Basava Premanand

From Free net encyclopedia


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

Contents

[edit]

Basava Premanand and Sathya Sai Baba

Born in Calcutta in 1930, Basava Premanand was a devotee of Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba for several years during which period he donated a major part of his property to a Sai Baba Trust. Around 1975 he turned against the guru, and now devotes his life to expose Sathya Sai Baba and paranormal phenomena.

Premanand is an amateur magician and uses these skills to give a natural explanation of the alleged miracles of gurus and godmen. His most famous target of course is Sathya Sai Baba whom he tried to sue.


Founder president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), Premanand tours the villages of India to educate people by debunking gurus and fakirs whom he considers frauds or self deceived. 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, Basava 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)

[edit]

The Challenge of Basava Premanand

In 1963, Abraham Kovoor offered an award of Rs. 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 Rs.100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Indian Rupees) to any person who will demonstrate any psychic, supernatural of paranormal ability of any kind under satisfactory observing conditions. The challenge remains uncontested.

[edit]

Books/Pamphlets authored by B.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 excerpts, review and pictures by Robert Priddy
  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]

External links

[edit]

Critical Viewpoints

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Basava_Premanand"