• India has numerous rationalist associations (e.g., Indian Rationalist Association, Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti).

• Leaders like Narendra Dabholkar (assassinated in 2013) promoted scientific temper and skepticism toward superstition and miracle claims.

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🔹 Summary

Context	Atheism/Non-belief Presence
General Population	Very low (~1–2%)
Urban, educated elites	Some presence, often discreet
Leftist/Communist Parties	Common among leadership, often secular or atheist
Dravidian Politics (Tamil Nadu)	Historically atheist, now more rationalist
Rationalist Movements	Active, especially in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

🔍 Key distinction: In India, public atheism often means opposition to religious dogma, superstition, or social injustice, not necessarily an attack on all spiritual belief.

Would you like a breakdown of atheism in Indian states or among specific demographics like students or Dalits?

Who is Narendra Dabholkar?

Narendra Dabholkar (1945–2013) was an Indian physician, rationalist, and social reformer best known for his lifelong campaign against superstition, black magic, and pseudoscientific religious practices in India.

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🧬 Background and Early Life

• Born: November 1, 1945, in Satara, Maharashtra.

• Professionally trained as a medical doctor.

• Early on, he was involved in sports (a national-level athlete) and social activism.

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🧠 Activism and Rationalism

Founder of:

🛡 Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) –

• Founded in 1989, it translates to "Committee for Eradication of Blind Faith."

• Aimed to promote scientific temper, humanism, and oppose superstitions like:

  • "Miracle" healers

  • Occult rituals

  • Black magic

  • Witchcraft accusations

  • Astrology and religious exploitation

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📚 Advocacy for Anti-Superstition Law

• Dabholkar campaigned for a law to criminalize exploitative and fraudulent religious practices.

• Faced resistance from religious and right-wing groups, who claimed it was anti-Hindu, despite the bill being non-religious and behavior-focused.

• After years of advocacy, he drafted the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance.

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🕯 Assassination (2013)

• Dabholkar was shot dead by unidentified assailants on August 20, 2013, in Pune while on a morning walk.

• His murder shocked India and drew widespread condemnation.

• Days after his death, the Maharashtra government passed the ordinance he had championed.

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⚖️ Aftermath and Legal Case

• Multiple suspects with links to extremist Hindu organizations (like Sanatan Sanstha) were investigated.

• The case remains complex and politically sensitive, with arrests and charges but no final conviction yet (as of mid-2020s).

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📜 Legacy

• Dabholkar is remembered as a martyr for rationalism.

• He inspired many rationalist and humanist movements across India.

• His death helped galvanize public opinion in support of scientific temper and legal reform.

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🧠 His work exemplified Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution:
"To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform."

Would you like to know more about the anti-superstition law or about similar activists like Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi?

All of them.

Certainly — here's an overview of three prominent Indian rationalist activists who were all assassinated for their work promoting scientific thinking and challenging religious orthodoxy:

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🧠 1. Narendra Dabholkar (1945–2013)

Profession: Doctor, Rationalist
Focus: Superstition and blind faith, especially in rural Maharashtra

Key Contributions:

• Founded Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS)

• Drafted the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill

• Targeted exploitative "godmen" and miracle healers

Assassination:

• Date: August 20, 2013 (Pune)

• Circumstances: Shot during his morning walk

• Suspects: Alleged members of right-wing extremist group Sanatan Sanstha

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📚 2. Govind Pansare (1933–2015)

Profession: Lawyer, CPI (Marxist) Politician, Writer
Focus: Rationalism, history, and social justice

Key Contributions:

• Wrote the popular book "Shivaji Kon Hota?" ("Who Was Shivaji?")

  • Argued that Shivaji was a progressive king, not a religious chauvinist

• Worked for labor rights, caste justice, and secularism

Assassination:

• Date: February 20, 2015 (Kolhapur)

• Circumstances: Shot outside his home with his wife; he later died from wounds

• Suspects: Again, links to Sanatan Sanstha were alleged

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📖 3. M. M. Kalburgi (1938–2015)

Profession: Scholar, Former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University
Focus: Kannada literature, Lingayat history, criticism of idol worship

Key Contributions:

• Critiqued superstition within Hindu practices, particularly idol worship

• Spoke against Brahmanical domination and for rational interpretation of Lingayatism

• Viewed by some as a heretic among religious conservatives

Assassination:

• Date: August 30, 2015 (Dharwad, Karnataka)

• Circumstances: Shot at close range at his home

• Suspects: Investigations suggested a common modus operandi with other assassinations

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🧵 Common Threads

Feature	Dabholkar	Pansare	Kalburgi
Challenged superstitions	✅	✅	✅
Attacked right-wing orthodoxy	✅	✅	✅
Assassinated in public/residential space	✅	✅	✅
Cases linked to extremist Hindu groups (esp. Sanatan Sanstha)	✅	✅	✅

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⚖️ Investigations and Outcome

• All three murders remain partially unresolved, with:

  • Arrests made

  • Connections drawn between killings

  • National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police involved

• Critics accuse authorities of slow progress, possibly due to political sensitivities

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🕊 Legacy

• These three figures have become symbols of rationalist courage in India

• Sparked public debates on:

  • Freedom of expression

  • Religious extremism

  • The right to scientific critique

• Inspired writers, activists, and students to continue the fight for reason and secularism

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Would you like more detail on any one of these figures, or on the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act that Dabholkar promoted?

Yes, the act. Is this the act that prohibits Aghori practices (or alleged Aghori practices)?

Great question.

The Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act that you're referring to is officially called the:

Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013

Yes — the act explicitly mentions "Aghori practices" among the prohibited activities. However, it’s important to understand what this means in legal and cultural context:

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🔍 Key Facts about the Act:

• Drafted by: Dr. Narendra Dabholkar

• Passed in: Maharashtra in 2013, shortly after Dabholkar’s assassination

• Scope: Criminalizes a list of practices labeled as harmful, fraudulent, or exploitative under the guise of religion or superstition

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⚖️ What Does the Act Ban?

It does not target all religious or spiritual practices but focuses on specific actions considered:

• Exploitative

• Violent

• Deceptive

• Unscientific

Examples of Prohibited Practices:

• Claiming to perform miracles or cures to cheat people

• Black magic for harm or control over others

• Human sacrifices or rituals involving physical injury

• Using so-called divine powers to sexually exploit someone

• Forcing people to eat excreta, hair, urine, or other humiliating substances

• Banning people from medical treatment in favor of superstition

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⚠️ Aghori Practices in the Act

The Act specifically prohibits:

“Practices falsely associated with the so-called Aghori tradition, such as compelling people to eat excreta, urine, or participate in degrading acts under spiritual pretenses.”

• The law targets alleged Aghori rituals when they are used fraudulently or harmfully

• It does not criminalize Aghori identity or beliefs per se

• Legitimate religious asceticism (if non-violent and consensual) is generally not affected

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🧘🏻 Religious Freedom vs Public Safety

The Act was carefully worded to avoid banning religions or faiths wholesale. Instead, it targets:

• Exploitation of gullible or vulnerable people

• Coercion or harm in the name of spiritual authority

• Commercial or sexual abuse masquerading as spiritual healing

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📍 States with Similar Laws

Besides Maharashtra, other Indian states have passed or considered similar laws:

• Karnataka passed its own anti-superstition law in 2017

• Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have limited laws targeting black magic or witch-hunting

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👥 Criticism and Support

Supporters	Critics
Rationalists, human rights groups, medical associations	Some religious conservatives, traditional healers
Say it protects the vulnerable from fraud and harm	Claim it could be misused against cultural or religious traditions

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Would you like a full list of banned acts under the legislation?