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From Scientific
Temper Promotion Trust, (Reg.No. E-9464, B'bay C/o. Chetana Mudranalaya, Ranade
Road, Dadar, Bombay 400 028.
To, The
producer, "Aisa Bhi Hota Hai", Post Box No.1452, Bombay 400 038.
Ref. No. STPT/J/14/88
April 3, 1988.
Sir, Your T.V.
Serial "Aisa Bhi Hota Hai? is interesting and informative. However, it is
essential that the information which is critically analysed, should only be
disseminated through the Doordarshan. Such information must be proved to be
scientifically valid. It is necessary that, this powerful medium should neither
give birth to, nor nurture, nor encourage, nor strengthen superstitions among
the masses. These are already in existence widely.
Some portions
of the episode No.6, telecast on 3-4-1988, misguided masses by injecting
unscientific information into them.
1. In the
beginning the viewers were informed about so called effects of moon on
"lunatics". Actually this belief, when analysed under CRITICALLY CONTROLLED
conditions, has always been proved to be totally false. Many psychiatrists have
conducted experiments. You may make enquiries with the Superintendent, Mental
Hospital, Thane or Prof. Shridhar Sharma, Director, Central Institute of
Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi - 834 006, in the matter, to ascertain the truth.
2. Later there
was focus on one person, who claims to "sense" under ground water. Such claims
of dowsing, finding the under ground water, through some supernatural power,
have always been found to be false, when investigated. The episode should have
given statistics about success or failure rate of tapping under ground water
through dowsing. These persons even fail to detect the water flowing through the
network of pipe lines, burried couple of feet deep below the surface of the
soil.
3. We fail to
notice, why worship of rats at Karni temple was mystified and glorified. We did
not find any metaphysical or supernatural phenomena in these events.
There are many
personalities and organisations working for years together to eradicate
superstitions. We appeal you not to create hurdles in the path of our movement
to promote scientific temper and spirit of inquiry and reform - a fundamental
duty of all of us. I hope you donot want others to say, "Aise Bhi
Andhashraddhako Badhava Dete Hai!"
Thanking you,
and hoping to hear from you,
Yours
sincerely,
Sd. Dr. Rajeev Joshi. |
