Two astrologer brothers have accepted the challenge thrown by rationalist A S Natraj. The brothers held a press conference on Saturday to announce that they were ready to take on the rationalist.

On Thursday, MiD DAY had reported that Natraj, a rationalist, who was himself an astrologer, had challenged astrologers that he would give Rs 1 crore to anyone who proved that astrology was not humbug.

'Don't criticise'

S Vasudev (38) and S Pandya (40) are astrologers and run Life Research Centre  to conduct research on astrology. While Vasudev is a real estate agent, Pandya is a postman.

"If Natraj doesn't know astrology, he should leave the field but not criticise it. We have no right to speak ill about any field," said Vasudev. He has a staunch belief in astrology and is confident that he will win the challenge.

'God exists'

"I have myself come across many situations where astrology has helped me and my family to solve our problems. Natraj also says that God does not exist, but I have seen God. We need God. If he does not exist, there would be more crimes in the world. We cannot say that God does not exist," he said.

Pandya said he had himself made miracles happen because of astrology.

"One day when I was on work as a postman, I saw a lady weeping by the road. Her son had gone missing. I kept the child's picture near a picture of God and predicted that he would return in five days. I was true. The child returned. This is by God's grace," he said.

Rationalist pleased

Natraj is pleased that people are coming forward to accept the challenge.

"I am happy that after so many years, people have agreed to the challenge. I even spoke to astrologer Daivajna Somayaji who said that he respected my views. He said that he may not be able to accept the challenge, but he was open to having discussions with me and said he would like to learn from me as well," he said.

The $5-million challenge

Sanal Edamaruku is the South Asia incharge of the US $5 m challenge put out by rationalist James Randi. "It is open for people all over the world. We will give horoscopes of 10 people and those who accept the challenge will have to answer simple questions. Astrologers can prove themselves and take this big bag of money," he said. He also said that in Gujarat, a person had offered Rs 2 crore, and a person in Punjab has offered Rs 50 lakh.

'Astrology is mostly guess work'

Sanal Edamaruku, president, Indian Rationalists'  Association spoke to MID DAY over phone from Delhi: "I am glad that people in cities like Bangalore are coming forward with such challenges. In 1985, I had challenged Laxman Das Madan, the astrologer of former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao. It was agreed that I would give up my rationalist movement if I won, and he would have to stop publishing his magazine if he won.

"All this was recorded by Doordarshan and was telecast too. I gave him horoscopes of some people and told him that he had to answer some basic questions about the people. The answers were given to a third party.
 
The horoscopes included those of M A Baby, Kerala education minister, who was then an MP; K Sachidanandan, Sahitya Academy secretary and Khushwant Singh's son Rahul Singh. Madan got them all wrong. But he did not stick to his promise and he still publishes his magazine.

"There are other challenges too, but astrologers do not come forward. That's because astrology is mostly guess work."