Centre for inquiry India and Institute for the study of secularism,USA completed the project of opinions of scientists on beliefs, alternative medicines, supernatural elements,god and spiritual matters. 1100 scientists were surveyed  in this study.

For a complete report of this scientific study visit 

http://cruller.cc.trincoll.edu/NR/rdonlyres/D98B14DA-CC70-4CA2-B270-EA0A6E9B4006/0/WholeIndiaReport.pdf

Date: 13 September 2008

Time: 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Venue: Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, India

Info: (Mobile) 0968010950

e-Mail: Jugal Kishore < drjugalkishore@gmail.com>

http://drjugalkishore.blogspot.com

Principal Speakers: Paul Kurtz, Norm Allen, N.Innaiah, Jugal Kishore

Subject: Medical Myth, Alternative Drugs that effects Scientific Way.

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Seminar in Pune

Date: 11 September 2008

Time: 10 A.M.  to 5 P.M.

Venue: University of Pune in collaboration with Department of Politics and Public-Administration, University of Pune.

Info: Ph.020-25601286;Mobile-9225519091
Ph.25410519[R]

e-Mail: Santishree.D Pandit < santishreepandit@gmail.com>

Principal Speakers: Paul Kurtz, Norm Allen, N.Innaiah and Santishree Pandit

Subject: Secularism, Humanism and Nation-Building in Asia

Dr N.Innaiah, chairman, CFI India and DR Vijayam, Lavanam from Atheist center contributed articles on India.

Jana Vignana Vedika, NGO organization co sponsored the program.

Prof Subra explained at length  how scientific thinking failed in India during ancient period. He wanted the people to take stories and myths as such without claiming any scientific validity.Prof Pendyala lucidly narrated the differenc between the astrology and astronomy while pleading the educated public not to succumb to the belief system despite proof against horoscopes and predictions in astrology.He emphasized the need to recognize the enormous growth of population in India which is the root cause of all problems. He deplored for neglecting such urgent problem which is causing havoc in public life.

     Dr N.Innaiah explained the contents of Encyclopedia Unbelief, the efforts of Rationalist, Humanist, Atheist, skeptical movements throughout world to spread scientific knowledge against blind beliefs and superstitions which are eating the vitality of people. Mr Veeranna, president of JVV and engineer in ground water presided over the function which was covered by the media. Mr T.V. Rao the secretary of JVV proposed vote of thanks and said that alternative medical systems are becoming popular in India. He wanted to spread scientific thinking among the people to curb the belief systems.

Here is the video of the A.A.A., event in Washington D.C.

Release of e-book, Scientific Method of A.B.Shaw (Telugu translation by Innaiah) by Prof Krishna Kumar Alapati (Extreme left)

Left to Right Prof Alapati, DR K.C.Reddi, Rationalist C.L.N. Gandhi and Innaiah (Translator)

Center for Inquiry India  commenced its activities in the year 2008 by releasing e-book on Scientific Method.

In a function at Press club, Hyderabad, India CFII exhibited to the public the Telugu Translation of Scientific Method in Power point presentation. It was written by late Prof Amritlal Bhikkubhai Shah and translated by Dr N.Innaiah in Telugu.

Prof Krishna Kumar Alapati from USA released the book and explained the subtleties of scientific research.He compared the educational standards in both countries and  narrated his experiences of  scientific method at various levels.

DR K.C.Reddi , chairman, Higher Education in Andhra Pradesh,India appreciated the effort of CFII and promised to introduce the scientific method as part of curriculum at all levels.
Mr C.L.N.Gandhi a prominent humanist presided over the function.

Dr N.Innaiah , chairman CFII briefed the audience the need for propagating scientific method. He said that several alternative medicines, holy books and belief systems too claim scientific status without any verification.

The function was held on 6 jan 2008 at Press club, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India in the presence of media and selected audience.

    CFII launched programs from 2006 feb with grand inauguration at
Hyderabad, India. Prof David Triggel, Amaradeo Sarma from Germany, Mr
Austin Dacey from New York participated in the inauguration with
presentations on Astrology, Homeopathy, Scientific method. Dr
Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr P M Bhargava, Chandana Chakravarthy, Dr Santi
Sri, Dr Aruna subhash, Dr M.V.Rao, Dr N.Bhaskararao spoke on various
aspects of social , cultural problems.
 CFII continued its  programs in cooperation with several like minded
organizations like Indian Secular society, Indian Radical Humanist
Association, and conducted camps, study classes and meetings.
   Media cooperated with CFII in exposing the fradulent cult Gurus
and alternative medicines along with superstitions, myths and blind
beliefs.Astrology, geomancy (vaastu in India) were the two menacing
beliefs that are eating the vitality of people in India. CFII
constantly exposed these elements and also fighting legal battles to
eradicate them. The High court of Andhra Pradesh admitted writ
petition filed against the teaching of courses in geomancy and
astrology in universities, with particular referrence  to Potti
Sriramulu University in Hyderabad.
    CFII conducted seminar cum conferences on  Women and Secularism,
Child abuse by religions, Population control.  Mr Hugo Estrella from
Italy participated in the seminar on population with a message from
Paul Kurtz.
      CFII opened chapters at Delhi, the capital of India with Dr
Jugal Kishore as director. Another branch was opened in Pune with Dr
Santi Sri , professor of Interntional studies as director.
          CFII conducted experiments in schools to educate on
astrology which attracted the teachers and students.
           CFII organised magic shows with the help of Mr Vikram,
member of CFII. This is mainly to propagate the scientific temper
among people with particular reference to students.
  Posters are exhibited to show the atrocities on women by religions
, child abuse by religions which attracted the media.
                 On 9 august 2007 book release function was organised
at press club, Hyderabad. The books released are: Telugu translation
of Shodh, novel by Taslima Nasrin . Telugu translation of Wild Swans,
by Jung Chang translated by Venigalla Komala , director of CFII.
Taslima Nasrin released the books and spoke about fundamentalism and
its menacing role. After the function, majlis ittehad muslim
organization people along with three legislators came and attacked
Taslima Nasrin, N.Innaiah and others. Police came after 15 minutes and
arrested them and took Taslima away from the scene.Later she was sent
to Kolkata. This incident was condemned by all political parties, all
organizations which rallied in support of CFII. The media played major
role in support of CFII.
          CFII planned to declare annual award to best media person
who promotes scientific temper in India. This will commence from 2008.
             CFII undertook a research project to study the attitude
of scientists in India on belief systems . Thousand scientists are
selected for the study and questionnaire was sent to them. It was
preceded with a sample survey.
             Master Rohit has conducted a student project on Charles
Darwin`s Evolution versus intellegent design which was presented in
the conference of Population at Hyderabad.
              The atheist center at Vijayawada, The Dravid Khazagam
at Chennai are the active supporters of CFII actitivies and their
representatives participated in all the activities.
CFI New Zealand is cooperating with CFII on the project of Child abuse
by religions.
Also Mr Kosmin from Trinity college, Hartford USA is colloborating in
the project on study of scientists regarding belief systems.
             CFII called ministers at State and Center level
governments to represent on various issues like superstions,
seperation of religion and government and public policies in favor of
secularism.Ms Purandreswari, Human resources minister at Delhi
participated in the seminar on Child abuse by religions, organised by
CFII.
               CFII organised a federation of all associations in
India and took the cooperation in various activities. This umberella
organization under the leadership of Mr Premanand, the famous skeptic
helped CFII in various secular, scientific activities.
              The activities of CFII got good publicity in media,
both print media and electronic media. Often interviews were conducted
with CFII representatives on issues like astrology, superstitions,
seperation of state and religion, geomancy, cult gurus, religious
fradulent roles.
             CFII is now planning to organise a unique  museum of
superstitions with its own premises and with a mobile van. The
collection of various tatoos, symbols and things that represent
different superstitions in various countries with detailed descrition
is planned. It will be kept in Website after completing the project.
The representative things will be kept in mobile van so that it can go
round to schools and educate the teachers and students on scientific
method and blind belief.

National Seminar held in Hyderabad on 18^th Feb’ 2007 

      The Center for Inquiry, India organized a National Conference on Population Tsunami at Hyderabad on 18^th February 2007 in Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. The Conference discussed the basic background papers presented by Dr. Vijayam, the leader Atheist Movement and Mr. K. Veeramani leader Dravida Khajagam, Chennai. Dr. Vijayam while presenting his paper, changed the mood of the audience to think the population subject seriously. He narrated anecdotes and indicated the threat from religions. The Seminar was inaugurated by Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has called upon the civil society groups to join the Government's efforts to achieve the targets fixed under the National Population Policy for population stabilisation.

      India's population would touch 1.19 billion by 2011 and 1.4 billion by 2026 and it was set to overtake China as the most populous nation in a few decades. Designing effective and appropriate strategies to address the problem of population growth was, therefore, an important challenge, she said.

      She said that though the overall demographic profile of the country had improved, its pace and distribution were found to be slow and uneven. The Government had taken several steps including the launch of national rural health mission to provide accessible, accountable and effective primary health care to the poor and vulnerable sections. The goals of the mission included population stabilisation, gender and demographic balance and to improve availability of integrated primary health care services.

      CFI-Italy representative Hugo Estrella said that population explosion was linked to sustainability and lack of long term planning was leading to growth in the population. Fast growing economies like India could never claim to be rich as long as people died of starvation, he said. Hugo Estrella said, “China has implemented population control by depriving people of their liberties (like imposing the one child norm) and their industry is the most polluted in the world. India needs to utilize its growing economy in developing health, sanitation and education”

      Social activist and CFI advisor Chandana Chakrabarthi said India that had less than 3 per cent earth space was home to 15.7 per cent of global population. While there were 400 million people in the 0-18 age group, over 53 per cent of those below five years of age were malnourished.

      Chandana Chakrabarthi reeled out some alarming statistics – 71 percent in India do not have access to sanitation, only 37 per cent households use toilets and an equal percentage have no access to proper toilets. She says with such poor living standards, 20 per cent of the world’s maternity deaths and 25 percent of its child deaths occur in India. “It is because there is no guarantee of life that people are producing more and the population is increasing,” Chakrabarthi said.

      “With 48 per cent illiterate in the country, it is easy to sway them in the name of religion and ask them to produce more children so that their community does not become a minority. This has to be stopped and for that we need more educational avenues,” Chakrabarthi said.

      The United Nations predicts India’s population will surpass that of China by 2030. By 2050, it would be 1.59 billion as opposed to 1.39 billion of China.

      Yet, the Centre for Inquiry (CFI), a social organization set up in 2006 to, among other things, bring awareness on science, technology and health issues, warns India against following the Chinese example in population control or development.

      The CFI says the only way to control population explosion is by improving the education and health standards in the country. It sees the need for 4,00,000 schools on the lines of  Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalaya so that children of all economic classes have access to best education, which will help them learn more of India and hence behave more responsibly towards its development.

      The CFI also recommends revamping the vocational education and increase the vocational colleges from 5,000 offering courses in just 80 fields, to 1,00,000 with 500 different courses. Its contention is that if the youth of India who form 30 per cent of the world’s youth are well informed and employed with steady income, they can go a long way in causing sustainable development. Hugo Estrella said.

      The Centre for Inquiry’s main stand is against religion propagating what it claims a ‘non-existing’ need to increase the numbers in their respective community.

      In the day long session Mr. B. Sambasiva Rao from Manava Vikasa Vedika; Mr. T. V. Rao from Jana Vignana Vedika; Dr. Ambuja,                           Dr. Noorjahan, Mr. Nagendra Babu from Jana Chaitanya Vedika spoke on various problems of population increase.

      The Conference observed Darwins day with Master Rohit’s presentation.

      Mr. Vikram has shown power point presentation through Magic.

      In the Valedictory session Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, Lok Satta leader; Mr. K. Rosaiah Health Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh emphasized the need to curb population.

      Indian Peasants Institute, Atheist Center Cooperated with the organizers in organising the Seminar. Mr. V. K. Sinha, Editor Secularist from Mumbai spoke on the threats of fundamental Religions.

      Dr. N. Innaiah, Chairman, CFI presided over, Mr. I. Muralidhar, Executive Director gave details of the objectives of the Seminar. Mr. Estrella read the message sent by Prof. Paul Kurtz, Chairman, CFI transnational.