From Abimanyu Nagarajan
Fear not for rationalist Sanal Edamaruku, facing arrest for debunking claims of a miracle at a Catholic church in Mumbai (30 June, p 27). He is a great guy who works tirelessly to stamp out ignorance, and nothing has happened to him yet.
I still recall one instance a couple of years back involving a tantrik, who claimed he could kill with curses and cure with magic. Supposedly, even powerful politicians consulted him. Edamaruku called his bluff, and challenged the magic man to kill him with a curse on live TV.
Of course, the mumbo jumbo failed. If you want to watch the encounter, it is still on .
From Paul Nash
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The supposed miracle in Mumbai reminds me of a time when some Hindu school students told me that their parents had taken them to a shrine of Ganesh, the deity portrayed with an elephant’s head, where they were shown a statue of the god weeping tears of milk. Diplomatic considerations meant that I only allowed myself an oblique sceptical response.
I hope that Edamaruku manages to avoid jail for his worthy countercultural efforts.
Dublin, Eire
Kolkata, India
