As you probably know, Sanal Edamaruku is in flight from his home in India, because the police want to arrest him for exposing a Catholic miracle as a case of leaking pipes. I would not tell anyone where he actually is, but I can tell you where he was: Kaja Bryx of the Lower Silesia Branch of Polish Rationalist Association sent me a note with an account.
Sanal Edamaruku, President of Indian Rationalist Association, stayed in Poland from 30th June to 20th July, hosted by Polish Rationalist Association (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Racjonalistów, PSR). As we all know, he was at that time escaping the threat of being arrested for blasphemy in his own country.
During his stay in Poland Sanal Edamaruku gave lectures in most of the PSR’s branch cities and took part in PSR’s actions. On 2nd July he participated in a public debate on freedom of expression which PSR organized in Warsaw. On 8th July he presented his first paper Contrast of two Indias – 21st century and 16th century at conflict in the city of Wroclaw. Two days later, together with Jacek Tabisz, President of Polish Rationalist Association, Sanal Edamaruku signed (for Indian Rationalist Association and Rationalist International), the trilateral co-operation agreement, which is available both in Polish and in English version on our website.
On 11th July Sanal Edamaruku gave a lecture in Katowice, presenting Church in India – growing intolerance. On 13th July in Cracow he spoke on Growing fundamentalist tendencies among Indian religions. On 14th July in Szczecin crowds came to listen about Holy men in India – flying fakirs to starving saints. On 17th July another lecture took place in Poznan: Will Indian rationalism counter the new wave of religiosity in India? Finally, on 19th July, back in Warsaw, Sanal Edamaruku presented a feminism oriented topic: Influence of religion on the status and situation of women in India.
During his stay in Poland Sanal Edamaruku had an opportunity to meet many of the members of PSR and exchange information about the problems rationalists face both in Poland and in India. He heard the story of Kazimierz Lyszczynski, the first Polish atheist who was condemned to death for his teachings in the 17th century Warsaw, and decided to publish a book about him. Many Polish rationalists inspired by the lectures of Sanal Edamaruku and by the co-operation agreement are willing to go to India and join the actions of Indian Rationalist Association.
You go, Sanal! Even in exile he’s spreading the news about reason and the affliction of religion.