Astrology and Godmen-Taking the bull by horn Dr HN

Astrology in India had been a part of Indian life even before the birth of Jesus Christ.There is hardly any family that do not believe it, while  finding suitable bride or bridegroom for their children in normal Indian traditionally arranged marriages.Astrology predicts the future of an individual based on the position of planets at the time of his/her birth.Present days,due to development in medical science, the baby can be artificially delivered ,  at an astrologically auspicious time!Astrology was always considered to blind belief by all scientific thinking people.Therefore, Astrologers were increasingly under pressure to prove that their prediction are   scientific.Some of the Astrologers  desperately started calling themselves Astro -scientists  to provide authenticity to their prediction.Now a days Astrology had been  further popularised by providing greater exposure to Indian masses through the Electronic media and Print media.Now we see a mushrooming growth of astrologers,Vastu experts and their number is multiplying every day.To further complicate the issue of Astrological prediction ,palmistry and numerology had been added ,and now we have experts in all the three aspects who can make a prediction about one's future considering all the three variables.

During last two decades, new element called Vastu has been added  for astrological  prediction.Now Vastu has  aggressively taken over traditional  Astrology and has become  more dominant factor in deciding ones future.Vastu experts once again claim their prediction is scientific.Vastu starts from selecting the site for constructing your house or the house where you stay.Now all architects and contractors  invariably should  know about Vastu if they have to remain in business.Which means ,your future may not  just depend only  on planets position in your horoscope but  also on so many factors like which direction the main door ,water tank,kitchen or bathroom etc are located in your house.If your house is not Vastu  compliant you may be in serious trouble.Such beliefs  had never existed two decades back. If you are staying in old house,if anything goes wrong it will be attributed to Vastu of your house,and you have no choice but  to correct it perhaps at a great cost.
In nineteen seventies Dr H.Narasimhaih popularly known as Dr HN  a respected physicist,Gandhian and former Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University [ who is no more] decided to take upon himself  to fight against all sorts of  blind beliefs  astrology,palmistry,numerology and social evils like banamathi,faith healing and  exploitation of people by god men etc.He along with small group of rational thinkers challenged every one who were involved such activities  to prove their power of prediction scientifically.Not many of them accepted the challenge except one person ,called Devi-Baktha Srinivas Rao,who had been the philosopher and guide  for many powerful politicians at that time.One day,Dr HN went  to his house  along with his followers. Dr HN was received respectfully by Mr Rao and he requested Dr HN not to perceive such activities which would  tarnish the image of Astrologers and their business.After all he said,"We owe no ill will to anybody and normally provide mental peace for all those believers."[As told by DR HN to me when he came to our college as chief guest for valedictory function in 1972.Incidentally Mr Rao was a distant  relative of mine and he was believed to be guru for such powerful people like Shri Nijalingappa, Shri B.D.Jatti and then Maharaja of Mysore.].Then  DR.HN was persuaded to give press statement by his followers but,being through gentlemen,he refused to do it .He was of the opinion that, at least one person was ready to accept the challenge  and express  sincerely vulnerability of his profession.None of the god men came forward to prove the their power.However,Dr HN was lucky that he had one problem less,since Vastu did not exit at that time.
But story did not end there.MR.Rao was asked by his mentors to advise to Mrs Gandhi,regarding the advisability of going to election post emergency.He believed to have advised Mrs Gandhi that she would come back to power with thumping majority.For once the planets  which he believed so much,did not support his prediction.Mrs Gandhi lost the election miserably,and after hearing this news he had a massive heart attack and died instantly.Now one can decide to what extent one should believe these things.