Rationalist and Bohra reformist Taher Poonawala no more
Affectionately known as Taherbhai in Pune’s social life, he was 95 and is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Well-known Bohra Muslim reformist, eminent rationalist and progressive thinker , Taher Poonawala died late on Monday night due to old age. He was 95 and is survived by wife and daughter.
Affectionately known as Taherbhai in Pune’s social life, he was unwell for the past few days. He breathed his last on Monday night. Taherbhai has donated his body for medical research to Sane Guruji Hospital in Hadapsar. No religious rites would be performed, his family members said.
Taherbhai was associated with several social organisations like People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Mahatma Phule Samata Pratishthan, Rashtriya Ekatmata Samiti, Samaji Krutdnyata Nidhi and Maharashtra Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti, founded by Dr Narendra Dabholkar. He worked closely with social reformists such as Baba Adhav, GP Pradhan and actor-reformist Shreeram Lagoo.
Inspired by Hamid Dalwai, founder of Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal and eminent scholar Dr AB Shah, Taherbhai was well-known for his efforts to spread progressive ideas and awaken Bohra Muslim community. He was associated with the progressive movement for more than six decades.
Known for modest presentation of thoughts, he continued to spread rationalist ideology in the Bohra Muslim community despite stiff opposition.