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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Sanal Edamaruku
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Sanal Edamaruku in Helsinki (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1955|05|26}}
| birth_place = [[Thodupuzha]], [[Kerala]], India
| death_date = 
| education =
| alma_mater = [[University of Kerala]]
| occupation =
| known_for = President of the [[Indian Rationalist Association]] and founder-President of [[Rationalist International]]
| notable_works =
| television =
| title =
| spouse =
| parents = [[Joseph Edamaruku]]<br />Soley Edamaruku
| signature =
| website = 
| box_width =
}}
'''Sanal Edamaruku''' is an Indian author and [[Rationalism|rationalist]]. He is the founder-president and editor of ''[[Rationalist International]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rationalists.net|title=Rationalist International }}</ref> the president of the [[Indian Rationalist Association]] and the author of 25 books and other articles.<ref name="The ESP Podcast">{{cite web|last1=Pinter|first1=Andras|last2=Levin|first2=Jelena|last3=Bockman|first3=Pontus|title=Episode #22, Featuring Sanal Edamaruku|url=http://theesp.eu/?s=episode+22|website=[[The European Skeptics Podcast]]|accessdate=25 August 2016|date=13 May 2016}}</ref> In 2012, he was charged by a group of Catholics with [[blasphemy]] when he insulted the Catholic faithful while examining a claimed [[Weeping Jesus statue in Mumbai|"miracle" at a local church in Mumbai]]. He moved to [[Finland]] to evade arrest.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dissanayake|first1=Samanthi|title=The Indian miracle-buster stuck in Finland|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26815298|agency=BBC|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=2 June 2014}}</ref>

==Early life==
Edamaruku was born in 1955 in [[Thodupuzha]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] to [[Joseph Edamaruku]], an Indian scholar and author, and Soley Edamaruku.<ref name="Interview"/> Born in a Christian-Hindu mixed marriage, he was brought up without any specific religious influence. At his parent's insistence, he was the first student in India whose official school records listed "no religion".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kumar|first=Shikha|title=I thought Jesus was Cinderella's brother|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-i-thought-jesus-was-cinderellas-brother-1749716|work=[[DNA India]]|publisher=Diligent Media Corporation|accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref>

He became a rationalist-atheist activist at the age of 15, after seeing a neighbourhood athlete's death after her family refused medical treatment because they believed in [[faith healing]].<ref name=Batting>{{cite news|last=Lad|first=Vrushali|title=Batting for reason in a land of faith|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Batting-for-reason-in-a-land-of-faith/Article1-851455.aspx|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=6 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224081030/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Batting-for-reason-in-a-land-of-faith/Article1-851455.aspx|archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

In 1977, he obtained a master's degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Kerala]]. In 1980, he received his MPhil degree from [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]], [[New Delhi]] at the School of International Studies. While writing his thesis towards his [[doctorate]], he began working for the Afro-Asian Rural Reconstruction Organization.{{Citation needed|date=November 2015}} He gave up his job in 1982 to focus more on the Indian Rationalist Association and publishing his own works.{{Citation needed|date=November 2015}} He also has a diploma in [[journalism]] and appeared as a regular panelist in TV channels.

==Rationalist activism==
[[File:Sanal Edamaruku during a village campaign for promotion of scientific temper in UP.jpg|thumb|Edamaruku demonstrating the trick to "create" holy ash in a village in Uttar Pradesh state in India.]]
Edamaruku has been active in the [[Indian Rationalist Association]] (IRA) from the age of 15. Before becoming the president in 2005, he served as the General Secretary beginning in 1983,<ref name=Quack>{{cite book|last=Quack|first=Johannes|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|year=2012|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-19-981260-8|page=98}}</ref> and has been the editor of its publication ''Modern Freethinker''. His many books and articles deal mainly with rationalistic thoughts and against [[superstition in India]]. His writings in ''Rationalist International'' are translated into English, French, German, Spanish, and Finnish.<ref name=zuckerman>{{cite book|last=Zuckerman|first=Phil|title=Atheism and Secularity|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara, CA|isbn=978-0-313-35181-5|page=147}}</ref>

In February 2011, Edamaruku was elected as a Fellow of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/press_releases/show/csi_announces_new_fellows |title= CSI announces new Fellows |accessdate=2011-08-07}}</ref> (USA) and is an Honorary Associate of [[New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists]] and [[Rationalist Association]] of UK (formerly Rationalist Press Association).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newhumanist.org.uk/2043/board-of-trustees-and-supporters |title=Rationalist Association (UK) Board of Directors and Supporters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308062443/http://newhumanist.org.uk/2043/board-of-trustees-and-supporters |archive-date=2012-03-08 }}</ref>

[[File:SanalEdamaruku training students at National Science Centre in New Delhi India.jpg|thumb|Edamaruku demonstrating a levitation trick.]]

Edamaruku has carried out investigations and demonstrations that helped expose frauds, mystics and [[Godman (India)|god men]] as well as conducting campaigns against superstition in Indian villages.<ref name="Interview"/> He refers to this as "Rationalist Reality Theatre."<ref name="Interview"/> These investigations have attracted the attention of print and television media throughout Asia.{{Citation needed|date=November 2015}} The documentary film ''Guru Busters''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eagletv.co.uk/projects/guru-busters.html|title=Eagle & Eagle }}</ref> features Edamaruku and a team of rationalist campaigners on the road in Kerala giving public demonstrations of how to perform supposedly supernatural stunts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eagletv.co.uk/projects/guru-busters.html|title=Eagle & Eagle }}</ref> He has helped in building Indian Atheist Publishers, which is now [[Asia|Asia's]] largest [[free thought]] publishing house. He convened the three International Rationalist Conferences held in 1995, 2000 and 2002.<ref name=zuckerman />

In December 2013, Edamaruku announced the launch of a new quarterly English language magazine ''The Rationalist'' on his blog.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edamaruku|first=Sanal|title=Embarking on a Great Journey|url=http://sanaledamaruku.blogspot.com/|publisher=Blogspot|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> Contributors will include international rationalists on several continents and content will focus on science, reason, critical thinking and human rights.

===''The Great Tantra Challenge''===
{{main article|The Great Tantra Challenge}}
On 3 March 2008, while appearing on a panel TV show, Edamaruku challenged a [[Tantra|''tantrik'']] to demonstrate his powers by killing him using only magic.<ref name="Interview"/> The live show on [[India TV]] where the tantrik chanted mantras and performed a ceremony received a large boost in ratings. After his attempts failed, the tantrik reported that Edamaruku must be under the protection of a powerful god, to which Edamaruku responded that he is an atheist.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2008/20080310/en_1.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080318045751/http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2008/20080310/en_1.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2008-03-18|title=The Great Tantra Challenge|accessdate= 2008-03-25}}</ref><ref name="PRI">{{cite web
|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/04/india_tvs_great_tantra_challen.html
|title=India TV's Great Tantra Challenge|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]
|accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref>

==2012 blasphemy case==
{{See also|Blasphemy law}}
{{Main|Weeping crucifix in Mumbai}}
In March 2012, Sanal Edamaruku investigated a report that a crucifix at Our Lady of Velankanni church in Mumbai was dripping water from the feet.<ref name="Interview">{{cite news | url=http://thehumanist.org/march-april-2013/blasphemy-free-speech-and-rationalisman-interview-withsanal-edamaruku/ | title=Blasphemy, Free Speech, and Rationalism: An Interview with Sanal Edamaruku | publisher=[[The Humanist]] |date=March–April 2013 | first=R | last=Shaffer | accessdate =2013-02-23}}{{cite news | url=http://www.laicismo.org/detalle.php?pk=19330 | title=Blasfemia, libertad de expresión, y el racionalismo: Una entrevista con Sanal Edamaruku | work=[[The Humanist]]/Europa Laicismo |date=March 2013 | accessdate =2013-02-23}}</ref> This incident, though not claimed by the Catholic Church as a miracle,<ref>{{cite web|title=PRESS STATEMENT ON MR. SANAL EDAMARUKU|url=http://archdioceseofbombay.org/news/diocesan/press-statement-mr-sanal-edamaruku}}</ref> was believed by locals to be one. [[Sanal Edamaruku]] was invited to investigate by TV9 of Mumbai with the consent of the church authorities. He went with an engineer to the site where the alleged miracle had happened, and traced the source of the drip to the rear side. Edamaruku found that the water was seeping through the feet because of [[capillary action]] and faulty plumbing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428714-000-miracle-buster-why-i-traced-holy-water-to-leaky-drain/|title=Miracle buster: Why I traced holy water to leaky drain|last=White|first=Jon|work=[[New Scientist]]|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/why-jesus-wept-in-mumbai-the-church-versus-the-rationalist-538657.html|title=Why Jesus wept in Mumbai: The church versus the rationalist|website=Firstpost|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> Moisture on the wall where the statue was mounted seemed to be coming from an overflowing drain, which was in turn fed by a pipe that issued from a nearby toilet.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/23/india-blasphemy-jesus-tears|title=Jesus wept … oh, it's bad plumbing. Indian rationalist targets 'miracles'|last=McDonald|first=Henry|date=2012-11-23|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2019-09-25|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Edamaruku mocked the Catholic Church, calling it "anti-science", and made fun of the [[Pope]], during his appearance on a television show held to discuss the investigation. A Catholic lawyer asked Edamaruku to apologise whilst on television, but he did not, so in April 2012, the [[Catholic Secular Forum]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dissanayake|first1=Samanthi|title=The Indian miracle-buster stuck in Finland|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26815298|accessdate=9 June 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref> in [[Mumbai]] filed a complaint under [[Hate speech laws in India|Section 295(A)]] of the [[Indian Penal Code]] in several police stations around the city.<ref name="Interview"/><ref name=FIR>{{cite news|last=Ashley D'Mello & Vijay V Singh|title=FIR against rationalist, cops call him for questioning|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-16/mumbai/31348993_1_fir-juhu-occ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214094628/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-16/mumbai/31348993_1_fir-juhu-occ|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 December 2013|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=16 April 2012}}</ref>

The [[All India Catholic Union]] said the law was being applied incorrectly.<ref>{{cite AV media | title=A Rationalist Fights to Disprove Miracles in India | publisher=Public Radio International | date=23 Nov 2012 | medium=Audio file}}</ref> [[Colin Gonsalves]], the founder of the India Center for Human Rights and Law, stated his opinion that no criminal offence had been committed.<ref name=IBNLive>{{cite news|last=Dube|first=Priyanka|title=Indian rationalist stays in Finland fearing arrest for hurting religious sentiments|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-rationalist-stays-in-finland-fearing-arrest-for-hurting-religious-sentiments/308704-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208055549/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-rationalist-stays-in-finland-fearing-arrest-for-hurting-religious-sentiments/308704-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2012|accessdate=6 December 2013|newspaper=[[IBNLive]]|date=4 December 2012}}</ref> There were further complaints that the law was being misused to suppress [[freedom of speech|free speech]].<ref name=SamanthiDissanayake/> Others spoke in his defense publicly, such as [[Vishal Dadlani]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Ghose|first=Sagarika|title=Support pours in for Indian rationalist forced to live in Finland fearing arrest|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/support-pours-in-for-indian-rationalist-forced-to-live-in-finland-fearing-arrest/308896-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222102352/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/support-pours-in-for-indian-rationalist-forced-to-live-in-finland-fearing-arrest/308896-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2013|publisher=CNN-IBN|accessdate=6 December 2013}}</ref> and [[James Randi]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Randi|first=James|author-link=James Randi|title=A Matter of Very Great Concern|url=http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1746-james-randi.html|publisher=JREF|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay]] issued statements that called for Edamaruku to apologise and for the prosecution to drop the charges, although the Catholic Church is not associated with the criminal charges.<ref name="PRI" />

On 31 July 2012 Edamaruku moved to Finland. When fellow campaigner [[Narendra Dabholkar]] was murdered in 2013, Edamaruku felt returning could put his life in peril. Edamaruku said, "I would do it again. Because any miracle which has enormous clout at one moment, is simply gone once explained. It's like a bubble. You prick it and it is finished."<ref name=SamanthiDissanayake>{{cite news|last=Dissanayake|first=Samanthi|title=The Indian miracle-buster stuck in Finland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26815298|accessdate=4 June 2014|date=2 June 2014}}</ref>

==Views==
[[File:Sanal Edamaruku 601.jpg|thumb|Sanal Edamaruku speaking at [[The Amaz!ng Meeting]] (TAM) 2013 on the topic "Indian Gurus: From Flying Fakirs and Starving Saints"]]

Edamaruku has been critical of India's [[blasphemy]] laws, describing them as "relics of colonial legislation" which have been abused to "hound and silence" intellectuals and artists who question religious beliefs. He considers it dangerous that any person may register a complaint of blasphemy against another, leading to an arrest and prolonged imprisonment until the suspect is acquitted by a court of law. Edamaruku argues that the real danger here is less the verdict and more the pre-trial "punishment".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehumanist.com/march-april-2013/blasphemy-free-speech-and-rationalisman-interview-withsanal-edamaruku/|title=Blasphemy, Free Speech, and Rationalism: An Interview with Sanal Edamaruku|publisher=The Humanist|first1=Ryan |last1=Shaffer |date=15 February 2013|accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref>

Edamaruku has been a [[criticism of Mother Teresa|critic of Mother Teresa]], publicly criticising her legacy in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/23/india-blasphemy-jesus-tears|title=Jesus wept … oh, it's bad plumbing. Indian rationalist targets 'miracles'|author=Henry McDonald|work=the Guardian|date=23 November 2012|accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref> He has spoken out against the Catholic Church's sainthood of Mother Teresa and the 'miracle' cure of [[Monica Besra]]. The church's evidence is based on a written testimony in English by Besra, an illiterate woman who isn't able to speak the language, claiming a cure by a medallion placed on her by nuns. Edamaruku said that her cure could be reasonably ascribed to the treatment she received in a government hospital in [[Balurghat]] and the [[North Bengal Medical College and Hospital]]. After investigating her care record the former health minister of West Bengal, Partho De, has agreed her recovery was attributable to her months of medical care. Edamaruku describes the 'miracle' as an "obvious fraud."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Edamaruku|first1=Sanal|title=Catholic Church manufactured an ovarian miracle for Mother Teresa|url=http://churchandstate.org.uk/2016/11/catholic-church-manufactured-an-ovarian-miracle-for-mother-teresa/|website=Church and State|accessdate=19 November 2016}}</ref>

Edamaruku frequently speaks of the potentially dangerous practice of [[superstitions]], such as [[Hindu astrology]], which is prevalent in Indian society.<ref>{{cite web|last=Guttormson|first=Joel|title=Meet the Amazing TAMers: Sanal Edamaruku Part 2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogsYgB5d2W4|publisher=TAM 2013 James Randi Educational Foundation|accessdate=28 February 2014|via=YouTube}}</ref> He is a regular commentator on Indian TV channels explaining superstitions and blind belief, and is a major voice in defense of reason and scientific temper in India.<ref name="Interview"/> He has delivered lectures abroad including the US and many European countries.

[[Godman (India)|Godmen]] in India have often been accused of indulging in criminal activities under the guise of religion in order to procure followers, fame and funds. According to Edamaruku, most are [[charlatan]]s, and quite a few have amassed great wealth and property from "miracles" that are nothing more than sleight of hand.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sarkar|first=Sonia|title=Gods of Bad Things|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100328/jsp/7days/story_12272485.jsp|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

Edamaruku considers the Indian rationalist movement an "inspiring example for many western rationalists to awaken, activate and rejuvenate their own organisations", with India's rationalists being "on the frontline of the battle between science and superstition".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianrationalists.blogspot.co.uk/2006/05/why-rationalism-reflections-on-new.html|title=Why Rationalism?|first1=Sanal |last1=Edamaruku|date=28 May 2006|publisher=[[Indian Rationalist Association]]|accessdate=2 November 2015}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*The Australian writer [[Greg Egan]] used the story of Edamaruku, the Indian Rationalist Association and the Tantra Challenge in his novel ''[[Teranesia]]''.
*Edamaruku appears as a character in [[Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]] writer [[Taslima Nasreen]]'s novel ''French Lover''.
*[[Angela Saini]]'s book ''Geek Nation: How Indian Science is Taking Over the World'' has a chapter "Chariot of Gods" that describes Edamaruku's work.

==See also==
*[[Narendra Nayak]]
*[[Basava Premanand]]
*[[Abraham Kovoor]]
*[[Persecution of atheists in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://SanalEdamaruku.com/about Sanal Edamaruku's home page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051122062409/http://www.indianrationalist.org/ Indian Rationalist Association]
*[http://indianrationalists.blogspot.com/2006/05/sanal-edamaruku-on-rationalist-agenda.html Sanal Edamaruku on the ''Rationalist Agenda for the 21st Century'']
*[http://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/OPINION/LEAD/ARTICLE3391109.ECE "India's god laws fail the test of reason" Praveen Swami's article on Sanal Edamaruku on "The Hindu" newspaper]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edamaruku, Sanal}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Critics of Christianity]]
[[Category:Cultural critics]]
[[Category:Indian atheism activists]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Finland]]
[[Category:Indian humanists]]
[[Category:Indian rationalists]]
[[Category:Indian religious sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian secularists]]
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:People from Idukki district]]
[[Category:Social commentators]]
[[Category:Social critics]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]

Sanal Edamaruku - Revision history

UpdateBot: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

>Chris the speller: /* Early life */replaced: Political Science → political science