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

Open letter to the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal (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

Russell Blackford In an exclusive interview, the Australian writer-philosopher Russell Blackford speaks about the recently published collection of essays--"50 Voices of Disbelief-why we are atheists". The link follows:-- My interview with D.J. Grothe is now available. From the intro on the site: In this interview with D.J. Grothe, Russell Blackford explains the need for 50 Voices of Disbelief. He argues that there can be no more important question than whether religion and faith deliver on their promises. He explores whether religion will persist. He contends that religious leaders are not our society's moral leaders. He discusses a number of contributed essays in the 50 Voices collection, s

By Shaikh Azizur Rahman, May 28. 2009 KOLKATA // Fortune tellers flopped in their quest to predict the outcome of this year’s election, with groups dedicated to their demise saying the results prove they are frauds. Two rationalist groups, which preach against irrational blind faith and superstition, organised competitions for astrologists and other fortune tellers, offering millions of rupees if anyone could accurately forecast who would dominate Indian politics for the next five years. The first competition, organised by Kolkata’s Science and Rationalists Association of India (SRAI), offered 2.5 million rupees (Dh194,000), and the second, held by the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associ

We keep going on. Our protest against injustice, against all irrational, inhuman and divisive forces in today’s society is forever on. On this day 17 years ago Humanists’ Association celebrated its legal victory by embracing ‘Humanism’ as religion for the first time. 53 members were present on that day in Kolkata, India, to officially accept the new religion ‘Humanism’. * We are at a crucial juncture in the history of mankind. Man is going to become an ‘endangered species’ very soon – well, unless we learn to think differently. Our aim is to ban warfare, save the environment and make this earth really livable. So let us take a vow to promote this new era that is going to come—a cashless, b

Organized by Orissa Rationalist Association in Rourkela on 10 and 11 october, 2009 Prabir Ghosh, G.S. of Science & Rationalist Association of India was invited as the chief guest to handover the certificates and mementos to the winners of the inter-school competition on scientific outlook being arranged by the Orissa Rationalist Association for the last 10 years. On this occasion Prabir with his team was asked to conduct anti-supernatual programs for 2 days-- 10 and 11 October at various venues. In two days, programs were held in two colleges, two schools and one slum in Rouirkela, and in a village and a tribal bustee near Rourkela. Sumitra Padmanabhan, president of the organisation and Bipl

(Many have not given their addresses. Nos 14 and 15 seem to be those well-advertised astrologers of Kolkata, Bengal -- Sree Gautam amd Vrigu.) 1) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 13:30:42 +0530 Subject: election results From: sandeep.madana143@gmail.com To: sumitra_humanist@hotmail.com congress=179 bjp=198 cpi=24 cpm=40 bsp=13 rjd=19 dmk=13 samaazwadi=32 others=25 2) Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 16:32:35 +0530 Subject: venkateswaraswamyhumanist From: venki.linga@gmail.com To: sumitra_humanist@hotmail.com hello sir Congress party > 80 Bjp party > 110 Cpm party > 28 Cpi party > 26 Bsp party > 35 Rgd party > 10

By Sumitra Padmanabhan. Rationalists have earlier been targets of public wrath. Rationalism as against spiritualism has for ages tried to bring out the truth by exposing frauds, explaining natural or man-made mysteries. In the process charlatans of all kinds were naturally up against rationalists. This trait of laying bare the truth, of busting the hypocrisies behind religious or spiritual practices has a long history. It dates back to the ‘Charbak’ saints of India. (Approx. 350 B.C.) But problem arises when educated modern day youths misunderstand or misrepresent the rational approach. There is a trend at the moment – of branding the rationalists as ‘negative’ in their approach. Particularl

The New York Times on NUMEROLOGY By VIKAS BAJAJ Published in The New York Times: December 4, 2009 MUMBAI, India — Sanjay B. Jumaani has your number — and for a fee he can offer you an upgrade. Mr. Jumaani is one of this bustling city’s most famous numerologists. He studies dates of birth and other numbers associated with his clients — who include Bollywood stars, famed cricket players and corporations — and then suggests changes to names, wardrobe or jewelry that can improve their fortunes. After seeking help from him and other numerologists, actors have added or dropped letters from their names — the actor Ajay Devgan recently became Ajay Devgn. Filmmakers have deliberately misspelled the t

By Aruna Roy & Nikhil Dey In all probability the majority of us who might have access to this newspaper will not read this piece. It does not interest us because we have so easily managed to separate what we see as economic activity from the rest of society. Even our economics has narrowed down to money and profits. Our overwhelming interest lies in what happens in the stock market, in our so called investments, and in the achievements of the affluent classes. We are so skewed in our vision that we look at the daily figures of the stock market with far more interest than we see the annual index of the human develpment report. We overlook the fact that our 8% economic growth rate is accompani

Section 49-O of the Constitution of INDIA. Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey to the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone! Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49-O". Why should you go and say "I VOTE FOR NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more , then polling will be cancelled and there will have to be a re-poll. Not only that, the candidatur

By Sumitra Padmanabhan The writer, the General Secretary of Humanists' Association raises the valid question of why very sick and suffering people beyond recovery should not have the right to choose death. Venkatesh and his mother Euthanasia is a Greek word that means ‘good-death’ (eu = good, thanatos = death). In other words – a death that is preferable to life. When life becomes unbearable for whatever be the reason, a person or his/her near ones may wish for his or her death. It may be a conscious wish by the person’s relatives or guardians. In the latter case it may so happen that the person concerned suffers prolonged irrecoverable illness or is in an unconscious

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 tu

We thank Eagle & Eagle www.eagletv.co.uk/home/contact.htm for the videos used in this article. Watch these online movies (click on them): 01. Baba cheating with vibhuti(1.84 MB): You can clearly see how Baba gets something from his left hand, in which he is holding the letters, and then a bit later is performing vibhuti with his right hand. 02. Baba cheating with lingam(1,91 MB, with sound): This movie shows how Baba acts as if he is coughing and because of this he has to use a handkerchief, but in fact he has already got the lingam in his handkerchief and puts the lingam with his left hand into his mouth; immediately afterwards he vomits the lingam. 03. Baba cheating w

We want to strengthen our campaign for legalizing Euthanasia in India. Seriously. Before that, I request all readers to go through the entire essay “Euthanasia or death-wish” available on this site. Those who agree with the idea are free to offer new points, ask questions based on the article mentioned above and design a short draft for starting signature campaign –in print and via internet. All are welcome to join and help. The need is more now than ever. With the government’s apathy towards the needs of poorer classes, with no easy insurance scheme in sight, with no chance of free healthcare in the near future, it is reasonable that people would like to have an option. I mean, why spend al

John Jubinsky The concept of the Biblical god is fundamental to the Judaic, Christian and Islamic traditions. In this it is subscribed to by a multitude of people in every social class on a world-wide basis. Their subscription to it and the associated scriptures generates for them a system of beliefs to which they resort in their introspective considerations, social interactions and creative endeavors. In good faith most attempt to circumvent the differences between scientific evidence and literal interpretation of Biblical chapter and verse. With no malice toward them, without intending to be an attack on particular religions nor a statement against religion in general, and only in the

By Pooja Chakrabarty Kolkata, 15 May: Election results are on everyone’s mind, and a city-based NGO has challenged astrologers to predict the winners before poll results are declared on Saturday. The prize is a hefty Rs. 25 lakhs. The Science and Rationalists Association of India (SRAI) has put two questions to astrologers. First, to predict the exact number of seats that Congress, BJP, TMC, CPI(M), BSP, RJD, SP, DMK and AIADMK will win. Second, to determine the margin of victory or defeat for leaders like Sonia Gandhi, L.K. Advani, Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan. “We can all make guesses if we do a little research and study previous trends. Yet, year after year, pos

Program on NDTV Imagine: ‘RAAZ PICHHLE JANAM KA’ ‘রাজ পিছলে জনম কা’ নাম দিয়ে পুর্বজন্ম নিয়ে একটা বেশ মোটা দাগের সিরিয়াল শুরু হতেই এস.এম.এস. এর ঝড়। আপনারা কী করছেন? প্রতিবাদ করুন। দেখলাম মোটামুটি যা বলতে চায় তা হল – পূর্ব জন্ম আছে—আর সম্মোহন করে সব জেনে ফেলা যায়। তবে যেভাবে তৈরি করা হয়েছে তাতে কেউ এতে প্রভাবিত হওয়ার সামান্যতম সম্ভাবনাও নেই। খুব সাজগোজ করা এক মহিলা সম্মোহন করছেন—যে সম্মোহিত হচ্ছে তার অভিনয় এত কাঁচা যে পিটপিট করা চোখে ঘুম বা ঘুম-ঘুম ভাবের লেশমাত্র নেই। আর তারপর যা হচ্ছে, পুরো নাটক! কাল্পনিক ঘটনা রিক্রিয়েট করে সিনেমার মত করে দেখান হচ্ছে। যেমন আগের জন্মে প্লেন-ক্র্যাশে মারা গেছেন –তো প্লেন ক্র্যাশের একটা সীন দেখানো হল। সাধারন বুদ্ধি-সম্পন্ন কোনো মানুষ এই অনুষ্ঠান দেখে পূর্বজন্মে

By Prabir Ghosh & Sumitra Padmanabhan The present problems in India – namely, unrest in Kashmir, terrorist attacks in Indian cities and the more recent anti-Christian violence in Orissa and Karnataka-- all have their roots in 'religion'. The old enmity between the Christian and the Islamic worlds erupted afresh as the Christian countries gradually developed into superpowers, leaving the Islamic nations lagging behind in all respects. This resulted in the ire and envy of the Islamic terrorist groups. The breakdown of the American Government’s pride and self-righteousness on September 2001 came as a sudden shock to the entire world. It was as if the biggest muscleman of the locality got a tigh

PLEASE DO NOT SPREAD COMMUNAL HATRED BY IRRESPONSIBLY BLAMING ALL MUSLIMS OR POINTING YOUR FINGER AT PAKISTAN. IT IS FOOLISH, IRRATIONAL AND DANGEROUS. SOME 'PAKISTANIS' DO NOT MEAN 'PAKISTAN AS A NATION'. ONE 'INDIAN' WAS INVOLVED IN THE BLAST IN UK. DOES THAT MEAN INDIA WAS INVOLVED AND HAD PURPOSEFULLY SENT THE MAN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES? SHOW RESPECT TO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRY. THINK BEFORE YOU TALK. Given below are some thoughts we got from the media and would like to share. 29 Nov 2008 00:48:03 GMT Source: Reuters ...'A man speaking Urdu with a Kashmiri accent phoned an Indian TV station, offering talks with the government and accusing the Indian army of killing M