India: The lingering Ayodhya dispute is a conflict between history and faith | Garga Chatterjee

The Friday Times, Issue: 06 Dec 2013

Faithless debates
by Garga Chatterjee

The lingering Ayodhya dispute is a conflict between history and faith

Some debates do not die. They remain unresolved, as they are not debates unto themselves but venting spouts for other concerns and tendencies. The strengthening and weakening of the concerns affect the vigour with which the debate is carried out.

Bravo comrade Karat for demanding a federal law against superstition, black magic

The Hindu
Mumbai, December 2, 2013

Karat demands Central Act against superstition, black magic

Staff Reporter

CPI(M) general-secretary addressed rally marking 100 days since Dr. Dabholkar’s murder

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general-secretary Prakash Karat on Monday demanded a Central Act to prohibit superstition and black-magic.

He was speaking at the rally organised here to mark the

India: Tax payers' money used by Govt of Uttarakhand state to pay for big advertisement in media which seeks divine blessings for rebuilding state infrastructure

Full page advertisement in India's newspapers by Uttrakhand Govt. seeking devine blessings for rebuilding the flood ravaged state.

The ad. announces the resumption of prayers at Kedarnath temple.

Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, was also scheduled to attend the prayers along with some of his ministerial colleagues, could not take off from Dehradun due to inclement weather.

India: Business of Faith - Arrest of Asaram Bapu by Ram Puniyani

Business of Faith

Ram Puniyani

Our society has seen severe turmoil’s in the name of religion during last three decades in particular. While on one side we see that issues related to religion’s identity are trying to occupy the center stage, we also are witnessing the emergence of thousands of self proclaimed ‘Godmen’, supposed to be having divine powers. They do also claim and sometimes the

India: Reason must triumph over blind faith (Praful Bidwai)

THE assassination of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune is a black mark on Indian society. Forces of intolerance, superstition, irrationality and reaction killed him not because he threatened their faith or freedom, but because he was against exploiting people through black magic, sorcery, and sleights-of-hand while invoking supernatural powers.
http://www.sacw.net/article5457.

India: The Advantages of Being Asaram Bapu

From: India Ink / NY Times, August 30, 2013
The Advantages of Being Asaram Bapu
By SNIGDHA POONAM
Strdel/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Spiritual leader Asaram Bapu during a ceremony in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on Aug. 11.

Asumal Sirumalani, a popular Indian spiritual leader who is known to his followers as Asaram Bapu, has fought a long battle against sex.

At his crowded satsangs (spiritual

India's Dept of Personnel Peddles Biased Religious Text for Training of Administrators

http://tinyurl.com/mozxetd