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Materialist Philosophy in Chāndogya Upaniṣad
As one of the principal Upaniṣads, the text (Chāndogya Upaniṣad) is usually viewed as pre-Buddha, and hence, might have belonged to c. seventh century BC. Since in the extract quoted here we have the earliest reference to a view identifying the body with the self, which is reminiscent of one of the typical tenets of…
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Kandhamal Violence -5 Years Later
Ram Puniyani This August 25, 2013, it will be five years, since the biggest anti Christian, violence, biggest communal violence in the Adivisi area, will complete five years. What has been the plight of the victims of the violence after this ghastly tragedy? What is the state of justice to the victim? Kandhamal violence began…
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The Spirit of Science
Jawaharlal Nehru In the course of less than four months, we have put up, declared open or are going to declare open three national laboratories. I suppose before this year is out some more national laboratories will also be started. This is a great venture testifying to the faith which our scientists and, I hope,…
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Religion, Atheism and Secularism
Ram Puniyani Last three decades have seen an unprecedented presence of religion in social and political space. Somewhere the acts of terror, somewhere communal violence and somewhere the political influence of religious right on society and political processes, all these phenomenon have overshadowed the deeper inequities in the society, the aspirations of people for dignity…
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Evil, Freedom, Suffering and Sport
AN Moorthy Rao Let us consider how some people explain the existence of evil: “God bestowed on man, right at the time of creation, all the powers and qualities that man needed. He does not want man to be a puppet in His hands. He has, therefore, given man freedom of will. Man is free…
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The Miracle of the Sacred Eagles
At Thirukazhukundram, wild eagles’ daily midday visits were hailed as divine miracles. B. Premanand reported the birds were addicted to opium-laced food. Science demonstrates that regular feeding schedules, food-anticipatory activity, and thermal soaring explain this behavior, while India’s catastrophic diclofenac-driven vulture decline explains why the visits eventually ceased.
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Jawaharlal Nehru on Secularism
Jawaharlal Nehru I shall now come to the proposal which touches upon the exchange of population. In the present context this can only mean a forcible exchange of population. As far as voluntary exchange is concerned, it is already taking place. The doors are open and people come and people go. In fact, it taking…
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The Decline of Buddhism In India
This historical analysis by D. D. Kosambi demonstrates how Buddhism faded in India not primarily due to external persecution, but from internal decay, financial extravagance, and scholastic isolation. As self-contained village economies replaced central empires, the costly monastic establishments became uneconomic, allowing Brahminical village rituals to supersede organized monastic Buddhism. Keywords:
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The Whip That Spares Its Master
During temple festivals, possessed devotees appear unhurt after lashing themselves with heavy whips, while onlookers who try are injured. The trick relies on physics and physiology: soft, unknotted frayed tails distribute impact energy over a wide area, while knotted whip tips, controlled velocity, and stress-induced analgesia protect the performer from severe harm
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Communal Violence: Who is to be blamed?
Ram Puniyani A friend with dogged determination to show that the BJP is a lesser culprit of communal violence and that Congress is the major party to be blamed, listed the major communal riots in India and showed that most of the time when violence took place, it was Congress which has been the ruling…
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The Scientific Attitude and Religion
DD Kosambi In what follows, some social aspects of religion are considered in so far as they serve to keep India a backward country. The methods of cure suggested are by legislation, education and improved social conditions, with a brief example or two to bring out the basic idea in each case. Reports by great…
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The “Spirit” in a Wick
This article deconstructs the “dancing wick” ritual from South Kanara, where a lit lamp wick wriggles after an oracle collapses. Rather than a divine spirit entering the cotton, the movement is caused by a trapped earthworm struggling against heat and suffocation. Simple physical inspection easily exposes this deceptive cruelty.
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The “Spirit” in the Coconut
antriks exploit families during exorcisms by claiming a self-moving coconut imprisons a captive spirit. In reality, the mechanical movement relies on center-of-gravity shifts caused by a small animal sealed inside and distressed by ritual smoke. Real healing requires medical care for psychological dissociation, not ritual fraud.
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Hindu Nationalism versus Indian Nationalism
Ram Puniyani The debate around Hindu Nationalism and Indian Nationalism is not a new one. During colonial period, when the rising freedom movement was articulating the concept and values of Indian nationalism, the section of Hindus, keeping aloof from freedom movement asserted the concept of Hindu Nationalism. The debate has resurfaced again due to the…
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An Open Letter to Dr K Kasturirangan
Madhav Gadgil Date: Fri, May 17, 2013 9:39 pm Dear Dr. Kasturirangan, JBS Haldane, the celebrated 19h century scientist and humanist who quit England protesting its imperialistic invasion of Suez to become an Indian citizen has said: Reality is not only stranger than we suppose, but stranger than we CAN suppose! I could never have…
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Indian Muslim Youth: Groping for Equity and Security
Ram Puniyani In most communities youth have a serious struggle on hand to look beyond the present for the future, especially their careers, longing for dignity and a decent existence. While this applies to all the youth, the struggle of youth from marginalized and discriminated against communities are much more. It is on this terrain…
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Bodh Gaya Blasts: Terrorist Violence and Political Agenda
Ram Puniyani Since last two decades terrorist violence has been added on to the weapons for polarizing communities along religious lines. In Mumbai for example, we first witnessed the major blasts in the wake of 92-93 post demolition violence, then blasts in the aftermath of Gujarat carnage of 2002 and then 26/11 2008 attack from…
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Sex and Salvation
Margaret Bhatty There was a time when we depended on little green men from Mars for a world-view. After Mars probes debunked them, we now have ETs – computerised caricatures of ourselves. If these voyagers from outer space are as perceptive as Martians were, they too must marvel that as a species we call ourselves…
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God’s Blue Autograph
Godmen claim divine intervention when a sacred name suddenly manifests in deep blue upon their skin at the touch of holy water. In reality, pre-written invisible text of potassium ferrocyanide reacts with dabbed ferric chloride solution to precipitate intense Prussian blue, exposing a routine chemical reaction masquerading as divine authority
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God’s Autograph: his name in the ash
Ascetics and godmen claim divine grace when sacred names magically appear on their skin after rubbing ash from a ritual fire. In reality, the names are pre-written using clear soap or gum. Heat from the fire induces sweat, reactivating the dried letters so fine ash adheres exclusively to them.
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Sleeping with the Enemy: Should minorities get lured by the invitations of Modi And Company?
Ram Puniyani From 2002 Gujarat carnage Gujarat in particular and India in general has seen the rise of Narendra Modi on the political firmament. His propaganda machinery has given him the image whereby he is regarded as the ‘development man, non corrupt, strong and all that. A substantial section of society has bought this propaganda…
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Modi, Advani and Sangh’s Agenda
Ram Puniyani The nomination of Narendra Modi as the chief of campaign committee of BJP for 2014 elections (June 2013) has created more than a storm in the tea cup. Incidentally it is the first time ever that such a nomination has created 24×7 news and controversy. It has a lot to do with the…
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Whither Justice: Fabricated Cases and State
Ram Puniyani Rihai Manch, a forum for getting justice to the falsely implicated youth in the cases of acts of terror has currently (June 2013), a protest Dharna (sit in) to demand the arrest of police and IB officials responsible for the death of Maulana Khalid Mujahid, to implement the R.D. Nimesh Commission report and…
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Why Study Ancient Philosophy?
Ramkrishna Bhattacharya “Why do you study ancient philosophy?” I have faced this question so often that it is high time to give a reply in print. The question may be answered rather tartly, following a famous mountaineer: ‘Because it’s there.’ 800×600 Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE ML MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable…