‘All PM Narendra Modi has to do is call rationalism part of our ethos’ | The Indian Express

For over three years now, Sanal Edamaruku, the president of the Indian Rationalist Association, has lived in Helsinki, ever since he challenged the Church and had to flee the country facing a case of blasphemy as well as several death threats. Speaking over the phone from Finland, Edamaruku says M M Kalburgi’s murder and the threat to his own life are an outcome of growing intolerance in India to critical enquiry, with extremists from across religions becoming “increasingly aggressive and increasingly violent”.
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He still gets threatening messages, Edamaruku adds. “One such message says that if I don’t apologise to the bishop, I will die a very painful death.”

The government can send a message, he believes. “The simple thing is for the national political class to issue a statement. If the Prime Minister was to say that critical, scientific temper and rationalism are part of our ethos, and that the attacks on rationalists will not be tolerated, it would be a good beginning. But I have seen no such statement.”

‘All PM Narendra Modi has to do is call rationalism part of our ethos’ | The Indian Express

'Rampal is a fraudster who exploits the gullible common man' - Hindustan Times

Sanal Edamaruku, India’s ‘miracle buster’, is the president of Indian Rationalist Association and also the Rationalist International based in Helsinki. He was forced to flee to Finland two years ago after several complaints were lodged against him under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, a British-era law that seeks to punish anyone who, “deliberately and maliciously attempts to harm the religious feelings of another.”

Edamaruku, who has an Mphil degree in international Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, had accused the church of being anti-science and mocked the Pope for condoning exorcism, during a TV debate following his debunking of the case of "miracle" water dripping from a statue of Jesus in a Mumbai church.

He speaks to KumKum Dasgupta on godmen, the ongoing drama around Rampal Maharaj in Haryana, and why godmen thrive in India.

'Rampal is a fraudster who exploits the gullible common man' - Hindustan Times