Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
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| Mukta Dabholkar at Vidhan Bhavan premises on Friday. |
Dr Narendra Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta says that passage of the Bill will strengthen anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra
Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of murdered rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, expressed gratitude towards Maharashtra Government for clearing Anti Black Magic Bill and said that it would strengthen anti-superstition movement in the State.
“The Bill, which was pending for 18 years has been passed. It is real tribute to Dr Narendra Dabholkar,” said Mukta. Talking to reporters in Vidhan Bhavan premises after passage of the Bill by Legislative Assembly on Friday, Mukta said that the Opposition had given many recommendations and she respected that right. The Bill would put check on ‘Aghori’ and inhuman practices in the State.Dr Narendra Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta says that passage of the Bill will strengthen anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra
Asked about the amendments in the Bill, Mukta replied that she was unaware of them and would speak after detailed study. Replying to query about opposition from Warakaris to the Bill, she said that activists of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) discussed the issue of ‘Aghori’ and inhuman practices with them. “Warkaris are supporting us and they too oppose ‘Aghori’ and inhuman practices as Sant Tukaram and other social reformers already preached not to follow inhuman traditions,” she said. “We respect individual freedom,” she added.
“There is a thin line between faith and superstition. But, we oppose evil practices and exploitation in the name of God and religion,” Mukta observed. She hoped that Legislative Council also would pass the Bill and all parties would support the cause.
Expressing disappointment over investigation into murder of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, she said, “We are pained that the Government has not arrested murderers even after passage of four months.” The society suffered a great damage and paid a heavy price due to killing of Dr Dabholkar. State lost a personality who firmly believed in welfare of masses, especially those living in rural areas. Society should back persons working for betterment of the society, she said.
Senior activist of MANS Avinash Patil also welcomed State Government for passing the Bill.
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