Riot with Many Contrasts

Ram Puniyani India has been the victim of divisive-sectarian violence from more than a century, more particularly after the British implemented their policy of ‘divide and rule’ and encouraged communal formations to flourish. These communal formations, Muslim and Hindu both, in turn spread hatred against the ‘other religious community’ and violence in the name of religion came to be a tragic part of our nation. Many innocents have lost their lives in this violence, which is instrument in the hands...

Read More

Abraham Kovoor’s Case Diary: Rifai Ratheeb - Unravelling a Muslim Miracle!

Abraham Kovoor (Selections from the Writings of Abraham Kovoor) My interest in Rathib ceremony was first aroused when I read a reference to it in the book "Far Off Things" by Dr. R.L. Spittel. In that book he mentions how he, in the company of Messrs. R.H. Basset and J.R. G. Bantock, witnessed a Rathib cer­emony some years ago. After giving a vivid description of the various acrobatic per­formances by about a dozen persons, Dr. Spittel concludes:-  "All these act here described I actually...

Read More

Uddalaka and Yajnavalkya: Materialism & Idealism

Walter Ruben The problem of when and how philosophy in India began is of great importance. In 1954, I started the theory that the first Indian philosopher was Uddalaka Aruni in Ch. Up. vi.1 According to my interpretation, he was a hylozoist, which means a primitive materialist. Such an interpretation must provoke criticism, because it seems at first sight impossible and is in contrast to all tradition that in the ancient Upanisads the doctrine of a materialist bas been preserved.2 In 1955,...

Read More

Abraham Kovoor’s Case Diary: Lady Wonder: A Mind-Reading Horse!

Abraham Kovoor In Richmond, Virginia, one Mrs. C.D. Fonda owned a horse named 'Lady Wonder' reputed to possess psychic powers. In the journal of 'Abnormal and Social Psy­chology', Volume 23 (1929), on page 449-466 there appeared an article headed "An investigation of a Mind-reading Horse" by Dr. J.B. Rhine and Dr. Lousia E. Rhine of Duke University. This article stated in parts: "The animal, subject of the experiment herein described, is a three-year-old filly, Lady Wonder, owned by Mrs....

Read More

Abraham Kovoor’s Case Diary: Science of Charms!

Abraham Kovoor (Selections from the Writings of Abraham Kovoor) "What really are manthras? They are a certain co-ordination of words, sounds and phrases which, when chanted a required number of times, harmonize to produce an ethereal vibration. This vibration causes ripples in the Pancha Maha Bhutha (five elements). As all living beings are composed of the jive elements, these vibrations have an effect on living matter. "In certain charms the forces, which are the Devathas, come under...

Read More