Remembering The Rationalists

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 August 2023 Though a decade has elapsed, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's murder in Poona is still shrouded in mystery. His audacious killing in broad daylight was followed by the gunning down of Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh in 2017. The next target was S Bhagwan from Karnataka who was 'saved' in the nick of time by our 'alert' police. All these people fought against irrationality and superstitions throughout their lives but hardly anyone talks of these rationalists and their rationality any longer. They seem to have disappeared from the collective psyche. This is an alarming sign. A society which has no memory of its rationalist crusaders and people with a scientific approach and temperament is doomed to remain steeped in the cesspool of superstitions and shenanigans. It's all the more ironic to see that those who once supported the voices and views of these rationalists are now hardcore religionists! They not only indulge in religious superstitions but also condemn Dabholkar, Pansare and their likes for 'desecrating' Hinduism, nay, Sanatan Dharm and ' misguiding' the devout followers. The whole scenario has become pretty murky in the last decade. Reason has always been at the receiving end. Masses have always resisted rationality tooth and nail because reason and scientific temperament jolt them out of their stupor which they don't like. Canada-based agnostic and a doubting Muslim Irshad Manji is of the view that an army of atheists, rationalists and agnostics must continue to stir the minds of religious and superstitious people sans a let up or a lull period. When these handful of reasonable people are killed, bullied, maimed or exiled, their (concerted) efforts get weakened and irrationality resurfaces. This is happening in India and across the world. Rationalists are being gunned down, a hardcore atheist like Salman Rushdie is stabbed on the stage in full public view and non-believers are receiving threats. But there's a very interesting development as well. Nick Carlsen argues in his book 'Juxtaposition of Reason and Unreason' that when unreason gets palpably overwhelming, reason also becomes visibly powerful. That's why theism and atheism are becoming two potent but diametrically opposite spirits all over the world. If all man-made religions and their brainless believers are causing mayhem, reason is also making inroads in its own way. Let that happen in India as well. At the moment, extreme religious irrationality is ruling the roost and believers of all faiths seem to have gone berserk. But, I'm sanguine that the voice of sanity and rationality will also re-emerge and have the last laugh. Aren't you optimistic about that? ------ Narendra Dabholkar was gunned down by Sanatanis on August 20, 2013 ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/remembering-rationalists/d/130496 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism