Rationalists in India Doing Good Work: YouTube

Sanal Edamaruku is the president and founder of Indian Rationalist Association, and is quoted extensively in the last post on this subject. It might be worthwhile to see what he’s up against.

There’s a video, but because I’m not 100% sure about the mythology behind it, I’m going to quote the Guide for an explanation.

On 3 March 2008, while appearing on a panel TV show, Sanal Edamaruku, challenged a tantrik to demonstrate his powers on him by killing him using only magic. The tantrik chanted mantras and performed a ceremony to kill Sanal Edamaruku on live TV. India TV received a large boost in ratings while this was occurring. After his attempts failed the tantrik reported that Edamaruku must be under the protection of a powerful god, to which Edamaruku responded that he was an atheist.

The whole video is on YouTube, but for the purposes of your time and sanity, I will first post a “condensed” version which is sped up and put to some “Drum & Bass” type music.

I honestly don’t know if this qualifies as “Drum and Bass” as I’m pretty blind in that range, but the music syncs up pretty well for about 30 seconds, and it does give you an idea of what Edamaruku experienced.

I think my favorite part is where the berobed guy tries to shove his thumb in Edamaruku’s eye and he politely declines. Magic where step thirty is “remove target’s eye with your thumb” is going to be pretty effective at partially blinding someone, I’m guessing.

Originally watched the “full” posted version, which includes chanting and only about three percent english, so I didn’t get most of it. It’s worth watching if Jesus Camp isn’t really doing it for you any more and you need a little variety in your furtive superstition voyeurism. You know, like me.

Original moves after the cut.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of superstition?

One:

Two:

Three!:

The soundtrack is straight out of Fox’s “When Water Heaters Attack”, but it’s literally crying for a remix.

I’ll let Amanda get back to telling you useful things now. Amanda?