Debate: Is reincarnation just another superstition?

LOVE WITH THE MYSTIC: ‘There is no scientific basis for reincarnation,’ say experts.

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Rajdeep Sardesai

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Keywords: Media, Indians

Rajesh Kumar, a 14-year-old boy in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh suddenly starts talking in a US accent. He explains what according to him are “scientific concepts”. He studies in class 9 and has received education only in Hindi till date. Rajesh neither traveled abroad nor studied English in school. People in his village claim he is an incarnation of some US scientist.

A four-year-old girl in a UP village says she is Kalpana Chawla. Upasana’s parents say she is afraid of aeroplanes and often mutters that she had “died in the skies” four years ago. Upasana belongs to Nar Mohammadpur in Khurja.

Indians and their love for the mystical goes back a long way in history. And it’s equally amusing to see news channels, media and a whole bunch of experts rising to the occasion—whenever there comes up a bizarre—whether its a child uttering bunkum with a twisted accent or a four-year old muttering “I am Kalpana Chawla” after every half-an hour interval.

Indian viewers readily buy amusement packaged in superstition. But is reincarnation just another superstition? Or is there a scientific theory behind such cases?

President, Indian Rationalist Association Sanal Edamaruku and astrologer Sunita Chabra came together with host Sagarika Ghose to discuss the issue on CNN-IBN show, Face The Nation.

Is reincarnation just another superstition?

For Indians, the magical has always existed alongside the ordinary. God’s drink milk, seawater turns sweet and reincarnations and rebirths are possible too.

Rajesh on the surface appears to be a linguistic prankster. He himself does not say that he is a reincarnation. Then why do Indian people want to believe so much in an incarnation theory?

“There is no scientific basis for reincarnation,” said Sanal Edamaruku. “The boy never claimed himself that he is a reincarnation. It is the people’s belief that spreads such theories. People believe in reincarnations, astrology, rebirth and psychic readings. They want to believe life goes on after death,” he added.

Rajesh’s case is not the first one of its kind. There have been famous cases where people have given account of a past-life memory, paranormal psychology and near death experiences. Some of them have even been explained scientifically.

“Past life memory is explained by psychiatrists as nothing but simple psychotic reaction,” said Edamaruku. “The boy is a patient. He is not speaking English at all. It’s all gibberish, which hardly makes any sense. Its not science at all,” he added.