Remembering The Rationalists
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
22 August
2023
"
Reason is an act of treason to the world of religion."
Jacques Derrida, The Language and Grammar of Faith
Though a
decade has elapsed, rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's murder in Poona is still
shrouded in mystery. His audacious killing in broad daylight was followed by
the gunning down of Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh in 2017. The next
target was K. S. Bhagwan from Karnataka who was 'saved' in the nick of time by our
'alert' police.
All these
people fought against irrationality and superstitions throughout their lives
but hardly anyone talks of these rationalists and their rationality any longer.
They seem to have disappeared from the collective psyche. This is an alarming
sign.
A society
which has no memory of its rationalist crusaders and people with a scientific
approach and temperament is doomed to remain steeped in the cesspool of
superstitions and shenanigans.
It's all
the more ironic to see that those who once supported the voices and views of
these rationalists are now hardcore religionists! They not only indulge in
religious superstitions but also condemn Dabholkar, Pansare and their likes for
'desecrating' Hinduism, nay, Sanatan Dharm and 'misleading' the devout
followers.
The whole
scenario has become pretty murky in the last decade. Reason has always been at
the receiving end. Masses have always resisted rationality tooth and nail
because reason and scientific temperament jolt them out of their stupor which
they don't like.
Canada-based
agnostic and a doubting Muslim Irshad Manji is of the view that an army of
atheists, rationalists and agnostics must continue to stir the minds of
religious and superstitious people sans a let up or a lull period.
When these
handful of reasonable people are killed, bullied, maimed or exiled, their
(concerted) efforts get weakened and irrationality resurfaces. This is
happening in India and across the world.
Rationalists
are being gunned down, a hardcore atheist like Salman Rushdie is stabbed on the
stage in full public view and non-believers are receiving threats. But there's
a very interesting development as well. Nick Carlsen argues in his book 'Juxtaposition
of Reason and Unreason' that when unreason gets palpably overwhelming,
reason also becomes visibly powerful. That's why theism and atheism are
becoming two potent but diametrically opposite spirits all over the world.
If all
man-made religions and their brainless believers are causing mayhem, reason is
also making inroads in its own way. Let that happen in India as well. At the
moment, extreme religious irrationality is ruling the roost and believers of
all faiths seem to have gone berserk.
But, I'm sanguine that the voice of sanity and
rationality will also re-emerge and have the last laugh. Aren't you optimistic
about that?
------
Narendra
Dabholkar was gunned down by Sanatanis on August 20, 2013
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/remembering-rationalists/d/130496
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