30 Facts About Narendra Dabholkar

Narendra Achyut Dabholkar was an Indian physician, social activist, rationalist and author from Maharashtra, India.

Narendra Dabholkar did his schooling at New English School Satara and Willingdon College, Sangli.

Narendra Dabholkar was a qualified medical doctor, having obtained an MBBS degree from the Government Medical College, Miraj.

Narendra Dabholkar was the captain of the Shivaji University Kabaddi team.

Narendra Dabholkar had represented India against Bangladesh in a Kabaddi tournament.

Narendra Dabholkar won the Maharashtra government's Shiv Chhatrapati Yuva Award for Kabaddi.

Narendra Dabholkar was married to Shaila, and has two children, Hamid and Mukta Dabholkar.

Narendra Dabholkar's son was named after the social reformer Hamid Dalwai.

Narendra Dabholkar criticised extravagant marriage ceremonies and arranged for his own children to be married in simple ceremonies.

Narendra Dabholkar became involved with movements for social justice, such as Baba Adhav's Ek Gaon Ek Panotha initiative.

Gradually, Narendra Dabholkar started focusing on eradication of superstition, and joined the Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti.

Narendra Dabholkar criticised the country's "godmen", self-styled Hindu ascetics who claim to perform miracles and have many followers.

Narendra Dabholkar was the founding member of Parivartan, a social action centre located in Satara district, that seeks to "empower marginalised members of the community to lead lives of security, dignity, and prosperity".

Narendra Dabholkar was closely associated with the Indian rationalist Sanal Edamaruku.

Narendra Dabholkar was the editor of a renowned Marathi weekly Sadhana, which was founded by Sane Guruji.

Narendra Dabholkar served earlier as a vice-president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.

Narendra Dabholkar advocated renaming the Marathwada University after Babasaheb Ambedkar, who is the author of India's constitution and fought for the equality of Dalits.

Narendra Dabholkar wrote books on superstitions and their eradication, and had addressed over 3,000 public meetings.

Narendra Dabholkar had taken on Asaram Bapu in March 2013 over an incident during Holi in Nagpur, when Bapu and his followers used drinking water from tankers brought from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to celebrate the festival.

In 2010, Narendra Dabholkar made several failed attempts to get an anti-superstition law enacted in the state of Maharashtra.

Narendra Dabholkar had criticised the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, stating that the minister had disappointed the progressive people in the state.

Narendra Dabholkar had faced several threats and assaults since 1983 but had rejected police protection.

Narendra Dabholkar had originally donated his body to a medical college.

Narendra Dabholkar was cremated in Satara without any religious rites.

Narendra Dabholkar's pyre was lit by his daughter, Mukta, in contradiction to the tradition where the son lights the pyre.

Narendra Dabholkar's ashes were collected without any religious ceremony and scattered over his organic farm.

Narendra Dabholkar's assassination was condemned by many political leaders and social activists.

On 20 August 2013, the police stated that it is under suspicion that it was a planned murder because the assailants were aware Narendra Dabholkar stays in Pune only on Mondays and Tuesdays.

In 2023, his daughter, Mukta, lamented the fact that 10 years had passed but the masterminds behind Narendra Dabholkar's murder have not been arrested.

Narendra Dabholkar has authored many books in Marathi which have been translated to Hindi and English.