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 D

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 বুদ্

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 fa

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

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’

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 Octobe

(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_humanis

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.

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

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 skewe

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 NOBOD

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

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

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

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

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 scient

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 vic