Pune: At Site of Dabholkar Killing, Activists Renew Commitment to Rationalism and Humanism on His 13th Death Anniversary
Pune, 20th August 2026: On the 13th death anniversary of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, activists of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) and citizens gathered at Vitthal Ramji Shinde Bridge in Pune, where he was assassinated, on Thursday to pay tribute and reaffirm their commitment to his non-violent fight for rationalism, humanism, scientific temper and eradication of superstition.
A booklet titled ‘Scientific Temper – How to Develop It in Children?’ was also released during the programme. Written by Vivek Sawant, chief mentor of Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL), the booklet was released by senior scientist Dr Arvind Gupta in the presence of Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
Gupta, a former official of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) Science Popularisation Centre, described Dabholkar’s contribution as an unparalleled sacrifice in the history of the global movement for scientific temper.
“Dr Dabholkar always insisted that everything should be examined and questioned. The rationalist struggle he spoke of is an enduring one, and we must remain prepared to carry it forward,” Gupta said.
Sapkal recalled how Dabholkar’s work helped strengthen rationalist thinking in him and said he planned to write about the subject over the coming year.
Senior MANS activists and trustees Deepak Girme and Ganesh Chinchole, state executive committee members Pravin Deshmukh, Milind Deshmukh, Nandini Jadhav, Mukta Dabholkar and Dr Hamid Dabholkar, along with Shripal Lalwani, Rahul Thorat, writer Prabhakar Nanawati, theatre veteran Atul Pethe and senior photographer Milind Joshi, were among those present.
Pune city and district office-bearers Anil Velhal, Sachin Sonawale, Dattatray Jadhav, Bharat Vitthaldas, Rahul Mane and Saurabh Bagade also attended the programme.
Raju Inamdar, counsellor with Parivartan Sanstha, and his colleagues Reshma Kachare and others performed songs commemorating Dabholkar and the rationalist movement.
