Dalit scholar hacked to death in Kolhapur

Mumbai/Pune: Former head of Marathi department of Shivaji University, Dr Krishna Kirvale, a renowned scholar and leading figure in the Ambedkar movement and writer of several books was found dead in pool of blood in his home at Kolhapur on Friday around 3 pm. Kirvale stayed at Arihant Colony near Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He was found lying in a pool of blood inside his bedroom.

Vishwas Nangare Patil, IG, Kolhapur, said, “We got a call from Kirvale’s neighbour at 3.30 that Kirvale was found dead. We sent his body for post-mortem to the government hospital.” 

According to him, Kirvale’s wife was at home, when Pritam Patil, a carpenter had a verbal fight with Kirvale, following which he allegedly killed him. “Patil is absconding. We will catch him and will be able to find out why he killed Dr Kirvale. As of now, we do not see any social aspect in the murder,” Mr Nangare Patil said. 

Kirvale was the head of the Marathi department and chief of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Centre for Research and Development. He had retired from the university a few months ago. He was known as a progressive scholar and researcher. He had written several books on Ambedkar and the movement started after him. Besides, he had written many books enriching Marathi literature. He was a scholar and researcher of Dalit literature as well.

He had made a dictionary of English words used in literature by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Shivaji University, Kolhapur had even published the dictionary. He was originally from Sirsala, Beed district in Marathwada.

This is the second murder of a scholar in Kolhapur. Earlier, rationalist Govinda Pansare was killed near his house in Kolhapur in February 2015. 

Meanwhile scholars, lecturers from Shivaji University and his students rushed to Dr Kirvale’s house. Megha Pansare, daughter in law of late Govinda Pansare said, “The police needs to find out whether this murder is born out of ideological differences.”