Basava Premanand

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Basava Premanand is an eminent skeptic and rationalist from Tamil Nadu, India.

Contents

[edit] History

Around 1975 Premanand started publicly denounced the Indian godman, Sathya Sai Baba, and now devotes his life to expose the godmen and paranormal phenomena.[1]

Originally an amateur magician and uses these skills in an attempt to give a natural explanation of the alleged miracles of gurus and godmen. Since 1976 his most famous target is Sathya Sai Baba.[1]

Premanand was arrested in 1986 by the police for marching, together with 500 volunteers towards Puttaparthi, the town where the main ashram of the guru is located. In the same year he sued Sathya Sai Baba for violation of the Gold Control Act for Sathya Sai Baba's materializations of gold objects. The case was dismissed, but Premanand appealed on the ground that spiritual power is not a defence recognised in law.[1]

He later founded the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, which tours the villages of India to educate people by debunking gurus and fakirs whom he considers frauds or self deceived.[1] He also is the convener of Indian CSICOP, a Tamil Nadu based skeptic group which is an affiliate of CSICOP. He is the owner-publisher-editor of the monthly magazine, The Indian Skeptic, which "publishes articles on the scientific investigation of apparently paranormal occurrences with a special emphasis on cases from India".

Described by BBC as India's leading guru buster[1], Basava Premanand has "been honoured by the government with its highest award for the promotion of scientific values among the public."[2]

[edit] The Challenge of Basava Premanand

In 1963, Abraham Kovoor offered an award of INR 100,000 for anyone who could demonstrate supernatural or miraculous powers under fool-proof and fraud-proof conditions. After the death of Abraham Kovoor in 1978, Basava Premanand continued his challenge by offering INR 100,000 to any person who would demonstrate any psychic, supernatural of paranormal ability of any kind under satisfactory observing conditions. The challenge remains uncontested.

[edit] Books/Pamphlets authored by Premanand

[edit] In English

  1. Science versus Miracles
  2. Lure of Miracles
  3. Divine Octopus
  4. The Storm of Godmen, God and Diamond Smuggling
  5. Satya Sai Greed
  6. Satya Sai Baba & Gold Control Act
  7. Satya Sai Baba & Kerala Land Reforms Act
  8. Investigate Balayogi
  9. United Front - FIRA 2nd National Conference
  10. Murders in Sai Baba's Bedroom
  11. A. T. Kovoor Octogenary Souvenir

[edit] In Malayalam

  1. Saibabayude Kalikal Transalated by Johnson Eyeroor(http://www.hypnotradition.com/director.html)
  2. Saidasikal Devadasikal
  3. Pinthirippanmarude Masterplan

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Datta, Tanya. "Sai Baba: God-man or con man?", BBC, 17 June, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
  2. ^ The Telegraph, Calcutta: Sunday, November 21, 2004

[edit] External links

Sathya Sai Baba
v • d • e
Shirdi Sai Baba · Prema Sai Baba ·Sathya Sai Baba Movement · Sathya Sai Organisation · Sri Sathya Sai University
Other related articles
Bibliography · Prashanthi Nilayam · Puttaparthi · Sai Global Harmony · Sanathana Sarathi ·Shrinivas Sugandhalaya
Followers
Bill Aitken · Vladimir Antonov · Joan Brown · Alice Coltrane · Maynard Ferguson · Dana Gillespie · Erlendur Haraldsson · Abdul Kalam · Narayana Kasturi · Girija Prasad Koirala · Howard Murphet · P. V. Narasimha Rao · Arnold Schulman · Isaac Tigrett · Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Critics
Tal Brooke · Abraham Kovoor · H. Narasimhaiah · Basava Premanand · Robert Priddy
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