Centre for Contemporary Studies & Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti Invite you to a panel discussion on: Science and Superstition Dialogue: The Anti-Superstition Legislation Panelists: Prof. Shobhana Narasimhan Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore Prof. Rajan Gurukkal Centre for Contemporary Studies, IISc, Bangalore Neenu Suresh National Law School of India University, Bangalore Venue: CCS Seminar Hall, IISc Date: Thursday 9 April 2015 Time: 4.00 pm Tea/Coffee will be served at 3.30 pm All are cordially invited Superstitious practices though widespread in our societies, have been questioned time and again, facilitating a collective discussion in the society. After the murder of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar in 2013, the widespread outrage consolidated in demanding the anti-superstition legislation, which was a decade long demand of Dr Dabholkar and other rationalists. This captured the imagination of the people in other states, like Karnataka, where certain superstitious practices unleash violence or dehumanise people. A cross-section of academics, writers, legal experts thus came together in drafting The Karnataka Prevention of Superstitious Practices Bill 2013. This Bill has generated a considerable interest and debate in the state. In this panel discussion, we highlight both the social function of superstition and what is the role a scientist play in this contemporary issue, vis-a-vis the anti-superstition legislation. URL: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/ragh/ccs/