Do not be fooled when a godman lights fire to a coconut using combinations of ash and white powder. It is not miracle, but science when potassium permanganate (used as ash) reacts with glycerine.
Slain rationalist and founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) Narendra Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta and anti-superstition activist Prashant Potdar visited the Azim Premji University on Thursday for a talk on cultivating scientific temper. “We don’t ask people to denounce God or religion. We are only against the exploitation that takes places in the name of God,” Mukta said.
Superstition is the black market practice in the field of devotion, she said. “It is important to be spiritual without having to follow mindless practices. We support beliefs that make better human beings,” Mukta said.
Dabholkar, who spearheaded the fight against superstitious practices in Maharashtra, was killed by unidentified assailants in August. The 67-year old founded MANS in 1989.
She said there was a thin line between faith and superstition. MANS conducts awareness programmes with school and college students and said it was important to educate parents.
The talk ended with Potdar demonstrating the tricks employed by godmen in proclaimed miracles.