Hindu

Indian Activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was running a successful anti-superstition movement in Western India, was shot dead in Pune on Tuesday morning.

Narendra Dabholkar opposed religious fanatics, and had to pay the ultimate price.

Dabholkar was alone on a morning walk near Omkareshwar temple when unidentified persons on a motorbike fired at him and fled. Four bullets were fired at Dabholkar in the neck and he died on the spot, said Pune police commissioner Gulabrao Pol. Police have managed to get the registration number of the bike used by the assailants.

The activist was campaigning to persuade the state government to pass an anti-superstition and black magic bill. But the bill was opposed by hardline Hindu groups like Warakari Sanghatana and Sanatan Prabhat on the ground that it hurt their religious sentiments.

He headed the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (committee for eradication of blind faith), an organisation with the aim to promote rational thought and scientific temper.

Dabholkar had authored several books and was the editor of progressive magazine Sadhana.

“He believed in non-violence,” said Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta Patwardhan. “He had not sought any security.”
Maharashtra home minister RR Patil condemned the killing of Dabholkar.
“Dabholkar represented a progressive movement in the state,” said Patil.

“Our priority right now is to catch and punish the murderers.”

Dabholkar is survived by his wife, daughter and son Hamid.

Source: The Hindustan Times

My comment:

It is not correct to blame any particular religious groups for the murder of Narendra Dabholkar. But we know he was opposed by Hindu nationalist groups, who keep people in bondage to idolatry.

The Indian constitution do not favor any religious groups, and particular the religion of the majority in India, Hinduism. The Indian constitution promotes religious tolerance, and confirm India to be a secular, socialist republic.

As a Christian I regret the murder of this secular activist.

If I ever had meet Him, I would have shared the gospel about Jesus the Messiah with Him. Not forced him, not harmed him, and definitely not bribed him to share my faith.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

People can only come to the true faith in Jesus by conviction. Convicted by the Holy Spirit that they are sinners, and that the Messiah took their place on the cross at Calvary Hill in Jerusalem.

Written by Ivar

When UK priest Isaac Poobalan threw open his church for Muslims to pray one bone-chilling day, it was a sterling example of interfaith harmony.

A Muslim is visiting a Hindu temple in India to participate in service and prayers.

With Pope Francis, too, calling for more dialogue with Islam, secularism is the taste of things to come. And India has many heart-warming tales of religious inclusion.

Atop Taragarh Hill in Ajmer, the call of the muezzin from Muslim areas in Anderkot and the tinkling of bells from the 16th century Jharneshwar Temple intermingle to create a divine cadence.

Every morning, Mahant Vishnu Gopal Taparia scales the hilly tract to meet his Muslim friends.

“They take my advice on their wards’ education, financial matters and family problems,” says Taparia.
Every Tuesday, Muslim children gather around the temple for prasad.

It wasn’t always like this. Hindus began to migrate from here due to communal tension and Partition saw their complete exodus.

“Finally, Muslim elders mediated and brought a priest for puja,” says Maulana Syed Noorul Haque, an advocate. “Since then, puja has been performed here every day.”

In Khanqah Muna’mia Dargah, Patna, 70 per cent of the visitors are non-Muslims. When Patna resident B N Tiwari’s son went missing, he went to Muna’mia. “Incredibly, I got strong signals from the shrine about his location and he was traced,” he says.

Meanwhile, in Parumala, 75 km from Cochin, St Gregorios’ shrine rises white and striking against the emerald green foliage. Here, Muslims and Hindus can be seen fervently praying in front of the saint’s relics. Youhanon Mar Demetrios, one of the Metropolitans of the Orthodox Syrian Church, says,

“All our churches are open to people of all faiths. That alone is a welcoming gesture by our church.”

Source: The Times of India

My comment:

India has a good climate for acceptance of different faiths. This is a must, if we are going to live by the principle of freedom of religion.

To mix up different faiths, is wrong. This leads us into syncretism, and the faith that “all gods are the same”. This is one of the founding principles and doctrines of the false One World religion.

Jesus the Messiah warned Christians not to mix up His teachings. It is only by the blood of the Lamb of God that man can get his sins forgiven, and his soul saved for eternity.

As followers of Jesus we stand on this doctrine. Regardless of what persecution that might come, we do not intermingle and have prayer fellowships with people who do not believe Father, Son and Holy Spirit is One God.

Written by Ivar

Tag: Hindu

Anti-superstition activist opposed by religious groups shot dead

Muslims pray in churches in India too