Superstition
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Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association
In 1976, amid the Emergency, a group of young rationalists in coastal Karnataka formed the South Kanara Rationalist Association to host Abraham Kovoor. Fifty years on, the Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association has exposed miracles, trained thousands in scientific temper, and stood firm against threats. Read the story of five decades of reason.
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Professor Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya as a Researcher
This analytical appraisal examines Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya’s pioneering historiographical methodology in Indian philosophy and science. By integrating anthropological insights, archaeology, and socio-economic analysis, Chattopadhyaya defended ancient Indian materialism, unmasked the social functions of superstition, and challenged traditional orthodox classifications, establishing a materialist counterpoint to idealist traditions and reclaiming science’s historical roots.
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Catching a Thief by Sorcery
A self-styled tantrik claims to identify thieves using a sacred stick planted in a dark room. After a frightening fire ritual, suspects enter alone to touch the stick. The top is secretly smeared with asafoetida. Innocent suspects touch it, while a superstitious thief avoids contact out of fear, revealing themselves through odorless fingers.
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“I Would Be Happy To See a Real Miracle Before I Die”:
In this concluding afterword to Volume 1, B. Premanand highlights how unscrupulous godmen exploit superstitions and evade legal action despite robust Indian laws. He emphasizes the necessity of cultivating a scientific temper, details his lifetime search for authentic paranormal phenomena, and outlines Abraham T. Kovoor’s famous One-Lakh Rupee Paranormal Challenge.
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Unmasking the Miracle-Merchants:
An Interview with B. PremanandIn this candid interview, renowned rationalist Premanand discusses his lifelong campaign exposing fraudulent godmen across India. As the successor to Abraham Kovoor, he explains how scientific temper debunks widespread superstitions like holy ash, palmistry, and astrology, advocating for reason over religious exploitation while educating millions through nationwide scientific outreach workshops.
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Made Snana:
Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary EvidenceExpose the harsh reality of Made Snana, a degrading ritual rooted in deep-seated caste discrimination and superstition. This critical analysis challenges pseudo-scientific defenses, unmasks political hypocrisy, and calls for rationalism, human dignity, and evidence-based science to eradicate primitive practices that exploit vulnerable communities in the name of tradition.
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Superstitions and Human Rights
Broadcast on All India Radio, this insightful talk by Prof. Narendra Nayak examines how superstitious beliefs and religious dogmas systematically infringe upon fundamental human rights. Covering issues from caste discrimination to gender inequality and mental health abuses, the article underscores why rational thinking and secular law must prevail over outdated traditions.
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Miracle Persons of Rural India!
Narendra Nayak recounts his fieldwork across rural India exposing claimers of supernatural powers, spirit mediums, and pseudoscientific marvels. From debunking bogus spirit-reading tricks in Gulbarga to challenging fraudulent glass-shattering gurus and Kirlian scan claims in Chennai, he demonstrates how rigorous scientific questioning and simple empirical tests routinely unmask rural miracle peddlers.
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Yaddi the Chaddi Vs. Kummi of Janatha Dal(S)
The article critiques the deep-seated reliance on astrology and rituals among political leaders in Karnataka. It highlights how politicians across party lines—from Deve Gowda’s family to NDA leaders—engage in elaborate yagnas and rely on superstitious forecasts to manipulate power, evade agreements, and make key political decisions.