Note: This article is an update on this story reported earlier. The author is the president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.

Disclaimer: This report is about an allegedly paranormal phenomenon reported in media. The report is the result of the visit of a team of rationalists to the place where the alleged ‘miracle’ has been taking place. It is part of an attempt to investigate happenings, under the section 51 AH of the constitution of India which outlines the duties of a citizen. It is not an attempt to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments or cause any friction between any groups belonging to the same or different religions. The team consisted of officebearers of FIRA and KYS.

After the statues of Mary shedding tears and blood it is the turn of flex prints now! In the St.Mary’s Jacobite Chapel, Kattachira flex prints of Mary with Infant Jesus have started discharging an oily liquid with an aromatic smell. On the 6^th March some of us had the opportunity to visit the place, after our request was acceded to by Mathew Theodosios Metropolitan of the Kollam Diocese, under which the chapel is located. It may be recalled that this so-called miracle had hit the headlines in a section of the media in Kerala around October, 2009.

On reaching the place, we were taken to meet with the cor episcopal Abraham Mannikarottu and his group of priests and devotees, where there were heated debates about the Kerala Yuktivadi Sangham’s campaign, matters of faith and various such issues. Finally at around 12.30 we were taken around the place by the cor episcopal and his group. What happened is as follows in the form of a statement issued to him. Our opinions are expressed separately. Read the full story

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Alone into this world I am born
With no name to call my very own
The womb that fatefully shaped me
And the eyes that lovingly peer at me
Are the ones that give me my identity
The ‘I’ that I so protectively preserve. Read the full story

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Virgin Mary’s Tears to be Tested for Authenticity

Rationalists from the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, headed by president professor Narendra Nayak, will be testing the veracity of the claims made by locals and priests alike that the image of the Catholic religious figure is shedding tears. The Bishop has invited the Rationalists to make sure that this phenomenon being hailed by locals as a miracle is not a scam. This event will take place on the 6^th of March, 2010 at Alleppey in Kerala.
After this event, the rationalists are holding a press conference in which the flex print of Premanand is going to shed tears, because he is very sad that cheap stupid tricks are being passed off as miracles.

It is not shedding tears now, but will do so on the 6^th

Also please note that there will be a rationalist training program by Dr. Nayak on the 7^th, at Alleppey.

The contact person for details on all three events (miracle investigation, press conference and training program) is Anil Kumar of the Kerala Yuktivadi Sangam. Phone no:+919846126080.

Update: The follow-up after the conclusion of the official investigation has been posted here.

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(Professor Narendra Nayak has been traveling into the rural areas of India, promoting rationalism on the ground for over 30 years. His rationalism tours include demonstrations and training sessions for young rationalists in schools and colleges across the country. He is the successor of Basava Premanand, the world famous skeptic and rationalist, in his role as the president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations)

This is a brief account of some of my visits to the tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh. It is neither a chronicle of events, nor a comprehensive report of our work there. It is a write-up about some of the incidents that have taken place in the region, which I can recall. We have been working in this area for quite some time now.

Itarsi, a town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, is an important railway junction that connects the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western parts of India. During my train journeys I would take what are known as a ‘break journeys’ in this town, while on my way to other places by rail. The prominent Indian rationalist, Premanand and I have been there together quite a few times. Read the full story

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In the previous article, we studied how the Gita became the battlefield on which the Great Sectarian War took place for the Soul of Sanatana Dharma, and how after the wily Brahmins routed naïve Upanishadists once again the Bhagavatas entered the fray. Obviously the power of Super Man (Purushotthama, 15:18) and his “strong weapon” Buddhiyoga (15:3) were no match to the “firm-rooted eternal tree with its roots above and branches below” (15:1-3). A whole new God with terrifying appearance and awesome powers was needed to chop down this rotten tree. Read the full story

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Dates: 6-7 March, 2010

Location: Mulali Juba Kendra Hall near Moulali crossing close to Sealdah station, Kolkata.

The Science & Rationalists Association of India ( Bharatiya Bigyan O Yuktibadi Samity) has completed 25 fruitful years. There will be a  celebration of the silver jubilee on 6-7 March 2010. The annual conference will also be held during the two days with delegates attending seminar, workshop and interactive session during the day. The program on the evening of March 7, 2010 will be open to all. For more details about our activities you may visit our website, www.srai.org.

The program on the 7th will start from 5 pm with songs and discussion by the veteran Bengali folk song maestro Sri Swapan Basu, followed by our anti-superstition demonstrative show “Aloukik noy, Loukik”.

You are invited to attend the function and make it a grand success!

Prabir Ghosh
[G.S. Juktibadi Samiti]

Sumitra Padmanabhan
[President, Juktibadi Samiti]

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Reaching out to the younger generation is our priority number one. All our efforts are to reach out to this generation. The older generations with their fixed mindsets they are either with us or against us. Some fence sitters may need a push or pull from us to come our way. But, most of the times it is preaching to the converted or nonconvertible! Read the full story

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The details of the meeting are as follows.

Date : 14.03.2010

Time : 10.30 A.M to 5.30 P.M

Venue :

Akhila Karnataka Makkala Koota,
Pampa Mahakavi Road,
Fort, Chamarajpet,
Bangalore - 560018
(Near Kannada Sahitya Parishath, opposite City Institute Club)

The first state level Rationalist meet will be held on the 14^th of March 2010. The goals of the meet are to strengthen the Rationalist Movement in the state, to incorporate scientific temper, to fight against superstitions, miracle mongers and fundamentalism. Most importantly, we aim to encourage the youth to join the movement. We wish to have the support of people from  all walks of life. No restrictions on the numbers of members from any delegation for attending the conference. However, only two persons from each district are allowed to present a paper on the above subject.

For further details/clarifications contact by e-mail: babukadur44@gmail.com ; phone : 9886679088 and 080-41476288

B.V.V.Subbarao
Convener
Bangalore Rationalist Association

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Editor’s Note: Professor Narendra Nayak has embarked on another rationalism tour in India. This time he focuses his efforts around the Maharashtra and Karnataka regions covering large cities like Mumbai to tribal regions like Itarsi. This tour begins its first event on Feb 13^th and ends on March 7^th, a week before the Karnataka Rationalist Association meet. For more information on Prof. Nayak and his demonstrations and training programs, please see the Related posts at the bottom of this post.

February

13 - 15^th a training program at Mahad for dalith activists from all over Maharashtra. Contact person- Pravin Gangurde 98906 31933
16 - 18^th to be fixed. Contact person- Pravin Gangurde 98906 31933
18 - 19^th Thane. Contact person- Dr. Rajendra Nayak-02225854378
20 - 21^st at Itarsi, four interactions each day at an equal number of tribal villages, organised by Tribal Welfare Department of MP Govt. Contact person- Rajesh Parashar- 9425310803
22^nd at Bhopal organised by the above department. Contact person- same as above.
23 - 27^th, training program for students of social work organised by Social Development Foundation, New Delhi. Contact person- Anand-9893642880.
28^th feb at Mumbai. Contact person- Dr. Rajendra Nayak 02225854378

March

1^st at Mumbai. Contact person- Dr.Rajendra Nayak 02225854378
2^nd back to Mangalore
6 - 7^th at Alleppey organised by Kerala Yuktivadi Sangham. Contact person- Anil Kumar 9846126080

The Karnataka Rationalist Association meet at Bangalore is on the 14^th of March. Read more about it here.

Power Transmission Grid School (2009 Tour)

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The universe is and will be

No mystery lurks in far away places

Wisdom changes, it changes you

You see different, you see new

All that’s there is here right now

Here and within deep inside

A mind it is that wanders beyond

Into the world and space without

A lonely journey amid shadows

Finds and fosters unseen friends

Destiny and doom both need a face

To thank and curse as life unfolds

The universe is and will be

No mystery lurks in far away places

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