| 1 Jun 2026, 18:32 (6 days ago) | |||
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**30 Years of Fighting Superstition: Dr. Dinesh Mishra’s Campaign Saves Thousands of Women from torture &blame as Witch(Tonhi)” **
The _Andh Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti_ [Committee for Eradication of Superstition] completes 30 years this December. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Dinesh Mishra, the movement began as the " Woman is not a witch (Tonhi )" campaign to fight superstition and social evils
At the time, cases of women being tortured on suspicion of witchcraft were reported almost daily. To address this, Dr. Mishra launched a campaign to promote scientific temper, reduce atrocities against women, punish those who exploit faith for fraud, and spread scientific awareness. The Samiti was formed with a clear principle: it would accept no government or private funding.
*From Awareness to Law*
Dr. Mishra led lectures and workshops in schools, colleges, NSS/NCC camps, and universities across Chhattisgarh. Social organizations were engaged, and continuous memorandums and meetings were held with the government demanding a law against Tonhi torture. After 10 years of sustained effort, the Chhattisgarh State Tonhi Torture Act was enacted in 2005.
The Samiti intervened in over 3,000 cases of women accused of being Tonhis. Victims received medical aid, counseling, and support for rehabilitation. Dr. Mishra regularly met the then Chief Minister to report on grassroots social issues.
*National Reach*
The campaign expanded beyond Chhattisgarh to Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, and Jharkhand. In Assam, Dr. Mishra took up the issue with the Chief Minister, State Assembly, and even the President of India to push for anti-witch-hunting legislation. In Rajasthan, his intervention led to action in a high-profile case of women’s torture.
A parallel campaign exposed and reported fraudsters who claimed to cure diseases through exorcism and miracles.
*Grassroots Impact*
Dr. Mishra has addressed over 5,000 village gatherings, reaching millions of rural citizens. During festivals, the campaign uses cultural platforms: Hareli night village tours, Rakhi tied by rescued women for protection, honoring survivors on Republic Day, and “burning the Holi” of evils like Tonhi torture, human sacrifice, social boycott, and dowry. During COVID-19, the Samiti urged people to seek proper medical care.
He has authored 7 books on eradicating superstition, distributed in schools and villages. Over 20,000 articles have appeared in newspapers. His work has been discussed and cited in theses at Indian and foreign universities. He has also lectured at the Police Training School, Mana & Chandrakhuri, and through the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority.
*Current Work*
The Samiti is now focusing on another social evil: social boycott, with ongoing awareness drives, field visits, and efforts to enact legislation.
Over three decades, Dr. Dinesh Mishra’s campaign has become a national example in the fight against superstition and social injustice
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