Govind Pansare

Govind Pansare (26 November 1933 – 20 February 2015) was a left-wing Indian politician of the Communist Party Of India (CPI).

Career Education and politics Pansare joined the local branch of Rashtra Seva Dal, a local socialist group founded by Pandurang Sadashiv Sane. A member of the organisation, Govind Patki, helped Pansare get admission to a high school in Rahuri. Pansare was introduced to Communism in his school days. He helped the election campaign of communist candidate P. B. Kadu Patil in the assembly elections. Pansare then moved to Kolhapur district for further education. There he was joined by Patki who was a native of that district. In 1952, he joined the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Personal life He had three children. His son Avinash was a lawyer and also active in left politics, but died young.

Books Pansare has written 21 books, most of them commentaries on social wrongs. Shivaji Kon Hota? (Marathi for Who was Shivaji) is considered his most notable work. It was based on a speech he gave in May 1987. It was a counter to the ideology of Hindutva organisations and right-wing organisations like Shiv Sena, for whom the Shivaji is icon. Pansare said in his book that Shivaji in reality was a secular leader who appointed Muslims as his generals. He also pointed out that Shivaji respected women, abolished serfdom and also appointed to prominent posts. The book has been translated into Hindi, English, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu and Gujarati. Since its first print in 1988, the book has seen 38 editions, with each print run being of 3000 to 5000 copies. It has sold over copies.

Both were taken to the Aster Aadhar Hospital by their daughter-in-law and grandsons. After surgery, the condition of both was reported to have improved but they remained critical.

On 20 February 2015, Pansare was airlifted to the Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai after swelling in his lungs was reported. On the same day, Pansare succumbed to his injuries at the Breach Candy Hospital. The modus operandi of the attackers was similar to that used by the criminals who killed activist Narendra Dabholkar in a separate morning attack in Maharashtra in August 2013. Pansare's funeral took place on 21 February. His wife was discharged from hospital on 4 March 2015. Sharad Pawar, leader of Nationalist Congress Party, said this was an attempt to silence the people who speak against extremists. Manikrao Thakare, an Indian National Congress leader, said that the attacks on Dabholkar and Pansare were a bad sign for the freedom of speech in Maharashtra. After Pansare's death, the sales of his books increased.

Investigation On 16 February 2015, after the attack, an attempt to murder case was filed in the Rajarampuri police station. The police said that no eyewitnesses had come forward and they were checking the CCTV footages from the area. On 22 February, the police announced a reward of INR for information leading to the capture of the attackers. On 28 February, the ballistic report said that five bullets from two revolvers were fired at Pansare. The guns were different from those used in the Dabholkar case.

On 4 March 2015, the police said that they prepared sketches, which they showed to his wife. By this time the reward money had been increased five-fold, from Rupees 500,000 to Rupees 2.5 million. Due to a fractured skull, his wife had trouble recollecting the event. On 16 March 2015, another left-wing leader, Bharat Patankar, received a similar threat letter. He was given police security.

Arrests On 16 September 2015, one Sameer Gaikwad, 32, was arrested from Sangli. According to the police, Gaikwad owned a mobile repair shop and was a member of the Sanatan Sanstha group since 1998. One 17 September 2015, the police arrested four more persons – a woman from Mumbai, presumed to be Gaikwad's girlfriend; a man from Pune; and two men from Goa.

During investigation Maharashtra found that Sameer Gaikwad was in different city (Thane) around the time of the murder of Govind Pansare. During police investigation no evidence could be found against Sameer Gaikwad or Sanatan Sanstha in the assassination of Govind Pansare. Minister of state for home Mr. Ranjit Patil also confirmed this. Further to this court also rejected request of brainmapping / Lie detection test of Sameer Gaikwad.

Karnataka Police could not find any evidence against Sameer Gaikwad on his role in the M. M. Kalburgi murder. Hence, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) decided not to file a petition seeking custody of Sameer Gaikwad.

In popular culture The assassination is featured along with assassinations of other rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, M. M. Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh in the documentary mini-series Vivek-Reason by Anand Patwardhan.

Short film The Bookshelf was produced in the memory of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M. M. Kalburgi by three Indian publishing houses Tulika Books, Perumal Murugan's publisher Kalachuvadu and Deshabhimani Book House.