Prabir Ghosh
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Prabir Ghosh is the head of the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India, based in Kolkata. He is sometimes referred to in the media as being from the "Rationalist Association of India." He is the author of a number of Bengali language books debunking supernatural claims, and his association's website describes him as "the scourge of every guru, godman, fakir, faith-healer and fat swami for a hundred miles of his home." He and colleagues from his organization sometimes publicly demonstrate the same feats performed by "holy men," explaining that they are tricks and not the result of supernatural powers.
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[edit] Prabir's $50,000 challenge to any person with miracle powers
Since 1985 Prabir has thrown a challenge of 2.4 million Indian rupees ($ 50,000) towards any Godman, or person who claims to possess miracle powers, and to astrologers who claim they can foresee people's future. Prabir rubbishes such claims and as a social responsibility uses the challenge as a weapon to combat the corruptions of the society like Godmen and Astrologers. Since 1985 more than 500 astrologers and 250 Godmen have come face to face with Prabir in front of the media, and have faced defeat. This challenge is similar to the 1 million USD challenge offered by James Randi.
[edit] Biography
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Born on 1st March 1945, Prabir spent his early childhood in railway towns of Kharagpur and Adra. Growing up with god-fearing parents in this multicultural township, Prabir had keen interest in gods and godmen. As a child he spent hours with these religious people. As a result, he learned magic and all the other tricks these godmen practiced, at a very young age.
Teacher Subhendu Roy instilled in him, the interest in sociology and in the power of political motivation behind all human endeavors. He grew up have keen interest in politics and developed excellent oratorical skill.
In his college days, he started writing in premier Bengali magazines and dailies. An avid reader, his interests include anthropology, archeology, history, psychology, sociology and of course, politics. As a result, his understanding of the human mind as an individual and the social human being as a species is vast. With this knowledge of the human mind, his keen sense of politics gives him an insight and a rare understanding of all human problems.
He has also completed four collection of series meant for young readers who wish to grow up. Topics like psychology, history, sociology and politics are discussed by way of story-telling.
Aware of party programmes of all political parties , and their failures and effectiveness, he realized the importance of “Rationalism” as a school of thought which should be systematically developed . Once the Rationalists’ Association was established, he had to face severe animosity from various spiritual and religious groups.
[edit] Books by Prabir Ghosh
| Name | Name in English | Remark |
| Aloukik noy Loukik (Vol-I) | Nothing is Supernatural(Vol-I) | Subjects on ‘Parapsychology’, like ESP, Telepathy, Precognition, Clairvoyance, Psycho-Kinesis are discussed elaborately.
Various godmen of the world has been exposed in this volume and their claims on supernaturalism debunked. (Pages - 264) |
| Aloukik noy Loukik (Vol-II) | Nothing is Supernatural (Vol-II) | In this volume, ‘exorcism’, ‘witchcraft’, ‘being possessed by god or demon’ have been scientifically explained. Elaborate discussion about the reasons behind these superstitious beliefs is there.(Pages - 351) |
| Aloukik noy Loukik (Vol-III) | Nothing is Supernatural (Vol-III) | In-depth study on Astrology as against Astronomy is the theme of this part. Belief on stones & amulets, metal tablets has been discussed scientifically. Apart from this, predictions of Nostradamus have been discussed and explained.(Pages - 306) |
| Aloukik noy Loukik (Vol-IV) | Nothing is Supernatural (Vol-IV) | Soul, Spiritualism, Planchette, Reincarnation---- 12 such incidents narrated by Parapsychologists have been scientifically explained in this volume. It also explains how status-quo is being maintained in our social-system. In order to change the system, we should know its basis. (Pages - 240 ) |
| Aloukik noy Loukik (Vol-V) | Nothing is Supernatural (Vol-V) | Definition of religion as an institution; the advent of religion, the views of various Sociologists and Archaeologists;Atheism, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Contemporary Rationalism and Marxism; details on Yoga and Tantra, with all these discussed with insight(Pages - 256) |
| Ami Kano Ishwar-e Biswas Kori Na? | Why I Don’t believe in God ? | An array of arguments in favor of religious faith or belief in god are brought in. Various points as expressed by believers from all walks of life –from a destitute to a Nobel-laureate are discussed and discarded with counter-argument. (Pages - 216 ) |
| Sanskriti-Sanghrasho-O-Nirman | Cultural Revolution : the struggle and the formation | This book is the Manifesto of The Science and Rationalists’ Association of India. It is a veritable text-book for those who believe in the necessity of Cultural Revolution. The Indian Constitution, Religious fanaticism , Secularism etc. have been discussed in a new light by way of a guideline to drastic cultural/ social change. (Pages - 255) |
| Probad-Sanskar-Kusanskar (Vol-I) | Adages, practices, superstitions and hearsay (Vol-I) | Ancient and modern adages in alphabetical order are compiled and analyzed meticulously-one can call it a dictionary of adages with specialized comments on each. (Pages - 256) |
| Dharma-Seba-Sammohan | Religion-Charity-Hypnotism | Collection of essays on various social and human malaise from the rational point of view. Topics discussed- Hypnotism, Mob-violence, Credibility of News-Media, Secularism, the role of NGOs funded from abroad. (Pages - 120) |
| Shadhinotar Por Bharoter Jwalanto Samasya | The burning issues of post independent India | As evident from the name, this collection has topics like 50 years of Indian Independence, free-thinking in Bangladesh , the inside story of “sex-worker’s” movement , Kashmir Movement : a Historic Manifesto and Corruption. (Pages - 176) |
| Juktibadir Chokhe Narimukti | Women’s liberation through Rational Eye | Women’s liberation and feminism has got a new perspective in this collection. Through rational analysis, a new concept “Humanistic Feminism ” has emerged. Feminist movement throughout the world at different times have been discussed. (Pages - 168) |
| Juktibadir Challenger-ra (Vol.-I) | The confrontation with rationalists | Collection of real-life stories – a first hand account of thrilling challenges faced and won by Gurubusters Prabir and Rationalists’ Association. (Pages - 176) |
| Dui Banglar Juktibadider Chokhe Dharma | Religion as seen by Rationalists of Bengal - East and West | As evident from the name , it is a collection of essays by the Rationalists of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The topic of religion has been dealt from various angles by 30 eminent Bengali writers.
(Pages - 319) |
| Aloukik Drishti Rahasya | The mystery of miraculous vision | Genre-fiction (Pages - 111) |
| Pinky O Aloukik Baba | Pinky and the godman | (Pages - 84) |
| Aloukik Rahasya Sandhane Pinky | Pinky , chasing the supernatural mysteries | Genre-fiction {Pages - 128) |
| Aloukik Rahasya Jaale Pinky | Pinky trapped in miraculous mysteries | Genre-fiction (Pages - 128)Exciting real life incidents revealing various paranormal mysteries specially meant for young readers. |
| Kashmir Samasya: Ekti Aitihasik Dalil | Kashmir Issue: a historical manifesto | (Pages - 48) |
| Bhute Bhar | ‘Being Possessed’ (By Demon) | (Pages - 48 ) |
| Jyotish Banam Bigyan | Astrology Vs Science – Pamphlet | (Pages - 54) |
| Biswa Quiz | World Quiz | |
| Yuktibadi-r Challenger-ra(Vol-II) | The confrontation with rationalists | During the last 5 years after volume-I, the rationalists (Yuktibadis) faced more than 200 challenges and each and every case they came out successful. Top ten such incidents of exposing social or medical myths, or debunking religious hocus-pocus have been narrated in this book . |
| Is Mother Teresa on her path to sainthood? What is behind the beatification of this soul? |
[edit] See also
- Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
- James Randi and his $1 million challenge against the paranormal
- Narendra Nayak is another rationalist Indian that is campaigning against so-called miracles and quacks
- Basava Premanand
[edit] External links
- Prabir's Homepage
- Science and Rationalists' Association of India
- What's Mother Teresa Got to Do with It?, Time magazine - Ghosh offers $40,000 if an alleged miracle can be repeated. (See also The BBC article)
