Prove him wrong and win Rs10 lakh

President of the Indian Rationalist Associations is willing to give his life savings to the astrologer who can take him on

Are you ready for a celestial battle on a truly cosmic scale? In the left corner stands the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, and in the right, are the nation’s astrologers.
Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, who has been at the vanguard fighting godmen since 1976, is willing to give his entire life savings (Rs10 lakh) to the astrologer who can meet a rather canny challenge.

“We will provide them [astrologers] with the date and time of birth of 10 individuals. All they have to tell us is whether these individuals are male or female, and whether they are dead or alive. If an astrologer can guess eight out of the 10 correctly, then the prize of Rs10 lakh is his,” said Nayak. “But the one who wishes to take up the challenge will have to deposit Rs5,000 in order to participate.” While a number of older astrologers have spurned the offer, stating that such mundane astrology is not their forte, Bangalore’s leading cosmic-reader, Y Bhaskar Shetty, who has many political titans for clients, has picked up the gauntlet.

Shetty said he is willing to make the required predictions, provided the process was transparent. “As for the money, let him keep it,” said Shetty, “or give it to charity.”

Shetty regretted Nayak’s “ignorance” and claimed that the rationalists did not understand that humans are the microcosm of the universe and have to maintain their poise and alignment with the planets in the solar system. “Astrology is all geometry and gravity,” he said.