Govind Pansare

Govind Pansare
Born 26 November 1933
Kolhar village, Shrirampur taluka, Ahmednagar district, Maharastra, India
Died February 20, 2015 (aged 81)
Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Marxist, Politician, lawyer, author and activist
Spouse(s) Uma Pansare
Children Smita, Avinash & Megha

Govind Pansare (Marathi: गोविंद पानसरे) (26 November 1933 - 20 February 2015) was a left-wing Indian politician of the Communist Party of India (CPI).[1][2] He was also the author of the best selling Marathi language biography of 17th century ruler Shivaji, Shivaji Kon Hota (Marathi:शिवाजी कोण होता?, literally Who was Shivaji?).[3] He and his wife were attacked on 16 February 2015 by gun-wielding assailants. He died from the wounds on 20 February.[4]

Life

Early life

Govind Pandharinath Pansare was born on 26 November 1933 in Kolhar village, Shrirampur taluka, Ahmednagar district, Maharastra.[1] He was the youngest of five siblings. His mother, Harnabai, was a farmhand and his father Pandharinath worked odd jobs. They had lost their land to moneylenders and they live in poverty.[1][5][2]

Education and politics

Pansare joined the local branch of Rashtra Seva Dal, a local socialist group founded by Sane Guruji. A member of the organisation, Govind Patki, helped Pansare get admission to a high school in Rahuri. Pansare was introduced to Communism in his school days. He helped the election campaign of communist candidate P. B. Kadu Patil in the assembly elections. Pansare then moved to Kolhapur district for further education. There he was joined by Patki who was a native of that district. In 1952, he joined the Communist Party of India (CPI).[1][5]

While studying in the Rajaram College, Kolhapur, he used to visited a book called The Republic Bookstall, which was run by left-wing activists. There he read various books on the left ideologies. He participated in Samyukta Maharashtra Movement and the Goa liberation movement. After completing his Bachelor of Arts, he studied law in Shahaji Law College and completed his LLB. In 1962, he was arrested during the Sino-Indian War, as he was a communist and was seen as a China-sympathiser. In 1964, he began practicing in the field of labour law. He represented various labour unions and slum dwellers. In 1964, when the Communist Party of India (CPI) split, he stayed with the parent party. He later became a state secretary of the CPI and a member of CPI's national executive.[1][5]

Activism

Pansare was running many political and social movements. He was a leader of many labour unions of various industries from Kolhapur, under the banner of AITUC. He also used to run an socio-cultural organisation named 'Shramik Pratishthan'. It has carried out many progressive programmes. 'Avi Pansare Lecture Series' is on the most popular programme of that. In addition with that he started and supported an 'Inter caste Inter relegation marriage support centre' to encourage youth for inter-caste marriages. for social equality .[1] He had opposed the Putrakameshti yajna, a Hindu ritual that supposed results in a male child.[6] He had protested toll taxes. He had also criticised the glorification of Nathuram Godse, the man who killed Gandhi.[7]

After the murder of Narendra Dabholkar, the anti-supersition activist, Pansare had asked the members of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti to continue his work. He had also supported the passing of the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act.[8]

Personal life

He had three children. His son Avinash was also active in left politics and had entered an inter-caste marriage. Avinash died young.[1] He has two daughters, Meghna and Smita, and a daughter-in-law, Medha. Medha Pansare is a Russian language professor at the Shivaji University. Pansare was a rationalist.[7][9][10][11]

Books

Pansare has written 21 books, most of them commentaries on social wrongs.[12] Shivaji Kon Hota? (Marathi for Who was Shivaji) is considered his most notable work. It was based on a speech he gave in May 1987. It was a counter to the ideology of Hindutva organisations and right-wing organisations like Sambhaji Brigade, for whom the king Shivaji is icon. Pansare said in his book that Shivaji in reality was a secular leader who appointed Muslims as his generals. He also pointed out that Shivaji respected women, abolished serfdom and also appointed Dalits to prominent posts.[1][13] The book has been translated into Hindi, English, Kannada, Urdu and Gujarati. Since its first print in 1988, the book has seen 38 editions, with each print run being of 3000 to 5000 copies. It has sold over 1,45,000 copies.[13][3]

Death

On 16 February 2015, at 9:25am, Pansare and his wife Uma were returning from there morning walk from their society. Two men on a motorcycle shot five times at them at a close range outside their house. Pansare was injured in his nape and chest. His wife was injured in her head.[4][2][14][15]

Both were taken to the Aster Aadhar Hospital by their doughter in law and grandsons. Where after surgery, both of their conditions were reported to be have improved but they remained critical.[2] His wife regained conciousness the same day but he remained in a coma.[15] He regained consciousness on 17 February.[16]

On 20 February 2015, Pansare was airlifted to the Breach Candy Hospital after he reported a swelling in his lungs. On late 20 February, Pansare succumbed to his injuries at the Breach Candy Hospital. The attacker had a similar modus operandi like those who killed activist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013.[4][6] His funeral took place on 21 February.[17] His wife was released from the Aster Aadhar Hospital on 4 March 2015.[18]

Reactions

After the attack, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, said the police were trying to apprehend the attackers and road blocks had been established.[15] Hamid Dabholkar, son of murdered activist Narendra Dabholkar, said that if police solved the case, it would acted as a deterrent and Pansare would not have been attacked.[19] Sharad Pawar, leader of Nationalist Congress Party, said this was an attempt to silence the people who speak against extremists. Manikrao Thakre, a Indian National Congress leader, said that the attacks on Dabholkar and Pansare were a bad sign for the freedom of speech in Maharastra state.[20] After Pansare's death, the sales of his books increased.[13][3]

On the other hand, the Additional Director General of Police, K. L. Bishnoi, said that there were no connections between the Dabholkar and Pansara case, except that both of them were morning walkers. Hamid Dabholkar criticised the statement pointing out both Dabholkar and Pansare were rationalists and opponents of right-wing extremism, and had been threatened several times.[21]

Investigation

On 16 February 2015, after the attack, an attempted murder was filed in the Rajarampuri police station. The police said that no eye witnesses had come forward and they were checking the CCTV footages from the area.[2] B. G. Kolse Patil, a retired judge, said that in December 2014, Pansare had received threats after he organised an event. At the event there was a discussion about the book Who killed Karkare?. The book was written by a retired policeman, S. M. Mushrif.[2][6]

On 18 February 2015, an activist, Ketan Tirodkar, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court claiming that police had known about threats to his life and had failed to act. He also pointed out the similarities to Narendra Dabholkar's murder.[22] On 22 February, the police announced a reward of INR 5,00,000 for information leading to the capture of the attackers.[23] On 28 February, the ballistic report said that five bullets from two revolvers were fired at Pansare. The guns were different from those used in the Dabholkar case.[14]

On 4 March 2015, the police said that they prepared sketches, which they showed to his wife. By this time the reward money had been increased to ₹25,00,000.[18] Due to a fractured skull, his wife had trouble recollecting the event.[24]

On 15 March, Uma Pansare was interviewed by the police. She said the attackers were two young men on a motorcycle. One of them had asked for the directions to a house in Marathi, "More kuthe rahtat?" (Where does More live?). Govind Pansare replied that he did not know any such person. The person riding pillion began laughing. Then when the shooting started Uma Pansare fainted. She could not recall the make of the motorcycle or their faces.[25]

On 16 March, another left-wing leader, Bharat Patankar, received a similar threat letter. He was given police security.[24]

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Peon to professor to bestselling author, Comrade Govind Pansare a left-wing stalwart". DNA India. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Senior CPI leader Govind Pansare, wife shot at by assailants". The Indian Express. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Renewed interest in Pansare’s book, 3,000 copies sold". The Times of India. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Govind Pansare succumbs to injuries". The Hindu. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "From a newspaper vendor to a leader of the poor: Remembering CPI stalwart Govind Pansare". First Post. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Dabholkar and Pansare: Two murders, similar strands". Live Mint. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Shot in Kolhapur, anti-toll tax campaigner Govind Pansare dies". Hindustan Times. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Maharashtra government's responsibility to pass anti-superstition bill: Govind Pansare". The Times of India. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Arrest culprits soon: Govind Pansare’s daughter to Maharashtra government". The Indian Express. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "My husband was killed for his progressive thoughts: Pansare's wife". Mid Day. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Family wants special team to probe Govind Pansare murder". DNA India. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Remembering Govind Pansare: A 'beloved leader of the poor'". Hindustan Times. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Govind Pansare's death leaves higher demand for his books". DNA India. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Pansare killing: 'Five bullets were fired at Communist leader'". 28 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "CPI leader Govind Pansare, wife shot at in Kolhapur". The Hindu. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "CPI leader Pansare regains consciousness, condition improving". The Hindu. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Kolhapur bids farewell to Pansare". The Hindu. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Sketches of Pansare's assailants ready". The Hindu. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Dabholkar's son slams Maha govt over attack on Pansare". Business Standard. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Attack on Govind Pansare reminiscent of Dabholkar's murder, say activists". Mid Day. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Hamid Dabholkar criticizes Bishnoi’s remarks". The Times of India. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "State knew of threat to Govind Pansare: PIL". The Indian Express. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Rs 5 lakh bounty for killers of Pansare". The Hindu. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Pansare murder: Maharashtra may seek foreign help". The Hindu. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Assailants were young, spoke in Marathi, Uma Pansare tells police". The Times of India. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "वैचारिक , राजकीय , तत्वज्ञान" (in Marathi). Lokvangmay Griha. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Govind Pansare". Book Ganga. Retrieved 14 April 2015.