South Mumbai art exhibition celebrates Dr Narendra Dabholkar legacy

The YB Chavan Centre in Nariman Point sang a paean to rationalism on Friday morning The SoBo venue is playing host to an exhibition on slain rationalist antisuperstition campaigner and social reformist Dr Narendra Dabholkar On August 20 2013 he was gunned down while on a morning walk in Pune His lsquoenemiesrsquomdashthose who were irked by his stress on science rational thought and caution against blind beliefmdashhad got him at last ldquoHe never thought he would be killedrdquo said his wife Shaila Dabholkar at the opening address for the exhibition named lsquoWe are on Trialrsquo which goes on till November 1 Shaila Dabholkar added ldquoI had been on a journey with him for 45 years I learnt so much through that time He used to say to fight or to battle is to winrdquoCourage and conviction The exhibitsThe exhibition by JJ School of Art students and alumni on the groundfloor Runanubandha Hall of the centre aims to ldquoshift the focus away from his murder to his life and lessonsrdquo said organisers at the outset The movers and shakers behind the initiative a group called lsquoFriends of Dabholkarrsquo said that ldquoattempts are made to tarnish his contribution but we have to take the true legacy to the peoplerdquoAlso Read Green Mumbai The tyre that never retiresSpeaking outThe legacy came alive through various compelling creative exhibits in the hall The students had done their homework and through their displays in different mediums were accentuating antisuperstitionAnamika B whose work showed a lsquosmashaanrsquo in the midst of the hall said ldquoDr Dabholkar never said believe this or do not believe that What he said was think question look for scientific empirical evidence I want to show that some of the instruments used for black magic are the same as used in poojas or worship What we do is simply change the way we view and use these look at it through a different prismrdquoThere was Rahul Krsquos work using an embossing technique ldquoI want to show that everybody has simply closed their eyes to the real culprits in the caserdquo he said Asima S had newspaper cuttings about Dabholkar hanging like lamps ldquoI want the luminosity to signify enlightenment which is what he stood forrdquo she explained adding ldquoHe was the light an inspirationrdquo Student Shefali Hrsquos colourful work showed objects like chappals black dots ldquosometimes used in superstitious practice I believe in spirituality Science and spirituality can go togetherrdquoWork visionA huge weighing scale with gender symbols was a shout out to equality Abhishek M said ldquoMy exhibit is about the parity he preached and practised This equality stretched not just to gender but all aspects of societyrdquo Vijaya Grsquos art work was heavy with symbolism a chain breaking and birds flying ldquoeverything to do with freedomrdquo she statedA miniature model office work desk bookshelf and a little award pinned behind was eyecatching ldquoThis is Dabholkarrsquos office space which I have tried to recreate and the little award is the Padma Shri which he got posthumouslyrdquo said Nisha B While the Padma Shri was formal recognition of his work the bigger reward was surely the artistic merit of the displays by students which showed the thought and vision while conceptualisingLast wordsAs one exited the space words rang out in the foyer as Advocate Abhay Nevagi representing the family said ldquoI do not know where this legal war is going to lead us At many junctures I thought I had cracked the case but suddenly there would be a turn and we were back to square onerdquo While Nevagi cited support during the legal battle he also stated ldquoThere are many hidden enemies I got high blood pressure while fighting this case I am a corporate lawyer and I lost some clients during this fight but I know the battle will go on I am not going to give uprdquoThere was Chief Guest actor Naseeruddin Shah who quoted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ldquoLives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of timerdquo Shah told his listeners of people who are ldquoin jail just for speaking the truthrdquo He reminded people ldquoof the girls in Iran who are losing their lives fighting to remove the hijabrdquoIt was a solemn and memorable time that was artsy erudite and at times disturbing because the shadow of the murder fell long The thoughtprovoking morning put scientific temper rationalism questioning and freedom of expression on the highest pedestal20Day in August 2013 when Dabholkar was killed