http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/world/asia/battling-superstition-indian-paid-with-his-life.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&adxnnlx=1380423641-4S5xDqNkYrOxTAn5T6Eu5A
Narendra Dabholkar, a former physician and activist against religious superstitions, was shot and killed for merely expressing his thoughts and opinions. Police Headquarters in Pune had access to surveillance cameras which showed two men shooting Dabholkar during his morning walk. Dr. Dabholkar, who was 67, spend nearly three decades going to various villages and promoting legislations that banned practices such animal sacrifice and the selling of other ritual items that he thought were bogus. The amount of death threats and beatings he received from various Hindu groups serves as evidence of the prevalent war between traditionalists and reformers in India. Many of his followers, who were religious however, appreciated his teachings against blind faith and stressed the importance to focus on God rather than religious practices. Many admired Dr. Dabholdkar for his devotion to activism and his idealistic views. Others actively argued against the use of violence and suppression thought despite their differing views.
1. How is the right to free expression and thought from the Universal Declaration of Rights being violated here?
2. How does Narendra Dabholkar's fight against superstition relate to Mahatma Gandhi's fight for human rights?
Narendra Dabholkar, a former physician and activist against religious superstitions, was shot and killed for merely expressing his thoughts and opinions. Police Headquarters in Pune had access to surveillance cameras which showed two men shooting Dabholkar during his morning walk. Dr. Dabholkar, who was 67, spend nearly three decades going to various villages and promoting legislations that banned practices such animal sacrifice and the selling of other ritual items that he thought were bogus. The amount of death threats and beatings he received from various Hindu groups serves as evidence of the prevalent war between traditionalists and reformers in India. Many of his followers, who were religious however, appreciated his teachings against blind faith and stressed the importance to focus on God rather than religious practices. Many admired Dr. Dabholdkar for his devotion to activism and his idealistic views. Others actively argued against the use of violence and suppression thought despite their differing views.
1. How is the right to free expression and thought from the Universal Declaration of Rights being violated here?
2. How does Narendra Dabholkar's fight against superstition relate to Mahatma Gandhi's fight for human rights?
The right to freedom of expression and thought from the Universal Declaration of Rights states that everyone has the right to have their own opinion and to express their opinion to the public without interference, threats, or violence from others. Dr. Dabholkar made it well known that he did not approve of the practice of “black magic” or the belief in supernatural beings and spirits. He wanted these things to be banned and he preached to villages about his opinions. Although Dr. Dabholkar may have offended some people, it was his right to have his own opinion and voice his opinion to the public. His right to freedom of expression was violated in numerous ways as he was threatened by many far-right Hindu groups and people throughout India. He was eventually shot by two people because the murderers’ beliefs differed from Dr. Dabholkar’s beliefs and they felt that Dr. Dabholkar should not be able to preach and spread his beliefs, even though it was his right and he was not hurting anyone with his words.
ReplyDelete