Narendra Achyut Dabholkar (1 November 1945 – 20 August 2013)[1] was an Indian physician, social activist, rationalist and author from Maharashtra, India.

Triggered by his assassination in 2013, the pending Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance was promulgated in the state of Maharashtra, four days later.

[15] Gradually, Dabholkar started focusing on eradication of superstition, and joined the Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ABANS).

Between 1990–2010, Dabholkar was active in a movements for the equality of Dalits (untouchables) and against India's caste system and caste-related violence.

He advocated renaming the Marathwada University after Babasaheb Ambedkar,[9] who is the author of India's constitution and fought for the equality of Dalits.

"[18] A couple of weeks before his death on 6 August 2013, Dabholkar had complained in a press conference that the bill had not been discussed despite being tabled in seven sessions of the state assembly.

[27] A day after Dabholkar's murder, the Maharashtra Cabinet cleared the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, however the parliament would still need to support the bill for it to become law.

[9] If I have to take police protection in my own country from my own people, then there is something wrong with me, I'm fighting within the framework of the Indian constitution and it is not against anyone, but for everyone.Murdered on 20 August 2013, while out on a morning walk, Dabholkar was shot down by two gunmen near Omkareshwar temple, Pune at 7:20 AM IST.

[40] On 20 August 2013, the police stated that it is under suspicion that it was a planned murder because the assailants were aware Dabholkar stays in Pune only on Mondays and Tuesdays.

[44] On 15 October, NIA said the case was well within the Indian Penal Code, adding that it was only the assumptions of the petitioner that right-wing activists were involved and it was a scheduled plan.

[49][50] Later on 4 March 2014, the Bombay High Court heard a modified PIL from Tirodkar, which sought to involve the CBI in the investigation.

[53] In August 2015, the CBI and Maharashtra government announced a ₹1 million (US$12,000) reward for any person providing information regarding Narendra Dabholkar's assailants.

[55] In 2019, the CBI found that Sanatan Sanstha's counsel, Sanjeev Punalekar, helped destroy the weapons used in the murders of Dabholkar and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

Further, the CBI called the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh a "pre-planned act of terror".

3) Sharad Bhausaheb Kalaskar (28) guilty of shooting Dabholkar (69) to death around 7.20am on the Vitthal Ramji Shinde bridge near Omkareshwar temple in the Deccan Gymkhana police area while he was on a morning walk.

Apart from life sentence, the judge convicted the duo for common intention under the Indian Penal Code and under Section 3 (25) of the Arms Act, and imposed Rs5 lakh fine each on them.

[58] Munnabhai Rasool Ansari and Mangesh Chaudhari confessed being as killers to Goa Police but when they were brought to Mumbai they changed their statement.

[59] In the aftermath of the assassination, the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance, which Dabholkar helped draft,[60] was enacted by the government of Maharashtra in 2013.

[62][63] The All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) observes 20 August as National Scientific Temper day to commemorate Dr Narendra Dabholkar.