narendra achyut dabholkar (marathi: नरेंद्र अच्युत दाभोळकर) (1 november 1945 – 20 august 2013) was an indian medical doctor, social activist, rationalist and author from maharashtra, india. in 1989 he founded and became president of the maharashtra andhashraddha nirmoolan samiti (mans), (the committee to eradicate superstition in maharashtra). triggered by his murder on 20 august 2013, the pending anti-superstition and black magic ordinance was promulgated in the state of maharashtra, four days later. the next year, in 2014, he was posthumously awarded the padma shri for social work.