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{{Short description|Indian skeptic and rationalist (1930–2009)}}
]]
{{Redirect|Premanand|the Gujurati writer (1649–1714)|Premanand Bhatt|the Hindu saint (1784–1855)|Premanand Swami}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Basava Premanand
| image = Basava_Premanand.JPG
| caption = Basava Premanand in June 2008
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 17 February 1930
| birth_place = ], ], ]
| death_date = 4 October 2009
(aged 79)
| death_place = ], ], India
| occupation = Rationalist, skeptic, owner-writer-publisher of the monthly magazine ''The Indian Skeptic''
| networth =
| spouse =
| website =
}}


'''Basava Premanand''' is an eminent skeptic and rationalist from ], ]. He was born in ] in ]. A devotee of Indian guru ] for several years, he lost a major part of his property given to a Sai Baba Trust which he wished to manage. Disillusioned, around 1975 he turned against Sai Baba and now devotes his life to expose the so-called godmen and ] phenomena. '''Basava Premanand''' (17 February 1930 – 4 October 2009) was an Indian ] and ] from ], ]. He organised many tours around rural India for the promotion of ], exposing alleged ]s and scams carried out by various charlatans and ] while spreading awareness of dangerous ]s. Premanand was the founder of the ], the convener of ], and the owner-publisher-editor of the monthly magazine ''The Indian Skeptic'', which investigates ] claims in India.


==Early life==
Founder president of the '''Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA)''', he toures the villages of ] to educate people by debunking ] and ] whom he considers ] or ]. He also is the convener of Indian chapter of ] and publishes 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''".
In the 1940s, Premanand quit school to take part in the ]. With that his traditional schooling ended. His next seven years were spent in the newly started Sri-Steila Gurukula, where the ] brand of education was imparted.<ref name="NIC">{{cite news|url=http://www.vichar.nic.in/allinthegame/individual_30.asp |title=National Awardees for Science Popularisation |publisher=NIC |accessdate=2008-05-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410063512/http://vichar.nic.in/Allinthegame/individual_30.asp |archivedate=10 April 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> He was strongly influenced by ] in his early years and in 1976 met the ]n skeptic ] during his Miracle Exposure lecture tour in India. Since then, Premanand became a ], and succeeded Kovoor after he died in 1978.<ref name=Outlook>{{cite web|title=The Spell Breaker|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262445|publisher=Outlook|accessdate=25 June 2013|author=Rahul Singh|date=2 November 2009}}</ref>


==Activism==
]]
Around 1975 Premanand started publicly denouncing the Indian ] ], and devoted his life to exposing godmen and ] phenomena.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_world/3813469.stm | title=Sai Baba: God-man or con man? |work=BBC | date= 2004-06-17 | first=Tanya | last=Datta | accessdate = 2007-02-24}}</ref> He was arrested in 1986 by the police for marching, with 500 volunteers, towards ], the town where the guru's main ] is located; in the same year he sued Sai Baba for ] gold objects in violation of the ]. The case was dismissed, whereupon Premanand put in an appeal on the ground that spiritual power is not a defence recognised in law, which was also unsuccessful.<ref name="BBC" /> In 1993, he published his book ''Murders in Sai Baba's Bedroom,'' about the killing of six inmates at Sai Baba's ], which he claimed was overlooked by the authorities.<ref name=Outlook /> His allegations against Sai Baba further include sexual and economic offences. Premanand claimed that he survived four ]s and bore ] from beatings for his activism,<ref name=BBC /> and was known as one of Sai Baba's most vocal critics.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web|title=His harshest critics died with a wish unfulfilled|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-25/india/29470884_1_sathya-sai-baba-whitefield-ashram-miracles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928203813/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-25/india/29470884_1_sathya-sai-baba-whitefield-ashram-miracles|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2013|accessdate=27 June 2013|author=Sushil Rao|work=]|date=25 April 2011}}</ref>


Premanand used his skills as an amateur ] to try to give a natural explanation for some of the alleged ]s of gurus and godmen. ''Guru Busters'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eagletv.co.uk/projects/guru-busters.html|title=Guru Busters}}</ref> the documentary by the British filmmaker Robert Eagle,<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1010180/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=July 2022}}</ref> features Premanand displaying and teaching his own interpretation and explanation for many supposedly supernatural stunts, such as ], flesh-piercing and live burials.<ref>{{cite web|title=An Indian Skeptic's explanation of miracles|url=http://mukto-mona.net/Articles/yuktibaadi.htm|publisher=Mukto Mona|accessdate=15 May 2013}}</ref> He took an active part in the ''Vigyan Yatra'' ("Rally for Science") organised by Maharashtra Lok Vidnyan in 1982 to ], as well as in the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha held in 1987 espousing the same cause.<ref name="NIC" /> He is also credited with the formation of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANiS) in 1989.<ref name="Quack2011">{{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PA101|accessdate=27 June 2013|date=22 November 2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|pages=98, 99, 101}}</ref>
He is an amateur ] and used these skills to give a natural explanation of the alleged ] of gurus and godmen. His most famous target is the ] ] ] whom he tried to sue.


On 7 February 1997, Premanand founded the ],<ref name=Quack2011 /> which tours Indian villages to spread his natural explanations of gurus and ]s whom he considered ]s or ].<ref name="BBC" /> He was the convener of ], a ]-based skeptic group which is an affiliate of ]. He was 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".
Desribed by ] as ]'s leading guru buster, Premanand has "''been honoured by the government with its highest award for the promotion of scientific values among the public.''" (''The Telegraph'', Calcutta: Sunday, November 21, 2004)


Once referred to in a ] anti-guru show as India's leading guru-buster,<ref name="BBC" /> Premanand was "honoured by the government with its highest award for the promotion of scientific values among the public."<ref>''The Telegraph'', Calcutta: Sunday, 21 November 2004</ref>
==Books/Pamphlets authored by B.Premanand==


==The paranormal challenge==
#Science verus Miracles
In 1963, ] offered an ] to anyone who could demonstrate supernatural or miraculous powers under foolproof and fraud-proof conditions. After Kovoor's death in 1978, Premanand continued his challenge by offering INR100,000 to any person who could demonstrate psychic, supernatural of paranormal ability of any kind under satisfactorily observed conditions. This challenge has not been contested and won.<ref name=Outlook />
#Lure of Miracles
#Divine Octopus
#The Storm of Godmen, God and Diamond Smuggling
#Satya Sai Greed
#Satya Sai Baba & Gold Control Act
#Satya Sai Baba & Kerala Land Reforms Act
#Investigate Balayogi
#United Front - FIRA 2nd National Conference
#Murders in Sai Baba's bedroom by ]


==External links== ==Death==
Premanand was diagnosed with ] in 2006 and underwent major surgery. He died on 4 October 2009 at ], ] and, according to his wishes,<ref></ref> his body was donated to a local medical college. He was succeeded by ] and his property, assets and the copyright of his 26 books were given to The Federation for Indian Rationalists Association.<ref name=Outlook />
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**
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==Books and pamphlets==
{{Unreferenced section|date= April 2022}}

===In English===

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

===In Malayalam===

# ''Saibabayude Kalikal''
# ''Saidasikal Devadasikal''
# ''Pinthirippanmarude Masterplan''

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
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*


{{Skeptic Organizations}}
{{india-bio-stub}}
{{Sathya Sai Baba}}


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Latest revision as of 19:30, 20 May 2024

Indian skeptic and rationalist (1930–2009) "Premanand" redirects here. For the Gujurati writer (1649–1714), see Premanand Bhatt. For the Hindu saint (1784–1855), see Premanand Swami.

Basava Premanand
Basava Premanand in June 2008
Born17 February 1930
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Died4 October 2009 (aged 79)
Podanur, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Rationalist, skeptic, owner-writer-publisher of the monthly magazine The Indian Skeptic

Basava Premanand (17 February 1930 – 4 October 2009) was an Indian skeptic and rationalist from Kerala, India. He organised many tours around rural India for the promotion of scientific thinking, exposing alleged miracles and scams carried out by various charlatans and godmen while spreading awareness of dangerous superstitions. Premanand was the founder of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, the convener of Indian CSICOP, and the owner-publisher-editor of the monthly magazine The Indian Skeptic, which investigates paranormal claims in India.

Early life

In the 1940s, Premanand quit school to take part in the Quit India Movement. With that his traditional schooling ended. His next seven years were spent in the newly started Sri-Steila Gurukula, where the Shantiniketan-Wardha brand of education was imparted. He was strongly influenced by Helena Blavatsky in his early years and in 1976 met the Sri Lankan skeptic Abraham Kovoor during his Miracle Exposure lecture tour in India. Since then, Premanand became a critic of Theosophy, and succeeded Kovoor after he died in 1978.

Activism

Around 1975 Premanand started publicly denouncing the Indian godman Sathya Sai Baba, and devoted his life to exposing godmen and paranormal phenomena. He was arrested in 1986 by the police for marching, with 500 volunteers, towards Puttaparthi, the town where the guru's main ashram is located; in the same year he sued Sai Baba for materializing gold objects in violation of the Gold Control Act. The case was dismissed, whereupon Premanand put in an appeal on the ground that spiritual power is not a defence recognised in law, which was also unsuccessful. In 1993, he published his book Murders in Sai Baba's Bedroom, about the killing of six inmates at Sai Baba's ashram, which he claimed was overlooked by the authorities. His allegations against Sai Baba further include sexual and economic offences. Premanand claimed that he survived four murder attempts and bore injuries from beatings for his activism, and was known as one of Sai Baba's most vocal critics.

Premanand used his skills as an amateur magician to try to give a natural explanation for some of the alleged miracles of gurus and godmen. Guru Busters, the documentary by the British filmmaker Robert Eagle, features Premanand displaying and teaching his own interpretation and explanation for many supposedly supernatural stunts, such as levitation, flesh-piercing and live burials. He took an active part in the Vigyan Yatra ("Rally for Science") organised by Maharashtra Lok Vidnyan in 1982 to popularise science and scientific thinking, as well as in the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha held in 1987 espousing the same cause. He is also credited with the formation of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANiS) in 1989.

On 7 February 1997, Premanand founded the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, which tours Indian villages to spread his natural explanations of gurus and fakirs whom he considered frauds or self-deceived. He was the convener of Indian CSICOP, a Tamil Nadu-based skeptic group which is an affiliate of CSICOP. He was 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".

Once referred to in a BBC anti-guru show as India's leading guru-buster, Premanand was "honoured by the government with its highest award for the promotion of scientific values among the public."

The paranormal challenge

In 1963, Abraham Kovoor offered an award of INR100,000 to anyone who could demonstrate supernatural or miraculous powers under foolproof and fraud-proof conditions. After Kovoor's death in 1978, Premanand continued his challenge by offering INR100,000 to any person who could demonstrate psychic, supernatural of paranormal ability of any kind under satisfactorily observed conditions. This challenge has not been contested and won.

Death

Premanand was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and underwent major surgery. He died on 4 October 2009 at Podanur, Tamil Nadu and, according to his wishes, his body was donated to a local medical college. He was succeeded by Narendra Nayak and his property, assets and the copyright of his 26 books were given to The Federation for Indian Rationalists Association.

Books and pamphlets

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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

In Malayalam

  1. Saibabayude Kalikal
  2. Saidasikal Devadasikal
  3. Pinthirippanmarude Masterplan

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Awardees for Science Popularisation". NIC. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ Rahul Singh (2 November 2009). "The Spell Breaker". Outlook. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. ^ Datta, Tanya (17 June 2004). "Sai Baba: God-man or con man?". BBC. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  4. Sushil Rao (25 April 2011). "His harshest critics died with a wish unfulfilled". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  5. "Guru Busters".
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1010180/
  7. "An Indian Skeptic's explanation of miracles". Mukto Mona. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  8. ^ Johannes Quack (22 November 2011). Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India. Oxford University Press. pp. 98, 99, 101. ISBN 978-0-19-981260-8. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  9. The Telegraph, Calcutta: Sunday, 21 November 2004
  10. James Randi Educational Foundation Obituary

External links

Skeptic organizations
Sathya Sai Baba
Devotees
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