Anil Baluni

2021-05-05T11:15:51Z

2409:4053:68F:8D97:FD31:AA13:1499:D910:

{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
| name = Anil Baluni
| birth_name =
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date ={{birth date and age|1970|12|02|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| residence = [[Kathgodam]], [[Uttarakhand]]
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| constituency1 = [[Uttarakhand]]
| term_start1 = 3 April 2018
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Mahendra Singh Mahra]]
| successor1 = incumbent
| nationality = [[India]]n
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| religion =
| otherparty =
| spouse = Deepti Joshi
| children = 2
| father = Pitamber Dutt Baluni
| education = B.Com
| alma_mater = [[Delhi University]]
| profession = Social Worker
| website =
| footnotes =
| date = |
| year = |
| source = [https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/member_site/Main.aspx Member Profile]
}}
'''Anil Baluni''' (born 2 December 1970) is an Indian politician and National Chief Spokesperson of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. On 10 March 2018 he was nominated as candidate for the [[Rajya Sabha]] from [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/bjp-likely-to-nominate-anil-baluni-for-rs-seat-from-uttarakhand/story-sk1dCD8t0oWTGX0MNFfQ5I.html |title=Speculation ends as BJP names Anil Baluni for RS seat from Uttarakhand |date=2018-03-11 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/the-man-who-could-be-king-if-bjp-wins-uttarakhand-1346967.html |title=The Man Who Could Be King if BJP Wins Uttarakhand |website=News18 |access-date=2018-03-12}}</ref><ref>[https://myneta.info/rajsab09aff/candidate.php?candidate_id=718 My Neta]</ref>

He was born in [[Pauri Garhwal district|Pauri Garhwal]] of [[Uttarakhand]] but his official residences are [[Nainital district|Nainital]] and [[New Delhi]].

==Personal life==
He is married to Deepti Joshi and has a son and a daughter Ganga.

==Position Held==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Description
|-
| 2018 - 2024
| Elected to [[Rajya Sabha]] from [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Uttarakhand|Uttarakhand]]
* Member - Committee on Science and Technology (2018–19)
* Member - Environment & Forests (2018–19)
* Member - [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh|AIIMS Rishikesh]], Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (2019 - Till Date)
* Member - Rajghat Samadhi Committee, Ministry of Urban Affairs & Employment (2019 - Till Date)
* National Spokesperson BJP
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baluni, Anil}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Nainital district]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from the Bharatiya Janata Party]]

{{Uttarakhand-BJP-politician-stub}}

Narendra Nayak

2021-05-05T09:30:08Z

2409:4053:68F:8D97:FD31:AA13:1499:D910:

{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Narendra Nayak
| image = Narennayak1.jpg
| size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1951|2|5}}
| birth_place = [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Rationalist]], [[sceptic]], columnist and [[biochemistry]] professor
| salary =
| networth =
| spouse = Asha Nayak
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
[[Image:Narendra nayak-miracle exposure.jpg|thumb|right|237px|Prof Narendra Nayak during a miracle-exposure program conducted at [[Ayodhya]] on 5 November 2007 during the First All India Conference of Arjak Sangh, an affiliate of [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations|FIRA]]]]
'''Narendra Nayak''' (born 5 February 1951) is a [[rationalist]], [[sceptic]], and [[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|godman]] [[debunker]] from [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India.<ref name=profile/>

Nayak is the current president of the [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]] (FIRA). He founded the [[Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association]] in 1976 and has been its secretary since then.<ref name=profile/> He also founded an NGO called ''Aid Without Religion'' in July 2011.<ref name="aid without religion">{{cite news|title='Aid Without Religion' Trust Endeavours to Spread Rationality|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=110262|access-date=30 December 2014|date=30 July 2011}}</ref> He tours the country conducting workshops to promote [[scientific temper]] and showing people how to debunk [[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|godmen]] and frauds. He has conducted over 2000 such demonstrations in India, including some in [[Australia]], [[Greece]], [[England]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Nepal]].<ref name=literacy/> He is also a [[polyglot]] who speaks 9 languages fluently, which helps him when he is giving talks in various parts of the country.<ref name="IHEU award"/>

==Life and work==
Nayak was named after [[Swami Vivekananda]] (born Narendra Nath Datta). He has stated that seeing his father's business premises being repossessed by the bank and his father buying a [[lottery]] ticket on the advice of an [[astrologer]] to pay off the loan with the total confidence that it would get the first prize made him turn to [[rationalism]].<ref name="early life">{{cite news|title=Gawd! You can do it too|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/21/stories/2004062102450300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040728095839/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/21/stories/2004062102450300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2004|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 June 2004}}</ref> He married Asha Nayak, a lawyer in Mangaluru in a non-religious ceremony. Nayak started out working as a lecturer in the Department of biochemistry in the [[Kasturba Medical College]] in [[Mangalore]] in 1978.<ref name="lecture"/><ref name=birthday/> In 1982, he met [[Basava Premanand]], a notable rationalist from [[Kerala]], and was influenced by him.<ref name="early life"/>

== Activism ==
Nayak decided to take on full-time anti-superstition activism in 2004 when he heard that a girl had been sacrificed in [[Gulbarga]] in [[Karnataka]].<ref name="literacy">{{cite news|title=Literacy doesn't make us http://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=443153educated|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-10/mangalore/30501787_1_superstition-scientific-temper-education-system|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929021519/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-10/mangalore/30501787_1_superstition-scientific-temper-education-system|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=10 December 2011}}</ref> He was an assistant professor of biochemistry when he took voluntary retirement on 25 November 2006,<ref name="profile">{{cite web|title=About Us: Narendra Nayak|url=http://www.indiansceptic.in/narendra.htm|publisher=[[Indian CSICOP]]|access-date=18 September 2013}}</ref> after working there for 28 years.<ref name="lecture">{{cite web|title=Extra Mural Lecture By Narendra Nayak: The Need for Rational Thinking|url=http://researchportal.iitm.ac.in/?q=node/204|publisher=[[IIT Madras]]|access-date=18 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130918074306/http://researchportal.iitm.ac.in/?q=node/204|archive-date=18 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="birthday">{{cite news|title=60th Birthday Celebration of Narendra Nayak|url=http://www.indiansceptic.in/INDIAN%20SKEPTIC%20MARCH%202011.pdf|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[Indian CSICOP|Indian Sceptic]]|date=March 2011}}</ref>

Before the [[2009 Indian general election|general election in 2009]], Nayak laid an open challenge to any [[Fortune-telling|soothsayer]] to answer 25 questions correctly about the forthcoming elections. The prize was set at {{currency|1000000|INR}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-predict-results-and-win-rs10-lakh-1982145 | title=Predict results and win Rs10 lakh | date=26 April 2014 | access-date=2 March 2017 | website=Daily News & Analysis (DNA) |quote=...said Narendra Nayak, national president of the FIRA. "There was a similar offer in 2009 too, but no astrologer came even five percent near to accuracy. There were some counter challenges also but, they withdrew at the last minute proving that astrology can not predict election results," he said.}}</ref> (about {{currency|15000|USD}}). About 450 responses were mailed to him, but none were found to be correct.<ref name="astro bet">{{cite news|title=There is no such thing as scientific astrology|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1254939/interview-there-is-no-such-thing-as-scientific-astrology|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[DNA India]]|date=11 May 2009}}</ref><ref name=election>{{cite news|title=Rationalist chief's Rs 10 lakh safe|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-15/mangalore/28154673_1_astrologers-entries-prize-money|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202211423/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-15/mangalore/28154673_1_astrologers-entries-prize-money|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2014|access-date=6 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 May 2009}}</ref> The [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]] has been conducting such challenges since 1991.<ref name=FIRA1991>{{cite news|title=Predictions fail to match mandate, reward money has no takers|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-18/mangalore/28197382_1_entries-astrology-hindutva|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130918074321/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-18/mangalore/28197382_1_entries-astrology-hindutva|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 May 2009}}</ref> During May 2013 Karnataka state assembly election, disappointed at the challenge being one-sided, Nayak had decided against the idea of challenging astrologers this time. But when a Bengaluru-based astrologer Shankar Hegde made claims to predict the election results accurately, he received the challenge. Nayak offered to hand over a cheque of Rs.10 lakh (after deducting taxes as applicable under income Tax Act), if 19 out of the 20 results were proven right.<ref name="shankar hegde challenge">{{cite news|title=Predict and collect Rs.10 lakh, Astrologer told, Says Narendra Nayak|url=http://kannadigaworld.com/news/karavali/10173.html|access-date=30 December 2014|date=7 May 2013}}</ref> However, later on astrologer Hegde did not turn up.

Through the organisation named ''Aid Without Religion'' which was registered in July 2011, he has been helping people and institutions where there are no religious rituals, superstitious practices, unscientific systems of medicine and such supernatural beliefs. The registration was done at Rahu Kalam, a time of the day which is the most inauspicious - so it was a double rather a triple whammy, a Saturday, new moon day that too in the month of Ati which is considered to be the most unlucky time and at Rahu Kalam!<ref name="aid without religion"/>

He has been featured on [[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]]'s television show ''[[Is it real?]]''.<ref name=isitreal>{{Cite episode|title=Exorcism|date=25 August 2005 |series=[[Is It Real?]]|season=1|network=[[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]]}}</ref> He has also appeared on the [[Discovery Channel]].<ref name="early life"/> He has been a regular columnist at the newspaper [[Mangalore Today]] since its inception.<ref name=birthday/> He also serves on the editorial board of the Folks Magazine.<ref name=folks>{{cite web|title=Folks Magazine: Editorial Board|url=http://folks.co.in/about/management-team/|publisher=Folks Magazine|access-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823213900/http://folks.co.in/about/management-team/|archive-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He has admitted to have been attacked for his [[activism]] a few times.<ref name=karate>{{cite news|title=Rationalists fight superstition with dignity and nunchakus|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-22/bangalore/41435861_1_karnataka-superstition-karate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825075441/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-22/bangalore/41435861_1_karnataka-superstition-karate|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=22 August 2013}}</ref> He also has stated that his [[motor scooter|scooter]]'s [[brake]] wires were once found severed, after an astrologer predicted his death or injury.<ref name="astro bet"/>

He was also involved in fighting against [[Midbrain activation]], an alleged modern technique that enables students to see objects despite being blindfolded.<ref>{{cite news |title=Debunking 'midbrain activation' of children |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/debunking-midbrain-activation-of-children/article7124550.ece |access-date=10 October 2018 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Views==
Nayak advocates that more people should be taught to perform the so-called miracles of [[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|godmen]]. He also advocates that people should be trained to recognize [[pseudoscience]] and demand [[scientific evidence]]. He holds the opinion that well-known scientists should be convinced to join the cause and form [[pressure group]]s against pseudoscience.<ref name="Quack2011">{{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PA170|access-date=17 September 2013|date=22 November 2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|page=170}}</ref> He is also lobbying for a bill for the separation of state and religion to be introduced in the [[Indian parliament]].<ref name="state religion">{{cite news|title=Activists seek early enactment of law separating state, religion|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-21/surat/41432490_1_indian-rationalist-associations-religion-law-college|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130918074304/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-21/surat/41432490_1_indian-rationalist-associations-religion-law-college|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=21 August 2013}}</ref><ref name=bill>{{cite news|title=Separate religion from politics: FIRA president|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1649503/report-separate-religion-from-politics-fira-president|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[DNA India]]|date=13 February 2012}}</ref> After the murder of anti-superstition activist [[Narendra Dabholkar]] and enactment of the anti-superstition [[Local ordinance|ordinance]] in [[Maharashtra]] state, Nayak expressed the need of a similar law in [[Karnataka]].<ref name="new law">{{cite news|title=Rationalists demand anti-superstition law|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/Rationalists-demand-anti-superstition-law/2013/08/22/article1745742.ece|access-date=18 September 2013|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=22 August 2013}}</ref>

==Awards==
* '''2011''' "Distinguished Service to Humanism Award" from the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]<ref name="IHEU award">{{cite web|title=IHEU Awards for 2011|url=http://iheu.org/story/iheu-awards-2011|publisher=[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]|access-date=17 September 2013|date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="TOI award">{{cite news|title=Humanism award for anti-superstition activist|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/mangalore/29930791_1_anti-superstition-nayak-activist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000337/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/mangalore/29930791_1_anti-superstition-nayak-activist|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2013|access-date=17 September 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 August 2011}}</ref>
* '''2015''' "Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award" from the Friends of Lawry<ref name="Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award">{{cite news|title=Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award for Prof Narendra Nayak|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/rationalist-narendra-nayak-wins-human-rights-award/article6830248.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=28 January 2015|date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Superstition in India]]
* [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]]
* [[James Randi]] and his [[One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge]]
* [[Basava Premanand]]
* [[Prabir Ghosh]]
* [[Narendra Dabholkar]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|title=Dr. Narendra Nayak's articles|url=http://mukto-mona.net/Articles/nayak/index.htm|publisher=Mukto Mano (Freethinker)}}
* {{cite news|title=Fake astrologer falls into rationalists' trap|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar282004/d6.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506084003/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar282004/d6.asp|date=28 March 2004|archive-date=6 May 2004|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]}}
* {{cite news|title=Indian Rationalists Expose Another Quack|url=http://iheu.org/content/indian-rationalists-expose-another-quack|newspaper=International Humanist News|publisher=[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]]|date=4 November 2003|author=Narendra Nayak|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929103043/http://iheu.org/content/indian-rationalists-expose-another-quack|archive-date=29 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130921120127/http://www.narendranayak.com/ Official Website]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nayak, Narendra}}
[[Category:Indian religious sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian atheism activists]]
[[Category:Mangaloreans]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Konkani people]]
[[Category:Indian biochemists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian chemists]]
[[Category:Biochemistry educators]]
[[Category:Scientists from Mangalore]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:Writers from Mangalore]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Anil Baluni

Narendra Nayak