Prominent Hindu intellectuals who spoke against Astrology
India, a land of diversity
A wonderful melting pot of cultures,
customs,
languages, religions and philosophies.
Since ancient times, the subcontinent has been home to contrasting,
often conflicting schools of thought like Vedanta,
Samkhya, Yoga,
Mimamsa, Charvaka and more.
Thus,
technological achievements based on science and traditions based purely on faith
coexisted on this land.
Though  modern India is a secular state,
faith and beliefs play a vital role in the lives of the majority of its citizens.
Our patronage of music and arts, the celebration of
vibrant festivals, our bond with nature and
environmental conservation
are all primarily based on traditions passed down through the generations.
However, those traditions and practices
leave the windows open for
mysticism and supernatural to enter our lives.
Superstitions and
pseudo-sciences are so common in our culture and day to day life that we fail to even recognize their harmful effects.
This is now a multi-million dollar industry in India with different forms like Vaastu,
astrology,
numerology, pranic healing and hundreds more.
And they earn their fortunes without ever having to manufacture any real products or prove any results.
So, at a glance, this business model seems simply unstoppable.
But, all is not lost!
A group of young Indians, wearing the armour of science are on a journey to change the course.
In this fight against superstition,
their weapon of choice is
Reason.
Today we are at portafilter in Hyderabad
India's first Humanism themed coffee house.
Let us meet the Riders and hear their story.
Reason or reasoning is associated with understanding things through
observation, verifying facts, applying logic and thinking.
That has been the way of science and progress.
So when we decided to take up this ride to challenge the unscientific practices,
exploitation and business based on these pseudo Sciences, we could not think of a more apt name Ride for Reason
The Ride started from this very coffee house on August 3rd 2019.
The initial plan was an 11-day circuit of
2,500 kilometers across the two Indian states of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
We spent weeks in planning the route, awareness sessions, places to rest
meetings to attend, etc. But there was one unexpected aspect that jumped into the scene.
From the very first day it was raining constantly the entire week,
literally every bit of our route.
An unforeseen weather change and floods hit the two states
forcing the riders to make a choice.
Either push forward in those difficult conditions or turn around and return to safety.
Their choice was clear.
We unanimously agreed to ride forward because it was clear in our minds that our journey was not just about
making a statement
It symbolizes an ideological battle between the scientific method and deep-rooted
superstitions. So we could not let that opportunity slip away or turn into a disappointing failed
expedition.
Moreover having a team of responders constantly behind us in the caravan was very reassuring
So it was not arrogance but a carefully planned
calculated risk. Of course safety was certainly the priority.
I view superstitions and pseudo-sciences as the single greatest threat to scientific development and human progress.
I know when we think of the word superstition we might feel that it is just some silly beliefs around
black cats, good time and bad time based on astrology,
talismans on your wrist are
just changing the English spelling of your name into a ridiculous way based on numerology.
We would of course feel,
"How can you be so dangerous,
they are just silly but harmless."
So in the awareness sessions with students my responsibility during the Icebreaker was
Not just an introduction of the team or speak about the purpose of our visit
I wanted to make them understand that when people especially children
accept to believe that a normal cat crossing our path or a lizard on the wall could somehow
affect us negatively
We are making ourselves
vulnerable to many more forms of unscientific notions
the more a person is willing to believe in such claims the more they lose the ability to
Differentiate reality and lives because their criteria and rules with which they understand the physical world are compromised
My thought was when writing is our passion. Why don't we do it for a worthy? Cause
But not everything was smiles and fun time to shift gears
In Hyderabad(India),
a 6-months-old baby
In Hyderabad(India), a 6-months-old baby
was beheaded.
She was beheaded, her torso disposed,
and her severed head was placed under the moonlight.
That happened in a major metropolitan city like Hyderabad!
Do you know why?
Because a tribal priest was able to convince an educated urban-dweller
that human sacrifice will grant him wealth!
The sacrifice was so barbaric that she was unrecognizable even to her mother!
She was only 6-months-old,
with all her life ahead.
All because of Superstitions.
Only because of Superstitions!
Why are we all not speaking against it?
Because that didn't happen to us.
Because the victims are not related to us, right?
Imagine the victim was our sister, daughter or mother,
would we stay silent?
[Everyone]: NEVER!
Then, we need to speak up every time!
Inculcate scientific temper.
Question all superstitious practices.
Black Magic, Voodoo, Astrology are all unscientific superstitions,
aren't they?
[Everyone]: YES, SIR!
So, if someone approaches you with these pseudosciences,
always remember what you learned from your teachers.
Always remember the scientific way. Rely on knowledge based on research studies and not predictions or prophecies.
If I said and the calmest and most peaceful
Really I need on the stage and I'm surprised that not your people are angry at the horrific state of our society
because of superstitions
When you read the news of a three-month-old, baby
beheaded on an open terrace
Because a pamphlet told the man that sacrificing the baby did in the super blood moon eclipse under the open sky
will grant him health and wealth
How can one not be angry?
Human sacrifice in the 21st century. I am angry and I'm shocked at anyone who is not angry at such a tragedy
Human sacrifices and witch hunts are not uncommon in India
This is a very organised business with a lot of lobbying power and that is the reason
they can silence anyone who your question and challenge their business practices.
As we all know, they maintain strong connections in elite circles
including media and political.
But we are determined not to let that fear
dishearten us.
Of course, we have a powerful weapon with us also
Truth!
Pseudoscience businesses don’t work the same way our corporate offices work.
You cannot file a complaint about their product quality or call a customer centre
saying “your predictions were wrong or your pyramid hat is not working properly”
So, how do we counter such whose business is built on the public’s gullibility instead of need?
Well, the most efficient and effective way is education and mass awareness.
Does everyone here know what the Sun is?
[Everyone]:  Yes, sir!
Tell me, is the Sun a star or a planet?
planet?
Is the Sun a star or a planet?
planet!
planet
Raised your hands if you think otherwise.
Is the Sun a star or a planet?
[Everyone]: Star!
you?
[Everyone]: Star!
[Chuckles]
So, everyone here heard of "Astrology", right?
[Everyone]: Yes sir
We come across "Daily Horoscope" predictions on the TV, first thing in the morning! Some astrologers buy [commercial] air time even on the news channels. Isn't it?
[Everyone]: Yes sir
But, hear me, the basic premise of Astrology is that Sun is not a Star but a planet. As per Astrology, Sun is a planet that moves from one constellation to another, along with other planets, thus affecting our lives on Earth.
Remind me, what is the Sun?
[Everyone]: A STAR!
Right! That is science!
When people realize the truth that superstitions destroy lives,
people are just wasting their money, time and resources on things that can never possible help them,
they will voluntarily let go these pseudosciences.
The public will eventually make the right choice.
Throughout history,
we have made mistakes, fought wars, treated each other badly, oppressed people of different colour or class, but
eventually, we accepted our mistakes, worked together to find better ways to live, and
improved ourselves, together.
At times,
I hear people complain about their bad phase in life due to their horoscope or zodiac signs. I’m surprised,
what is the point of the ‘bad horoscope’ when science and common sense had already concluded that
horoscope is baseless and unscientific
“Planets don’t care about you, your moods, your relationships, your life.
Take control of your own life”
In India
especially in vilages
people believe in black magics and witchcrafts.
and there was an example
before a couple of years
where a man was killing because the villagers suspected that he is doing black magic and
witchcraft
So as a responsible citizen and as a responsible group
Babu Gogineni Humanists & Rationalists arena
We went to the village,
village name is Theratigudem
and we backed the family who lost the person
We came across a situation before a couple of weeks when we were about to start the ride
The incident happened in Kurnool where a mother along with her three months old daughter have committed suicide just because
her family
along with the husband thought
that the girl's birth, the three months girl's birth
had gave them lot of misfortune
Not only this there are a lot of marriages that are getting disturbed and there are lot of lovers who are getting apart
Just because the families are thinking that the horoscope is not getting matched
This is atrocious and people are still believe in superstitions like Vaastu.
I don't know whether there is an English word for Vaastu
You know stones that are sold
by their quality
color stones, especially
and they are incurring a lot of financial burden just because of believing these kind of things
It is high time to choose whether we accept the Pseudo-Sciences as our heritage
Or acknowledge the inquisitive and scientific nature of Aryabhatta
Bhaskara
as our true culture and heritage.
Ride for Reason is an extension of our ongoing Humanist, Rationalist movement in India. More than ever
today people from various parts of the world are embracing science and scientific method to observe analyze and
understand the world and the universe
Thanks to the Internet and social media. Many like-minded individuals from different walks of life are working together in
Babu Gogineni Facebook group. I had a pleasure of meeting my fellow riders there
while working
for other awareness campaigns and training sessions.
In India especially in the southern part of the country
many organizations like Jana vignana vedika, Andhra Pradesh Rationalist Association, MANS in Maharashtra,
DKRA in Karnataka have been working tirelessly to create scientific awareness, develop rationalism
and eradicate superstitions from day to day life. In the past
eminent leaders like AT Kavoor, Basava Premanand,
Goparaju Ramachandra Rao
and Ravipudi Venkatadri
pioneered the movement to battle exploitation
and deception of public in the name of superstitions and beliefs.
In the past few decades
the moment he is being helmed by stalwarts like Narendra Nayak,
Babu Gogineni and late Narendra Dabholkar, who have been working closely to bring awareness through mediums like
TV discussion, public meetings, lectures in colleges,
Social media, etc
With their inspiration,
we wanted to fulfill the long-standing role of legislation to protect people against
superstitions and pseudo-scientific business practices
with the varied effectiveness anti superstition laws exist in a few states like Bihar,
Rajasthan, Odisha,
Karnataka and Maharashtra
So we are submitting the representation to political leaders and
bureaucrats
for this legislation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Since it is a public interest bill
we thought the best way to create awareness and gather support for this law
is by going into the people directly.
For example
Many false claims are used to confuse us
by attributing the false glory to our history
instead of our true scientific achievements and heritage
we must be proud of our ancestors contribution to human civilization like invention of zero
But not further false claims like Vimana Shastra or Internet in Mahabharata
which are anti-intellectuals.
After planning the initial route map we reached out on all the members and
supporting groups to assist us with setting up the training sessions and meetings in various locations
Though it was an idea that started in my head
we were able to continuously improvise the plans and made it better mainly because of their support and efforts
We can never forget
the kind of affection and support which we have received from our friends. Hundreds of Humanists came
together at every meeting
and worked in the background
to make Ride for Reason successful.
and our Riders are forever grateful to every one of them.
On behalf of Babu Gogineni Facebook Group and Indian Humanists,
and with the support from TripByRoad.com,
we have taken up this campaign.
Our journey will go through Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,
along with 1 Union Territory (Yanam, Pondicherry)
covering a total distance of 2500 Km.
Superstitions are spreading in our society at an alarming rate,
even costing people's lives.
There are many cases of homeless children being sacrificed and paranoid people committing suicides along with their families.
We aim to address all those incidents through our ride,
demand effective legislation against superstitious practices and more importantly, create awareness with our ride.
The Riders traveled for 13 days and three thousand kilometers
covered 23 destinations, met dozens of government officials,
hundreds of activists and thousands of students and
kindled the fire of science and reason in those young minds
while celebrating the resounding success,
the team is also working on new ways to take their message far and wide and the need for legislation
The anti-superstition bill which the team is rallying for,
will be a crucial tool in protecting the public from exploitation in the name of superstitions and
pseudo-sciences. However, the true responsibility is upon all of us to
build a generation, a country and a world that has robust immunity against such
anti-scientific notions and regressive practices.
in other words
