Dr Narasimhaiah (or HN) first trained his guns on ‘godmen’. Asvice-chancellor of Bangalore University in 1976, HN set up ‘The Committee toInvestigate Miracles and other Verifiable Superstitions’ under his chairmanship.Thecommittee went around disrobing yogis and babas and raised a cloud of unholy ash when itchallenged Puttaparthi godman Sai Baba to submit himself to investigations undercontrolled conditions.Sai Baba, of course, was smart enough to refuse but this set off ananimated debate and sowed the seeds of doubt among Baba’s devotees. Another holyman,Shivabalayogi, paid the price for taking up HN’s challenge. On the request of theKarnataka government, he prayed for rains to fill up the T.G. Halli reservoir to feedBangalore in 1985. The rain gods, of course, showed no signs of taking notice.
"Questioning is the basis of all progress," says HN. "To not question isto get stuck in a cesspool. There’s no change in religion as religion disallowsquestioning." Guided by these principles, HN founded the Bangalore Science Forum in1962. Through a string of activities—talks, seminars, film shows, sciencefestivals—it carries on the good work.