Kovoor

Today is the 125th Birthday of Abraham T Kovoor who was born on this day in 1898. He was the one who started the road show called as the Divine Miracle exposure campaign, which brought rationalism to the people. The topic was question before you believe! By the time this program became popular, Kovoor had already gained a lot pf publicity by throwing a one lakh challenge to claimants of supernatural powers to show them under fraud proof conditions.

  This was a three-part affair- he would speak for about 90 minutes and answer questions from the audience. This would be followed by a magician performing the so called miracles- but the explanation would be one line- the godmen claim to have miracles, but I say anyone can do it. The last part would be a stage hypnosis show in which effects of hypnotic suggestions would be shown on volunteers from the audience.

   In 1975-76 during the dark days of the emergency, the newspapers were subject to pre-censorship. Hence not much of controversial news could be published about police excesses and politics. However, controversies about the so-called supernatural powers of godmen were not banned! Hence the media gave a lot of space for these. At that time Kovoor was on a tour of India in connection with his campaign. We wanted to invite him to Mangalore and asked the IRA for a date. But, were told that only organisations would be allotted programs and not individuals. So, we started the South Kanara Rationalist Association and got a date, 25th of November,1976.

    We went to Kannur to pick them up and escort the whole party to Mangalore. We reached Mangalore on 24th and the same evening Kovoor developed high fever and haematuria. But he assured that the program would go on whatever may happen-such was his dedication. The next day evening though he was suffering he went on the stage at the fixed time and said we shall start! The introduction was by Arunachalam Kumar. By that time the hall was full, the doors and windows were packed, the compound was jam packed and the road was also blocked! It was a ticketed program and there was black marketing too! The police forced us to put loudspeakers outside so that the public could hear despite our protestations that it was a ticketed program!

    The event was a huge success and so started my work as a campaigner of the movement. More on that later. Here are the pictures.