MANS Activist Professor Prabha Purohit’s Autobiography ‘Aami Bi Ghadlo…’ Unveiled by Poetess Neerja in Mumbai
Mumbai, 19th February 2024: The autobiography of Professor Prabha Purohit, a senior activist of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS), titled ‘Aami Bi Ghadlo…’, has been published by the renowned poetess Neerja. ANNIS activists Mukta Dabholkar, and Rahul Thorat, along with Pramod Nigudkar and Anirudh Limaye, were specially present at the Mrinaltai Gore Hall in Goregaon, Mumbai, on Sunday (19th February).
Speaking on the occasion, poet Neerja stated, “This book is a documentation of the MANS movement. In the current tumultuous social and political climate, when we feel disheartened, such books uplift us. The title of this book is ‘Ami Bi Ghadlo…’ from Sant Tukaram’s ‘Ami Bi Ghadlo Tumhi Bi Ghada Na’ Abhang. It holds great significance for Prabhatai.”
The chief guest, Neerja, further expressed that currently, religion is being suppressed, and culture is being fashioned out of it. Consequently, the demand for transformative movements is on the rise. Rational thinkers are becoming scarce, leading reactionary forces to attempt to regress society by several centuries. Hence, the necessity for a movement like MANS.
Mukta Dabholkar, MANS social worker and daughter of the late renowned social activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, emphasized that Prabhatai’s book should be read by all activists. In addition to being an autobiography, it also narrates the history of the MANS movement.
Author Prabha Purohit shared that while documenting my journey, I could revisit those days spent in close association with MANS, witnessing its gradual expansion under Dr. Dabholkar’s innovative leadership. It is my sincere hope that my writings will serve as encouragement and provide some guidance to the workers of the movement. “I believe that all those leaders who burned the Anubhav Mandap of Saint Basaveshwara, silenced the saga of Saint Tukaram, assassinated Gandhi, Dabholkar, Pansare, and attacked Nikhil Wagle and Asim Sarode in Pune the other day, are rooted in the same tradition.” She concluded her speech with a poignant statement.
On this occasion, Pramod Nigudkar, Anirudh Limaye, Rahul Thorat, and the book’s editor, Sangeeta Joshi, shared their sentiments. The program was moderated by Prof. Jyoti Malandkar, and the vote of thanks was extended by Sunita Devalwar, Mumbai District Working President of MANS.
The coordination of the program was handled by Nitant Pednekar, Shubhada Nikharge, Rajendra Lanjekar, Sai Sawant, Amit Fondekar, Deepak Kasbe, and Asha Padalkar of the Annis Goregaon branch.
The attendees at the program included Vandana Shinde, Kiran Jadhav, Ganesh Chinchole, Bhau Sawant, Arjun Jagdhane, Anish Patwardhan, Akshita Patil, Chandrakant Kamble, among others.
