• Anyone who claims to cure any ailment with the help of yoga will have to do so to a patient recommended by me within a year
• To cure baldness with the help of yoga
• To glide in the air like a bird through the power of yoga
• To shrink or minimize or assuming a delicate physique of one’s self  with the support of yoga power
• Using yoga to control ageing
• To achieve immortality through yoga (if the challenger can stay alive after getting run over by a train, for instance…nothing like it!)
• To cure patient (s) suggested with the help of any supernatural power or reiki (touch therapy) within a period of 180 days. In the event of death of any patient, the entire responsibility shall lie with the reiki master or the claimant of supernatural power
• To fix a damaged radio, CD/ DVD player etc with the help of “reiki” power or any other paranormal feat. A section of the reiki grandmasters do pretend to possess such power
• To prove or establishing the accuracy of feng-shui
• To reopen a factory that has been closed down and make it profit making by means of vastu shastra
• To study the palm lines or astrological charts of ten persons proposed by me and correctly answer at least four out of five  questions concerning his/her past, with the help of astrology or any other paranormal power
• To prove the subsistence of “ photographic hypnotism” by taming a lady of the snap forwarded by me within a duration of 180n days
• To make a student suggested by me top an university by providing “Saraswati (Hindu goddess of education) Kavach” (amulet) or any other supernormal power
• Facilitating marriage of a boy or girl recommended by me with the aid of “ Prajapati Kavach” or any other paranormal power within 180 days
• To ensure success in a suit through supernatural power
• To cure infertility through “tantra” or any supernatural power. In this case, the patient will be recommended by me
• To heal impotency with the help of tantra or any other paranormal power
• To declare in advance the date of death of four renowned personalities of India
• To bring in a spirit through planchette
• To make sure recovery of a dog or goat with the help of supernatural power after being injected with a snake’s venom
• To prove the power of intoxication of poison by “miracle stone” (bish pathar)
• To detect burglar with the help of moving bowl or cane (kanchi chalan)
• To intoxicate a person by dropping of a dish (thala pora)
• To spot thief by reading and staring at nails (nokh darpan)
• To detect thief by feeding rice grains and chanting prayers (chal pora)
• To float or hang in the air with the aid of yoga
• To use yoga in stopping heartbeat for 10 minutes
• To read one’s thoughts with the help of telepathy
• To walk through the surface of water
• To bring in a spirit who can be photographed
• To get anything from the air as per my choice
• To bring in rainfall within 2 hours by way of chanting prayers
• To move or tilt a hard object with the power of mind
• To stop a vehicle being driven by someone of my choice by supernatural means
• To correctly describe an item kept in a sealed envelop or a closed container through supernormal vision

Anyone willing to accept the above noted challenge, hereinafter referred as “challenger”, shall have to comply with the following terms & conditions:

1. The challenger will have to deposit an amount of 20,000 INR (around 433 USD) with me or my recommended individual or institution. In case the challenger wins, he/she will get back such deposit along with the challenge money. This holds well even if the challenger is not willing to accept the challenge money. The purpose of this clause is to prevent those, whose only intention is to waste my time and energy in order to remain in the limelight.
2. Only the individual in respect of whom the above said deposit will be recorded shall be treated as the challenger
3. No discussion in regard to the challenge will be entertained with any other individual other than the challenger
4. Regarding the challenge, only the challenger will be allowed to contact and/or hold discussions with me or any individual authorized by me
5. The challenger will have to display a prima-facie evidence of his/her claim in front of a panel approved by me
6. In case the challenger fails to appear for the screening indicated in clause no 5 above or fails to demonstrate his/her claim, the deposit made by him/her shall be forfeited
7. If the challenger proves his/her eligibility in the initial screening, I shall conduct the final test, which will be considered as the ultimate
8. In the final test, if the challenger can prove his/her supernatural ability, I shall accept defeat

Challenge published at the book 'Aloukik noy Loukik' (Nothing is Supernatural) Vol 1, written by Prabir Ghosh (in Bengali)

Related posts:

1. Challenge to NDTV Imagine Program
2. RESULTS of ‘INR 25,00,000 challenge to all astrologers to forecast result of Parliament Election 2009′
3. INR 25,00,000 challenge to all astrologers to forecast result of Parliament Election 2009

Translation : Sumitra Padmanavan

(First published on May 18, 2006 at this website (old design)).

Nepal: Some relevant facts

Nepal is a Monarchy. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal is bordered by Tibet,China on the North; Sikkim and West Bengal on the East; Bihar and U.P. on the South and Uttaranchal on its West.

Area: 147,181 sq.km.
Population: 246,00,000.
Rate of population increase-2.3%
Language: Nepali, Maithir, Bhojpuri.
Literacy: (15 yrs of age and above) 43%
State Religion: Hinduism. Also Buddhism and Islam.
Currency: Nepali Rupee
Capital: Kathmandu.
Main Cities: Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Lalitpur.
Important Rivers: Karnali, Narayani, Koshi.
Important Mountain-peak: Mount Everest.
Natural Wealth: Forest 40.8%, Agricultural Land 16.5%. Minerals: Mica, Lignite, Copper, Iron, Cobalt, Magnetite, Zinc and Lead.
Cottage Industries: Blanket, cotton fabric, jute, carpet, paper, vegetable oil, bricks, tiles and beer. Tourism is developed only in and around Kathmandu.
Government Expenditure on Education: 3.7%
Government Expenditure on Health: 0.9%.
Average life span: 60 years.
Occupation: Related to forest products, agriculture and fishing.

Nepal and Human Development

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has classified the countries of the world into three divisions.1) High Human Development, 2) Medium Human Development and 3) Low Human Development countries.

This classification is made according to the human development index. The per capita income cannot indicate the real development of a country, the reason being its economic disparity. Up to the year 1990, the average per capita income was considered to be the criterion for measuring a country’s development. But the fallacy was noted by economists soon. In the Arab countries, a handful of oil-tycoons hold the major part of its wealth, while the standard of life of the common man is quite low. So, now for classification of the nations, data on distribution of income, education, health etc. are taken into account.

Nepal comes under ‘Lower Human Development’ countries. Out of 175 nations, Nepal’s position is 143. The king and the elite class alone hold a tremendous amount of wealth, whereas the common masses do not get two square meals a day. Only an eyewitness can fathom the stark reality.

History of Nepal

In the past, Nepal was a cluster of ethnic states under king’s rule. Even before that, in ancient times during the Vedic period, a form of collective rule known as ‘gana-rajya’ was prevalent. These ‘gana-rajya’s were the centers of power. The heads of various ethnic states used to meet periodically for discussions and solutions to various problems. These meets of the representatives were known as ‘Pratinidhi Sabha’. It may be noted that even today, these meets of the highest representatives of state are known as ‘Pratinidhi-Sabha’ (as ‘the Parliament’ in India). The chairperson of this ‘Pratinidhi Sabha’ was elected as the king. The post of the king was not inherited; the king was one among the representatives or pratinidhis. Discussions and debates were part of these meets. If there were no unanimity, voting was practiced. Social and political power was vested in the hands of the elected king and the members of the Pratinidhi-Sabha.

Even after a few thousand years, the basic structure of the democracy or ‘gana-rajya’ still revolves around the king and the pratinidhi sabha. The members of the Pratinidhi Sabha still come from the elite class, the aristocrats. The difference is that earlier, there were debates and arguments in these meets, but not any more. Now the king has the last word. And the common members are the king’s blind followers or sycophants. Another point of difference is that now The King’s post is inherited from generation to generation, thanks to the impotency of the members. Now the prevailing system is known as a combination of ‘Multiparty Democracy’ and ‘Constitutional Monarchy’.

This ‘Constitutional monarchy’ has certain uniqueness, the peculiarities of which may not be found anywhere in the world. Peculiarity no.1) The army of the state does not belong to the state of Nepal. No.2) The army belongs personally to the King. No.3) The soldiers of the army are not loyal to the country; they are loyal to the King. No.4) The democratic government has no control over the army. No.5) The king can dissolve the ‘Pratinidhi Sabha’ at any time, under any pretext or without any pretext at all. No.6) Elections are held under the total supervision of the Royal Nepal Army. The king’s favorites are selected as members of the ‘Rashtriya Sabha’ (equivalent to our Rajya Sabha). No.7) This ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ of Nepal is not like the ‘rubber-stamp’ Monarchy of the United Kingdom or of Japan. There the king or queen unhesitatingly signs the decisions taken by the elected people’s representatives, unless in exceptional cases. Rather, the King’s word is the last word in Nepal. Here the representatives toe the line of the King, and not the other way round. So we can call it ‘Dictatorial Monarchy’ rather than ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ (at present, total no.of seats in ‘Pratinidhi Sabha’ is 205 and that of ‘Rashtriya Sabha’ is 60)

Around 250 years ago, among various clans of Nepal, the Gorkhas were the most powerful. The Gorkhas had a close relationship and understanding with the British rulers of India. During the 4^th decade of the last century, the Nepali Congress Party put king Tribhuvan on the throne. Since then, from king Tribhuvan onwards, monarchy is being inherited through generations. After Tribhuvan came Mahendra ; after Mahendra there was Birendra. After king Birendra came king Gyanendra.

The people of Nepal did not take the coming to power of King Gyanandra with ease. According to popular feeling, the killing of King Birendra, queen Aiswariya, prince Dipendra and many others of the royal family, on the night of 1 June 2001, points the finger of suspicion towards Gyanendra. They also sensed that the Royal Nepal Army was his collaborator and a partner in this entire conspiracy was the Government of India. King Birendra was not in good terms with the Indian Govt. for some time; his intimacy with China was the point of contention. It was necessary to put a cipher king in his place. This sentiment still haunts the minds of almost the entire populace of Nepal today.

Since 1959 there were many elections, and many a time government was formed. Within months, these governments were dissolved by autocratic rulers. Even though the aristocrats were the ones to form the Government, and they were over- eager to please the king at any cost, the kings lost no time in finding fault and wantonly played their game of dissolution.

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist): their dream showed the way

We have seen so far, that in Nepal we have Monarchy, we have semi-feudalism, we have semi-colonialism too. In this confusion, India acted like its guardian, trying to control its policies and allegiances. India, just like the U.S.A is an Imperialist nation. Indian constitution, in its Article 1 (3) (C) has clearly empowered India to take over any country or part of it at any time.

‘Parliamentary Democracy’ or ‘Monarchy’, by whatever name you call it, the ruler of Nepal has miserably failed to provide food or roof, water or clothes to the vast majority of his countrymen. The basic amenities like road, education or healthcare are still beyond   reach of the common man.

Despair of the downtrodden gave way to struggle for emancipation—‘Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)’ was formed on February 13, 1996. Chairman was ‘Prachand’, alias Pushpkamal Dahel. The ideological leader of the party was Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. He did his studies in the Jawaharlal Nehru University of India and joined the People’s War against the exploitation of the masses. According to government records, 13000 people died during the last ten years of People’s war. As a result of the combing operations conducted by the Royal Nepal Army, many more were missing. And ‘missing’ means ‘dead’.

The Maoists Learn to change their strategies

The people’s war, under the leadership of the Maoists was an armed battle to snatch power from the ruling party. But about 3 years back, the central committee of the Maoist group of Nepal took a few important decisions. Some of their aims and steps were as follows:-

1) To improve the lot of the poorest of the poor, and to make these rural areas self-sufficient by forming communes.

2) These communes and co-operatives would be run by commonly elected adult members of the community. This kind of democracy was known as Revolutionary People’s Democracy.

3) In this democracy, natural resources like crops, minerals or the forest products were equally distributed among the people. They learnt to live like independent human beings and therefore, took care to keep vigil over the maintenance of their hard-earned self-government.

4) This kind of democracy, by its very nature makes corruption and nepotism non-viable. The people who have tasted self-respect and independence would not hesitate to identify and eradicate any sign of corruption.

5) People’s revolution can be complete, not through armed battle; but through self-ruled rural development. In the present day it is impossible to win an armed battle against the imperialistic forces and take over the state power. But by successful implementation of the co-operative concept, by forming communes and making their own villages self-reliant, these poor underdogs can achieve independence.

6) So, the logical aim is not to ‘surrender’ the arms, but to ‘control’ the use of arms. Arms would be for self-defense; so that the feudal powers or the king’s army could not further oppress the historically oppressed communities of this area.

This latest revolutionary technique is a legacy from Venezuela and the vast undeveloped areas of India. Everywhere we see a steady revival of democracy through the rural co-operative movement. About two decades ago, all the dreams to establish socialism were brutally crushed under the ‘brain war’ launched by the capitalist countries. Despair had set in; any hope to restart a struggle to bring about neo-socialism was a far cry.

That was the time when the Rationalist Association, to make the villages self-reliant as a first step towards Neo-Socialism, offered a new thought, a new guideline. In the line of Jesus-Gandhi-Rabindranath Tagore-Marx-Lenin-Mao, a new concept or rather a brain wave of community living, of the co-operative movement emerged. To make small, self reliant, self-ruled villages was the new idea that spread from village to village like wild fire. We have seen how the young couple– Mahesh and Sarita dedicated their lives to spread this revolution in Bihar. From one village– forty villages joined together in co-operative farming; started living like human beings.

These villagers were untouchable ‘Harijans’, detested and oppressed socially and politically. They learnt to live with self-respect, had clean drinking water, schools for their children, clothes. Now in India, from North Bengal to Andhra Pradesh, there are some 4000 such villages.

These poverty-stricken, illiterate rural masses do not know what is ‘Maoism’, whether it is food or medicine! All they know is that if any method can bring them out of their vicious circle of tyranny, they would be ready to embrace it. Those who are killed, raped and looted at the slightest pretext, whose hutments are burnt down in a row, women stripped and manhandled at the mildest of protests, at the hint of a demand for justice, have nothing more to lose. To regain self-respect and get back their democratic rights they are ready to take any name. Their aim is not to fight with tanks and machine guns against the global capitalist forces (they hardly know what that is!). Their aim is to regain human dignity. For this reason, if the state develops a fear-complex, it would be a shame; if the rich feudal landlords spend sleepless nights, the corrupt leaders, ministers or movie stars get caught in the process it cannot be helped. Now with the healthy competition between the visual media and their positive intervention, nobody is being spared. No big shot with political clout or money power can get away as easily as before.

In the beginning of the 21^st century, Venezuela gave the first true shape to a comprehensive democratic movement. It came out of its feudal snare and improved the lot of its masses socially, and culturally too. Soon, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina followed suit in realizing their dreams. No, it is not only a dream any longer. In accurate implementation, the masses of these countries will show the way to the rest of the world. The people of Nepal have rendered the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal successful by 80%. The remaining 20% is a matter of time.

The seven-party coalition and the Maoists

November 2005. The seven political parties of Nepal turned their back to the autocratic rule of the monarch and signed a joint memorandum of understanding. These seven parties are:- 1) Nepali Congress, 2) Nepali Congress (Democratic), 3) Communist Party of Nepal( Marxist-Leninist), 4) Janmorcha Nepal, 5) Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, 6) Nepali Satbhavna Party, 7) United People’s Front(Party of Nepal).

All these city-based political parties understood that without the support of the Maoists they could not succeed, because in 80% of rural Nepal, Maoists had a strong support. As soon as the eighth name was added to the erstwhile seven, the revolution gathered momentum. The farsighted Maoists proved the king wrong. Hardly could king Gyanendra ever imagine that the seven elite-class parties would join hands with the poor Maoists! Now, cornered from all sides, the king is yet to play his last card, his only support being the foreign powers. Can he win the end game?

The International Powers

Countries like the USA, UK, India and the European countries are known as the ‘Upholders of Democracy’. All of them reacted to the overwhelming situation in Nepal. They all stood in a row in support of the king and voiced their opinion against this historical people’s revolution. They assured the king of sending their military forces whenever needed.

China, Russia, Pakistan and Bangladesh took a different stand. They were less enthusiastic and did not wish to interfere in the ‘internal affairs’ of Nepal. In other words; their silence only meant ‘King Gyanendra, we are with you’.

We shall overcome some day

This overwhelming rush of the people’s democratic movement has gathered such a momentum, that it is not easy to stop its flow at this juncture. With able leadership and intelligent guidance, it is moving at a remarkable pace, and the United States and its allies would find it more and more difficult to gain ground and win over.

Related posts:

1. NEPAL’S POLITICAL SCENARIO : Promises not kept
2. LATEST NEWS-FLASH FROM NEPAL
3. Some Important Questions: Zeitgeist Movement

We are thankful to the NDTV channel for withdrawing the program. We are grateful to our friends and heartily congratulate all our supporters who joined the campaign.

Prabir Ghosh

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We challenge the revelations connected to ‘previous life’ as shown in the program “Raaz Pichhle Janam ka”, and demand immediate discontinuation of the show.

Prabir Ghosh

G.S., Science & Rationalist Association of India

Related posts:

1. Protest against TV program (in support of rebirth) “Raaz Pichhle Janam ka” on NDTV Imagine
2. Program on NDTV Imagine: ‘RAAZ PICHHLE JANAM KA’
3. GOOD NEWS

Just like Astrology, this Numerology or the bogus idea of changing the first letter of your name, number of letters in your name, adding new letters to your name (or names of your new venture, movie, TV serial etc) to bring ‘good luck’ has gained popularity in the last few years in India. It includes car numbers, house or telephone numbers and so on…

For example — the name of your new serial is going to be ‘Pagal’ (means ‘mad’ or eccentric). Your numerologist tells you your lucky number is 6. How do you make it? You change the name into ‘Ppagal’ or ‘Paggal’ . Isn’t it interesting? Now you are not just mad, you’re quite mad!

This practice caters to people’s craving to know, influence or improve their future. Soothsayers, horoscopewallahs of all kinds thrive because of this human weakness. In fact our lives are influenced or molded by so many myriads of factors –things, people and happenings– that there cannot be and there has never been any way of knowing, leave alone changing one’s future. There can be no magic.

It would be wonderful if the Numerologists themselves explained how exactly their thing works. How anyone’s name can possibly affect the future or the total of the digits of their dates of birth have anything to do with their good fortune? In fact, it is the claimant’s duty to explain and establish their claim. But they will not do so. On this ground anybody can claim anything. For example – I can say ‘God sent me a message that you would do better if you …’ or ‘I had a dream that you should name your child Gobardhan’. Who can stop me? I do not have to explain!

So, what all these people use is their common sense and their knowledge of human nature. Even astrologers do not read your palm—they try to read your mind and find out your weaknesses. I have faced the leading Astrologer/palmist of Bengal, Ms Jaya Ganguly in a TV show and showed how to defeat these people. It also proved that they do not see the palm – they see your dress, attitude and listen to you. That’s another story.

In this era of cut-throat competition intensified by the global recession—people will do anything before going into a new venture. So these practices – Reiki, Vaastu, Stone-therapy, Numerology, Name-ology(!) and such are thriving. Try to understand that these practitioners themselves are struggling to make money by cheating people. Their best targets let me tell you are the –‘Moneyed Fools’. Why do they advertise and open chambers if they could predict or influence their own future?

These items are expensive and so, are thriving in Mumbai, the finance capitalof India, also the home of Bollywood. In Bengal, the middle class is happy with palmists and astrologers who come cheap though they prescribe stones costing anything between 5000 to 50000 rupees depending on your pocket.

Anyway till date I haven’t met anyone who could foretell the future. There is this challenge for the last 20 years –anybody who can prove accurately under fool-proof conditions the authenticity of Reiki, Vaastu, Astrology, Numerology etc will be paid Rs.20 lakhs as prize money. And also our organization – Science & Rationalists Association of India will close down on such instance. Many have tried, but found excuses to vanish at the last moment.

Related posts:

1. The New York Times on NUMEROLOGY
2. Challenge to all ‘supernatural’ and ‘paranormal’ power holders/ astrologers etc
3. INR 25,00,000 challenge to all astrologers to forecast result of Parliament Election 2009

(১৪) রাজ্য পুলিশের ডি জি ভূপিন্দর সিং এবং রাজ্যের মুখ্যসচিব অশোকমোহন চক্রবর্তী ঘোষনা করেছেন- ছত্রধর মাহাতোদের সঙ্গে যাঁরা যোগাযোগ রাখতেন, তাঁদের বিরুদ্ধে প্রয়োজনে ‘আনলফুল অ্যাকটিভিটিজ প্রিভেনশন অ্যাক্ট’ অনুসারে ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে। বে-আইনি নয় এমন সংস্থার সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ রাখা বে-আইনি হতে পারে না। সন্ত্রাসের বাতাবরণ সৃষ্টি করে, ব্ল্যাকমেল করে ছত্রধরদের পুলিশী সন্ত্রাসের বিরুদ্ধে গড়ে তোলা গণতান্ত্রিক আন্দোলনের পাশ থেকে বুদ্ধিজীবীদের সরাতে ডি জি ও মুখ্যসচিব স্পষ্টতই আইন ভেঙেছেন। ওঁদের বে-আইনি কাজের বিরুদ্ধে কী কী ব্যবস্থা নিচ্ছেন?

(১৫) এই রাজ্যের  প্রশাসনিক প্রধান হিসেবে আপনার নিশ্চয়ই অজানা নেই যে রাষ্ট্রসঙ্ঘের গাইড লাইন সম্পূর্ণ অমান্য করে ‘আনলফুল অ্যাকটিভিটিজ প্রিভেনশন অ্যাক্ট’ তৈরি হয়েছে। তারপরও কোন যুক্তিতে এমন ‘বে-আইনি’ আইনের বিরোধীতা না করে প্রয়োগ করছেন?

নমস্কারান্তে

প্রবীর ঘোষ

সাধারণ সম্পাদক

ভারতীয় বিজ্ঞান ও যুক্তিবাদী সমিতি

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Why is there so much bloodshed? Why such terrorism everywhere?

Any honest and impartial person is against terrorism. We too, the rationalists and   humanists are against any kind of murder, torture and terrorism. We sincerely wish that all this mindless killings should come to an end. Why is there so much of terror in this country?

Let us first take the case of this state – West Bengal.

During the last 32 years of Left-front rule, 45000 people were killed.

###

In the terrorist nation India, all the terrorist political parties thrive.

The surprising fact is that most of the political parties of India are up against terrorism and are ever ready to implement ‘stringent anti-terrorism measures’ to combat terrorism. At the same time, these very political parties themselves are nothing but terrorist groups.

In 1996, Amnesty International had presented a report. On investigating upon 150 countries, they identified 82 nations where the state machinery resorted to ‘terrorism’ as a routine practice. The governments of all these countries use the following methods as part of their administration—kidnapping, killing in cold blood in the name of ‘encounter’ with police or military, illegally detaining indefinitely without filing case, not allowing to take legal help, entering the house at night without search-warrant, arresting without the presence of witness and then claiming to have found weapons or objectionable papers with the arrested person, — these are examples of dirty criminal acts perpetrated by the states.

India is one among these 82 nations identified by Amnesty Intl.

‘State terrorism’ is severe in the North-eastern states – Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, in Kashmir in Northern India, in Chhattisgarh in central India and in Andhra Pradesh in South. The atrocities carried out by the state machinery are unimaginable. The gravity of it is beyond the comprehension of people outside these regions. It is more so because the media are never truly impartial. They have to toe the line of the ruling party or the rich and powerful opposition. The media in West Bengal do the same by suppressing or distorting news, or even by total blackout in some cases. Sometimes they are shadows of CPM party, and as soon as the tables turn, they hang around the opposition leader, travel with her, fly with her, lifting her sky-high only to pull her down and ridicule her later as time comes. It is they who create Maoist leaders like ‘Kishenji’ or ‘Bikash’ and make exclusive stories.

It is these media who truncate the name “Public Committee against Police Atrocities” (PCAPA) to make it only “Public Committee”. The words ‘police atrocities’ probably sound too harsh to them!

‘Public Committee against Police Atrocities’

It was an afternoon on November 2008; Chief Minister Buddahdeb Bhattacharya and Central minister Rambilas Paswan were returning through Shalboni in their convoy after inaugurating a proposed Steel plant by the Jindal group. The Maoists triggered an explosion aiming at the convoy. After this incident which missed the CM’s vehicle and slightly injured a few others, the police started massive operation and arbitrary arrests.

Under the leadership of Police Superintendent of West Midnapur district, they entered tribal houses some 70 kilometers away from the spot and arrested some schoolboys of 7^th and 8^th class, an old retired schoolteacher and some others as ‘suspected Maoists’. During this action they reportedly roughed up tribal women – the male police force manhandled and molested them, abused with vulgar threats.

The suppressed grievance of the long deprived local people exploded after this criminal offence. The poor tribal populace of the region united and formed the ‘Public Committee against Police Atrocities’. Their main demand was that – the Police Super and the misbehaving police personnel have to come to the Tribal village and publicly apologize for their mistake and misdemeanor.

Now, the West Bengal government always appears as the savior of the police whenever they are in trouble. We have seen it before – in Singur, Nandigram, Khejuri, Memari in Burdwan and in case of the hapless Rizwanur. The Police actively participated in genocide, loot, rape and setting fire. The police force usually comes as the pilot convoy before the armed hooligan party-cadres and together they jointly carry out the massacre. In return, the Buddhadeb government takes good care of the police force, turning a blind eye to all their crimes. So, when the PCAPA made their demand, the Chief Secretary of Buddha government called a press conference and announced – that there could be no question of apologizing.

The self-respecting poor tribal people could not digest this kind of arrogance. They started a movement – PCAPA—and are continuing it for the following eight months. The leader of the committee, Sri Chhatradhar Mahato pointed out that some of the media are diverting  attention from the police by shortening the name to just ‘People’s Committee’, ignoring the point of Police atrocities.

We saw on television that Chhatradhar and the common people of Lalgarh considered the Maoists as their friends, who came as their savior.

In eight months Lalgarh saw progress that did not happen in the past 32 years.

Some able and sympathetic people came forward to help the PCAPA. They showed them the way to become self-reliant, to unite and work together to make self-ruled villages. The villagers joined hands to work together and made unimaginable progress in a few months. What the left-front government failed to do in 32 years, they did in 8 months –claims Chhatradhar. A 60 feet deep reservoir to store water for irrigation, miles of canals cleaned and channeled to the fields, tube-wells in villages for drinking water, 50 kilometers of solid gravel road that saved them a long detour to go to the nearest Midnapore town; these are some of their achievements. A health centre with a doctor is also set up by them. All this has been done by the villagers themselves without any help from the state.

Some able and sympathetic people who came forward to help and guide these villagers have been branded as ‘Maoists’ by the CPI (M). Once you call them ‘Maoists’, they can be arrested, detained without trial or better still, killed in the name of encounter. So simple!

It is only natural that the cruel and fascist CPI (M) government will call these people ‘Maoists’ or ‘Terrorists’.

But the tribal Adivasis (literal meaning = original inhabitants) call them friends. It is the ‘Police people’ that are the ‘real enemies’; no, not even hunger and poverty. They have learnt to live with them. It is further torture and humiliation that infuriate them.

###

In India infested with terrorists, the CPI (M) is the largest terrorist group

In the past 32 years, there have been 45000 political killings. Of that 40000 have been perpetrated by the ruling party CPI (M). In cruelty, comparable only to the Nazis, this outfit has carried out genocide in Marichjhapi, Naxalbari, Sainbari, Kashipur, Baranagar, Beliaghata, Dhantala, Bantala, Ghoksadanga, Keshpur, Garbeta, Arambag, Nandigram etc during their long tenure. The cruelty of these massacres was unimaginable.

Even after all this, why the Central government is not taking steps to ban this party is a mystery. Is it because in future they may again have to tie the knot with this party at the centre? The party that believes in genocide as a political weapon should be banned in the state at least!

The reader must be wondering why all these facts were not made public so long. It is mainly because of the left inclined media owners and intellectuals who were in some way indebted to the leftist government. They, out of their own sense of gratitude kept mum all these years. All the wrong ideas got publicity. We were told that even if you take up arms against police, military or ruling party workers in self defense, it is tantamount to going against the Nation/State. It is ‘Terrorism’. These fighters are ‘terrorists’ – even if they are poor, hungry and naked. Even if they live without electricity, water supply or health care and get humiliated and tortured by police at regular intervals.

###

We are clearly against terrorism and cold blooded man-slaughter

Each and every progressive, rational and humane person must be against mindless cruelty. At the same time one has to agree that continuous deprivation, ill-treatment, neglect and above all, state-terrorism can steamroll the people to make them revolt at a point of time– to make them rise up to counter-terrorism. Such possibility cannot be ruled out.

Finally genocide and counter-killings go on to cripple the society. We cannot think of a beautiful society to live in, to progress towards a better future. So we express our strong hatred and disapproval of all the terrorist political parties and terrorism of the state.

###

An example of an ideal ‘terrorist’ state

18 June, 2009: To suppress the terrorist upheaval the state police and the central armed forces have jointly entered the jungle-covered Lalgarh, the poorest region of West Bengal.

Quoting from the first page of daily paper Bartaman – a tribal woman Usharani from Kuldiha says – “On Friday afternoon, I sat with two morsels of rice to feed my child. Police came, kicked and broke open the door. They entered in a group, kicked and overturned the plate of rice. They ransacked and broke everything in the house. We are Maoists, they said. They threw everything we had – plates, vessels, sacks of rice and daal – everything into the well. Before leaving they threatened to sexually abuse me”.

The experience is more or less the same in households in the villages of Kuldiha, Goaldanga, Kankshol, Malida, Sarberia, Peyarakuli, Pechapora and 40 others like them. The people all belong to Tribal community or aborigines of the place. Police and central forces manhandled the women, lifting their saris in the name of frisking, beating with lathis, and ridiculed them offering their services at night in the absence of their husbands. In some places, they urinated in the wells or put their excreta rendering them unfit for drinking.

Next day we saw the shocking picture (Times of India) of local boys being made to look for landmines, while the police personnel were behind them with their weapons. This is a definite case of gross violation of human rights.

We hereby draw the attention of National Human Rights Commission, with a request for immediate enquiry and steps against the police involved.

###

What is going on? Is it warfare?

Are Indian soldiers fighting with their own countrymen?

Now if any foreigner questions the very character of our Nation, and calls it a terrorist state, do we have a reply?

[Author is Gen. Secretary of the Science & Rationalists Association of India and President of Humanists’ Association]

Picture courtesy: THE TELEGRAPH and THE TIMES OF INDIA

Related posts:

1. Tribals on warpath in Lalgarh; say can work better than govt
2. Security-centric approach can’t resolve Lalgarh conflict
3. Many police officers are reluctant to work in Jangalmahal

Translated by Sumitra Padmanabhan

What is Reiki?

Some practitioners of Kolkata claim that Reiki has its root in India. The ancient sage Bashishitha used to cure patients by his touch. Then it spread throughout the world. We all know that Jesus supposedly cured lepers (people suffering from the deadly disease, leprosy) by mere touch. Japanese professor Mikao Usui has recently popularized Reiki. Mediating at a stretch for 21 days he rediscovered this method of treating diseases by touch.

In the last 5 years, Reiki has become popular in India. Many masters teach the first degree of this art to their disciples in 2-3 days. Then comes the ‘purification period’ of 21 days, when the pupil has to turn vegetarian and abstain from alcohol, cigarettes and even coffee. Then, during the next two days’ degree course the students learn some symbols and mantras (codes words or magic chants). Then comes the ‘full-body’ Reiki. It takes 21 minutes to trasmit this last bit of power to the student and to administer the treatment of full-body Reiki to a patient. To Reiki-masters, the number 21 is sacred.

We note that, whether it is the native practitioners of India, or their Japanese Counterparts, all have got their special powers through mediation. The Japanese maestro Usui claims that he got this supernatural power through a string of light from the Heavens. If contained all the necessary formulae for this holistic treatment called Reiki.

           People like me who are rationalists and believe that all seemingly supernatural phenomena have some natural and scientific basis, can try to explore the reality behind this newfound method of Reiki Treatment.

In Japanese, ‘Rei-ki’ means ‘Universal life-force’ (Rei = Universal or cosmic and ki = vital life force or energy) or Cosmic Energy.Those who believe in Reiki have a different story to tell about the human physiology. They say that there are seven main power points (‘Shakti-Chakra’) in the human body. These points can absorb the universal cosmic energy. In fact these ‘Chakras’ are continuously absorbing power from the cosmos. This continuous flow only keeps us filled with life, health and energy. According to the Reiki theorists, if for some reason the flow is hampered, the parts of the body – the muscles or glands connected to the related ‘Chakra’ become inactive. It is then that we suffer from various ailments. Those who are Reiki ‘doctors’ claim to be able to cure those ailments by their healing touch!

This is a theory. Whether we have to believe in it is another matter. If we believe anything that the interested practitioners try to teach, we might as well believe in witchcraft and sorcery; or in UFOs, dragons and ‘black-magic’.

The Analysis

           ‘Cosmic Energy’ and the theory of its being absorbed in the human body are completely erroneous. Cosmic energy is in Cosmic rays. It is an electromagnetic wave. The source of this ray is in the universe or cosmos. Cosmic ray is all around us. It is colorless. Even if we had the seven ‘power-points’ in our body, there is no way these points can absorb the cosmic power.

Reiki superstar Ms. P. Roy says that according to the Hindu scriptures, the human body has seven ‘Chakras’

They are –

*        The crown Chakra: It is connected to the brains, the right eye etc. and it controls their activities and spirituality.

*        The Third eye-Chakra: Its position is between the two eyebrows and it controls our will power, intuition and the entire nervous system.

*        The Throat Chakra: It is connected to and controls the ailments of throat, thyroid, glands, lungs etc.

*        The Heart Chakra: It is situated in the middle of our chest and controls our heart, love-life and all tender human emotions.

*        The Solar Plexus Chakra is situated between the chest and the navel. It controls our stomach, liver, gall bladder – in other words, our entire digestive system.

*        The Sacral Chakra: It is positioned at the crotch and controls the reproductory system – sexual desire, fertility, pregnancy, monthly periods etc.

*        Root Chakra is at the rectum. It is the source of all physical power and creativity. It controls the function of kidney, bladder and the spinal chord.

The Power of the Hands

The ‘Reiki-masters’ hold that our hands are the extensions of our heart. The palms and fingers of our hands collect the cosmic energy absorbed in our bodies. If these ‘powerfully charged’ hands are gently laid on the various power points of the ailing person, these rays get transmitted to the subject’s body. This energizes the patient, his flow of energy resumes and he is recovered.

So, the basic theory here is –

1.      All diseases are due to the lack of flow of cosmic energy in our body.

2.      Cosmic energy is collected at the palm of our hands and the fingertips.

3.      When the Reiki master touches the power points in the patients’ body, the energy passes on to the patient. The flow in the patient’s body resumes.

Just think about it !

Once upon a time people had the belief that diseases occur due to the sins of the people. Now a new theory is that whatever be the disease, it is caused by the lack of flow of cosmic energy. The Reiki practitioners have not cleared how the cosmic rays are connected to the diseases. The latest scientific theories about bacteria, virus, malnutrition etc as the causes of various diseases have to be discarded if we take this Reiki seriously.

Various Claims of Reiki Masters

Some Reiki masters of Kolkata claim that Reiki works even on inanimate objects. Opening of jammed locks without a key, running a car even after petrol is exhausted, running tape recorders and transistors that are out of order – all these are possible by the charged finger-tips of Reiki master’s and mistresses!

Ö        Please request the nearest Reiki practitioner to really give a demonstration of any of these above claims.

Ö        Throw a challenge on behalf of the rationalists to either demonstrate their power to run a car without petrol or a transistor without power or batteries.

Ö        If you ever see such advertisement, put pressure on the claimant to stop such advertisement unless they can demonstrate their claims.

The Third Eye or Sixth sense

Another claim of the Reiki theorist is that charged by cosmic power, one can awaken the sixth sense or the third eye. So, if you acquire this power, you can ‘see’ a person’s real problems with just one look at him. Want to try? Please contact a Reiki master and check his or her powers with an open mind.

Do not forget to contact me and arrange for a challenge with the claimant. I will come with a patient.

Can Reiki Cure Some diseases?

Yes. There are many physical problems, which are caused by psychological reasons. The list is long –

            Blood pressure                         Headache / migraine

            Blood Sugar                             Ulcers

            Asthma                         Various Pains

            Frigidity                                    Palpitation       

            Cough                                      Stomach disorders

Many of the above symptoms can have a psychological root. In that case, they can be cured by ‘Placebo’. ‘Placebo’ or treatments that ‘will please’ the patients can include anything from administering empty capsules to using various medallions, talisman given by quack doctors. In such cases it is not unlikely that a person suffering from some such psychosomatic pains and disorders will feel ‘somewhat relieved’ by the ‘healing touch’ of a Reiki ‘doctor’.

            Remember, sometimes a mother’s touch or a lover’s kiss can give us immense relief from sorrow or pain.

An encounter with the Canadian Reiki Doctor

The author with Clive Harris from Canada September 1, 2003.

Rana receiving treatment. (right)

            The healing therapist Clive Harris came all the way from Canada to treat patients in Kolkata, India. He claimed to have healed millions all over the world; his charges – Rs. 2000/- per head. There was no proof of anybody having been cured by Clive Harris. But Clive Harris Foundation has made a net property worth 600 billion sterling pounds in this bogus method.

            Though he claimed to possess healing touch for all kinds of ailments, he could not prove it in front of the camera and in my presence. Our member Rana went with speech disorder and received his touch. His problem is not cured till date.

            What Clive Harris had done, that is, advertising to cure all diseases by any method, without proper drug license, is punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 in India.

                                        **************************

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2. Human Sacrifice Suspected at Kali Temple in Bengal

 By Prabir Ghosh (click here to know more about the writer)

Who’s David Blaine?

This question need not be explained to viewers from USA or UK, since Blaine, based in USA  is probably the number one magician today, with a popularity which is unbelievable. Blaine, who started as a street magician, surprised viewers by showing his tricks on the streets, including levation, without any distance from people, without any stage tricks, or dark curtains.

Find out more about magician David Blaine; click here. The official David Blaine site is: www.davidblaine.com. Do visit it to know more about him.

Blaine’s Arm Twisting Trick

Take a look at the video by a masked magician who demonstrates David Blaine’s famous arm twisting magic trick (in which Blaine’s arm turns 360 degrees) and also explaines it. The explaination of the arm twisting trick is also given in the FREE ebook that we are offering below (we apologize that video quality is not very good).

David Blaine’s famous magic secrets Revealed

David has not claimed that he possesses any extra-human powers, or supernatural powers. As such, he is a magician who is entertaining poeple.  The following book (click below to download) answers several questions people had in their mind while watching his tricks; ‘does he have some extra-human powers’? ‘Is he blessed by God?’ The answers are ‘No’. He performs his wonderful magic with the help of tricks and tolerance. Find out how he does so by clicking on the picture of the book-cover above.

A print edition of David Blaine’s Magic Secrets Revealed is also coming soon (from us) with lots of  more interesting information.

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