INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISM
Indian Rationalist Association
P.O.Box 9110, New Delhi 110 091, India
Phone:+91-11-8539526 Fax:+91-11-2256042
E-mail:sakth-@giasdla.vsnl.net.in
ALLIANCE BULLETIN-7 14 February 1999 All reports and informations in this bulletin can be reproduced by
recipients. Please acknowledge the source while reproducing:
"Alliance Against Fundamentalism Bulletin".
SALMAN RUSHDIE GETS
VISA FOR INDIA
Salman Rushdie,born in Bombay in 1947,the year of India's independence, has been granted a five year multiple entry visa for India for the first time since 1989, when his controversial book "Satanic Verses" was banned in India. Rushdie's troubles in his homeland began in 1988 when India became the first country to ban his novel. Rushdie spent nearly a decade in hiding after Iran's late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for his death in 1989 because of the novel "Satanic Verses". Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi in September last year distanced his government from the death decree, making Rushdie feel freer to travel. Rushdie has been expressing his interest to come to India, meet his friends and also take possession of his ancestral property in Solan in Himachal Pradesh.Considering that India has played a crucial role in developing his sensibilities and has been the backdrop for many of his works, it is natural that India should occupy a special place in his heart. The Indian Rationalist Association and the Alliance against Fundamentalism have been demanding since long for allowing Rushdie to visit India, and for the lifting of the ban of "Satanic Verses". The peremptory ban of Satanic Verses to pander the most extreme and vocal elements among Muslims was against the Indian tradition and constitutional guarantee of free speech.It is heartening that the views of the silent but reasonable majority of Indians who are committed to freedom of expression are heard now. An early lifting of the ban of the novel becomes important now. Rushdie's lawyer said that the author plans to turn his family home into an arts centre. Rushdie is expected to arrive India during this spring. FREDERICO MAYOR,
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO
IN NEW DELHI
The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Frederico Mayor, has visited New Delhi in the first week of February. He laid the foundation stone for the new UNESCO House in the Indian capital. Mr Mayor awarded five Indian organisations for their work for literacy. The UNESCO will intensify its presence in India in the coming years and strengthen the co-operation with Indian organisations. Culture for Peace is the motto of the work for the year 2000, which will be observed as the "Year of Culture for Peace" by the United Nations. The Alliance against Fundamentalism is preparing a project under this framework. "MIRACLES OF FAITH?"
ON FEBRUARY 16
"Miracles of Faith?" featuring the "Ganesh Milk Miracle"
in India of September 1995 (claimed by some as the miracle of the century) is
going out on the BBC cable channel UK Horizons on February 16th at It is believed that thousands Ganesh (a Hindu god with elephant face) statues in numerous temples consumed unlimited quantity of milk during this "miracle". Sanal Edamaruku, Secretary General of Indian Rationalist Association explained the phenomenon in the national and international TV channels on the same day, and later tried to trace the beginnings of this strange "miracle". Sanal Edamaruku appears in the UK Horizons programme on February 16. Also in this programme appears Jo Nickell of the CSICOP who shows how to create an image like that of the Shroud of Turin. In another programme in this series called "Electric Hands", on healers and dowsers, James Randi appears. (Exact date of the telecast is not available at this moment). After seeing "Miracles of Faith?" on February 16, you are welcome to send your comments to Sanal Edamaruku sanalindi-@hotmail.com
SECOND INTERNATIONAL RATIONALIST CONFERENCE
AND THE
GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF
INDIAN RATIONALIST ASSOCIATION
Some Responses
"....I would be interested in attending your conference...."
-James Randi
(James Randi Educational Foundation)
USA
"....I shall do my very best to try to fit in the Congress in my
planning for December."
-Levi Fragell
(President, International Humanist and Ethical Union)
NORWAY
Plan your India trip in December 1999.
Academic Seminar on 23-24 December 1999
International Conference on 26-31 December 1999
(Plenary sessions, symposium, group discussions,
music, traditional dances...)
Meet like-minded people from around the world.
Enjoy freedom from the millennium blitz.
Experience the tranquility of Kerala.
For more details, contact:
Indian Rationalist Association sakth-@giasdla.vsnl.net.in
MODERN FREETHINKER
A monthly journal from Indian Rationalist Association
Editor-in-chief: Sanal Edamaruku
Executive Editor: K G Gopal
MODERN FREETHINKER, the monthly journal of the Indian Rationalist
Association gets an all new appearance from April 1999 issue onwards.
Thought-provoking articles and essays. Views and news.
Annual subscription overseas (including postage).... US$ 25 Subscription for 5 years overseas (including postage)US$ 100 Life subscription overseas (including postage)...... US$ 200
Support the courageous fight of Indian Rationalists against superstitions, blind belief, religious bigotry and intolerance. Strengthen the onward march towards a reasonable new world.
Please send your subscription cheque favoring
Indian Rationalist Association
779, Pocket 5, Mayur Vihar 1,
(P O Box 9110), New Delhi 110091,
INDIA.
Alliance Bulletin reaches a world wide community of concerned individuals and organisations. If your like-minded friends wish to be free subscribers, or if you missed and wish to get any of the earlier bulletins, please write to sakth-@giasdla.vsnl.net.in |