Narendra Dabholkar

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Dr. Narendra Dabholkar is a prominent rationalist in Maharashtra, India. In 1989 he formed Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) with like-minded individuals.

[edit] Biography

Dabholkar was educated in the New English School in Satara, studied in Willington College in Sangli, and received his MBBS from Miraj Medical College in 1970.

In college he was the captain of the Shivaji University Kabaddi team. This team was thrice runner-ups in the all India inter-University tournaments. He represented India against Bangladesh in a Kabaddi tournament. He won the prestigious Chatrapati Shivaji Krida Puraskar for Kabaddi from the government of Maharashtra.

He practised as a general practitioner for nearly 12 years after which he joined active social work. Initially associated with movements for social justice and equality, he worked with Baba Adhav in "One Village-One drinking water well" agitation.

In 1983 Dabholkar started working in the field of superstition eradication. After helping form MANS in 1989, he helped it grow to more than 170 branches in nearly all districts of Maharashtra. He has been the Executive President (Karyadhyaksha) of MANS since its founding.

He has written 11 books on various aspects of superstitions and their eradication. In the past decades he has confronted many Babas, Buas, Tantrics, and Mantrics, among others, and has led many agitations against various forms of superstitions, water pollution, animal sacrifice etc.

He is also a founder of an addiction treatment institute named Parivartan. Based in Satara, it is the only Institute of its kind in the districts of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Konkan.

At present Dabholkar is also the editor of the weekly Sadhana, which was started by Sane Gurujee. He is the Executive President of the Vivekavahini, an organization of College Teachers and Students of Maharashtra. He is also a trustee of Sakruni, which gives monitory help to needy volunteers doing work for worthy social causes.