The film (more like a series) charts the rise of religious and nationalist fundamentalism in Indian society. As per Patwardhan, the ideology that murdered Mahatma Gandhi has finally captured power, with the largest democracy at stake. Murder and mind control are being applied to dismantle a secular democracy that once aspired to the values of enlightenment and non-violence. As accusations fly of “eating cow meat” or “treason of Mother India,” minorities and all those who fight for the poor bear the brunt of rising Hindu majoritarianism and a complicit corporate media. He examines the far right at huge rallies where fascism is normalized, but also introduces us to rationalists who, despite appearing on hit lists, lead a growing resistance.
The first two chapters are about activists Narendra Dabholkar (in 2013) and Govind Pansare (in 2015.) respectively. Both of their murders have been blamed by many on right-wing activists though the Maharashtra government and the Central Bureau of Investigation haven’t made much progress on any.
Dabholkar was the founding President of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and spent his life campaigning against superstition. He was gunned down during his morning walk in Pune in 20 August 2013. Govind Pansare, the Communist Party of India leader was shot by two unidentified gunmen during his morning walk in Kolhapur, on 16 February 2015. He died four days later. Watch the two chapters of Reason | Vivek now.