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{{Short description|Sri Lankan rationalist and professor (1898–1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abraham Kovoor
| birth_name = Abraham Thomas Kovoor
| image = Abraham_Kovoor.jpg
| image_size = 210
| caption = Abraham Thomas Kovoor
| birth_date = {{birth date|1898|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Thiruvalla]], [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|9|18|1898|4|10|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka
| occupation =
| spouse =
| family = [[Iype Thoma Kathanar]] (father)
}}

'''Abraham Thomas Kovoor''' (10 April 1898 – 18 September 1978) was an Indian professor and [[rationalist]] who gained prominence after retirement for his campaign to expose as [[fraud]]s various Indian and Sri Lankan [[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|"god-men"]] and so-called [[paranormal]] phenomena. His direct, trenchant criticism of [[Spirituality|spiritual]] frauds and organized religions was enthusiastically received by audiences, initiating a new dynamism in the rationalist movement, especially in Sri Lanka and India.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://arumugam.tripod.com/kovoor.htm| title=Dr Abraham T. Kovoor: The Rationalist of Indian Subcontinent| publisher=[[Dr Prakash Arumugam]] |date=1998-01-30 | access-date =2021-08-15 }}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Abraham Kovoor was born into the aristocratic '''Kovoor''' family of [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christians]] at [[Thiruvalla]], [[Kerala]]. Kovoor was the son of Rev. [[Iype Thoma Kathanar]] (Kovoor Achen), Vicar General of the [[Mar Thoma Church|Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar]].<ref name="reporter_live_kovoor_PK">{{Cite news|url=http://www.reporterlive.com/2014/12/25/149554.html|title=പി കെ = ആമിര്‍ ഖാനില്‍ നിന്ന് കോവൂരിലേക്കുള്ള ദൂരം |date=2014-12-25|work=Reporter – Malayalam News Channel – Breaking News, Latest News, Kerala, India, World, Politics, Movies, Entertainment, Sports, Business, Pravasi, Environment|access-date=2018-01-28|language=en-US|archive-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132654/http://www.reporterlive.com/2014/12/25/149554.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After working briefly as a lecturer in botany at C.M.S.College in Kerala, Kovoor arrived in Ceylon in February 1928. Abraham's younger brother, [[Kovoor Thomas Behanan|Behanan]] was a renowned sociologist and psychologist. Before his arrival in Ceylon, Kovoor married Kunjamma, daughter of a judge. The couple had a son, Aries. Kovoor's first assignment in Ceylon was teaching botany at [[Jaffna College]], Vaddukoddai for 15 years until 1943. Subsequently, he also taught at [[Richmond College, Galle|Richmond College]], Galle, and St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia from 1947 to 1953, before retiring in 1959 as a teacher at [[Thurstan College]], [[Colombo]]. He also practiced [[hypnotherapy]] and [[applied psychology]].

==As a rationalist==
{{Criticism of Christianity sidebar}}
After retirement Kovoor devoted his life to the rationalist movement. He spent most of his time building up the [[Ceylon Rationalist Association]], and was its president from 1960 to his death. He edited an annual journal, ''The Ceylon Rationalist Ambassador''. Kovoor became a widower when his wife Konjamma died in 1976. In his will, he wrote as follows: "My body should not be buried on my death. The body of my wife also should not be buried. We have dedicated our bodies to the use of medical colleges on our death. I desire that my skeleton should be surrendered to Thurston College, Colombo, which I served for many years. I entrust this task to my son, Aries Kovoor, who is a professor at the Sorbonne University, Paris. My eyes should be donated to an eye bank immediately after death." Kovoor died on 18 September 1978 due to cancer. His skeleton is preserved inside one of the science labs in Thurstan College, Colombo.

==Publications and Kovoor's challenge==
{{main|Abraham Kovoor's challenge}}

After his numerous encounters with god-men, astrologers, and other people who claimed to have psychic powers, Kovoor concluded that there was no objective truth to such claims. He wrote, "Nobody has and nobody ever had supernatural powers. They exist only in the pages of scriptures and sensation-mongering newspapers." His books ''Begone Godmen'' and ''Gods, Demons and Spirits'', about his encounters with people claiming psychic powers, are still bestsellers in India.

In 1963, Kovoor announced an award of Rs. 100,000 for anyone who could demonstrate supernatural or miraculous powers under foolproof and fraud-proof conditions. The challenge listed 23 miracles or feats that godmen (and Western mystics and performers such as [[Uri Geller]] and [[Jeane Dixon]]) claimed to perform, such as reading the serial numbers from currency in sealed envelopes, materializing objects, predicting future events, converting liquids from one kind to another, and walking on water. Some sought publicity by taking on his challenge, but they forfeited the initial deposit amount. The Sri Lankan Rationalist Association, led by Professor [[Carlo Fonseka]], renewed the challenge in 2012 and increased the reward to one million dollars. (Similar challenges have been posed by [[Basava Premanand]] and [[James Randi]].)

==Legacy==
The [[Malayalam]] movie ''[[Punarjanmam]]'' (1972), [[Tamil language|Tamil]] movie ''[[Maru Piravi]]'' (1973) and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film ''Ninthakatha'' were made on the basis of his case diary. [[Aamir Khan]]'s character in ''[[PK (film)|PK]]'' (2014) is inspired by Kovoor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aamir Khan's character in PK is inspired from Abraham Kovoor |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=285086 |website=www.daijiworld.com |access-date=22 December 2014 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220135707/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=285086 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bharathiya Yuktivadi Sangam declared a national award called the A. T. Kovoor Award for the Secular Artist. The first recipient was Indian film star [[Kamal Haasan]] in acknowledgment of his humanist activities and secular life.

Kovoor's work remains controversial in India. In 2008, Punjab Chief Minister [[Parkash Singh Badal]], leader of [[Shiromani Akali Dal]], imposed an "immediate ban" on Kovoor's ''God, Demons and Spirits'', translated into Punjabi by Megh Raj Mitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iheu.org/node/3119 |title=Punjab bans rationalist literature |date=22 March 2008 |publisher=[[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315044342/http://www.iheu.org/node/3119 |archive-date=2011-03-15 }}</ref> Popular rationalist [[Basava Premanand]], founder of the [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]], was heavily influenced by Kovoor.<ref>{{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PA101|year= 2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199812608|pages=98, 99, 101}}</ref><ref name="Ruhela1997">{{cite book|chapter=Magic Realism |author=Rahul Singh|editor=Satya Pal Ruhela|title=Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Press, 1972–1996|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4ldAqBuIpwC&pg=PA40|year=1997|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-8175330412|pages=141–142}} republished article from ''[[The Times of India]] – The Sunday Review'' of 27 August 1995</ref>

==Books by and on Kovoor==
===In English===
# ''Begone Godmen'' – [[Jaico Publishing House]], Mumbai, India
# ''Gods, Demons and Spirits'' – Jaico Publishing House, Mumbai, India
# ''Selected Works of A T Kovoor'' – Indian Atheist Publishers, New Delhi, India
# ''Exposing Paranormal Claims'' – [[Indian CSICOP]], [[Podannur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
# ''Soul, Spiril, Rebirth & Possession'' – Indian CSICOP, Podannur, Tamil Nadu, India
# ''On Christianity'' – Indian CSICOP, Podannur, Tamil Nadu, India
# ''On Buddhism'' – Indian CSICOP, Podannur, Tamil Nadu, India
# ''Astrology & Hinduism'' – Indian CSICOP, Podannur, Tamil Nadu, India

===In Kannada===
# ''Kovoor Kanda Vaigynanika Sathyagalu'', (Anuvaada – K. Mayigowda, Sapna Book House Bangalore).
# ''Devaru Devva Vignana'', (Anuvaada Navakarnataka Publications Bangalore).

===In Tamil===
# ''Kora Iravukal'', Veerakesari Publications, Colombo
# ''ManakolangkaL'', Veerakesari Publications, Colombo

===In Malayalam===
# ''Kovoorinte Sampoorna Kruthikal'' (Complete Works of Kovoor) – Translated by [[Joseph Edamaruku]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nastiknation.org/product/kovoorinte-sampoorna-krithikal/ |title = കോവൂരിന്റെ സമ്പൂർണ കൃതികൾ – Nastik Nation}}</ref>
# ''Kovoorinte Thiranjetutha Kruthikal'' (Selected Works of Kovoor) – Translated by Joseph Edamaruku. Prabhat Book House, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
# ''Samsarikkunna Kuthira'' (The Talking Horse) – Translated by Joseph Edamaruku. Current Books, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
# ''Yukthivadam'' (Rationalism) – Translated by Joseph Edamaruku. Current Books, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
# ''Anamarutha'' – Translated by Joseph Edamaruku. D C Books, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
# ''Indriyatheetha Jnanavum Parapsychologiyum'' – Translated by Joseph Edamaruku. Indian Atheist Publishers, New Delhi, India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.therali.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=75|title=Therali – Malayalam Books |date=30 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030182028/http://www.therali.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=75 |archive-date=30 October 2007 }}</ref>
# ''Yukthichintha'' (Rational Thought) – Translated by [[Johnson Eyeroor]]. Current Books, Kottayam, Kerala, India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malayalam Books Online |url=http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=157 |website=www.puzha.com |access-date=3 December 2005 |archive-date=18 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518181729/http://www.puzha.com/malayalam/bookstore/cgi-bin/book-detail.cgi?code=157 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===In Hindi===
# ''Aur Dev Purush Har Gaye'' – Tarakbharti Parkashan, Barnala, Punjab, India
# {{Transliteration|hi|Dev, daanav aur Ruhain}} – Tarakbharti Parkashan

===In Punjabi===
# ''Tey Dev Pursh Har Gaye'' – Tarakbharti Parkashan, Barnala, Punjab
# ''Pret Atma Puner Janam Te Kasran'' – Tarakbharti Parkashan
# ''Kramatan Da Pardan Phash'' – Tarakbharti Parkashan
# ''Dev, Daint te Ruhan'' – Tarakbharti Parkashan

===In Sinhala===
# ''Deviyo Saha Bhoothayo'' – A Translation by Dharmapala Senarante
# ''Ma Kala Gaveshana'' – A Translation by Dharmapala Senarante

===In Bengali===
# ''Bhut Bhagaban Shaitan bonam Dr. Kovoor'' – Bhabani Prasad Shahoo

==References==

{{Reflist}}



==Further reading==
* Edamaruku: Dr Kovoor: Crusader against religious frauds. ''Caravan'', December 1978, pp. 31–34.
* {{cite book|author=Johannes Quack|title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TNbxUwhS5RUC&pg=PA96|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199812608|pages=96–97}}

==External links==
* [http://www.carvaka4india.com/search/label/Abraham%20Kovoor Selected Writings of Abraham Kovoor]
* [https://arumugam.tripod.com/kovoor.htm The Rationalist of the Indian Subcontinent]: Dr Prakash Arumugam
* [https://arumugam.tripod.com/ganga-water.htm The Miracle of the Ganga Water]: Essay by Abraham Kovoor – Dr Prakash Arumugam
* [https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2006/07/30/pow03.asp Lanka's Kovoor – theory]: The Sunday Observer Sri Lanka 30.07.2006 –Essay by Dr Prakash Arumugam
* [https://archive.today/20060927064125/http://www.randi.org/jr/030802.html Dr. Bhagavantham and Sai Baba]
* [http://www.randi.org/research/ Challenge of James Randi]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080112050935/http://www.buddhiwadi.org/Kovoor.htm "Kovoor" in ''Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought'']
* {{YouTube|fzjLvTnNHtg|James Randi paying respect to Dr. Kovoor}}

{{Sathya Sai Baba}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovoor, A. T.}}
[[Category:Indian rationalists]]
[[Category:Indian atheism activists]]
[[Category:Critics of Sathya Sai Baba]]
[[Category:Indian sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian former Christians]]
[[Category:Indian religious sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian materialists]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvalla]]
[[Category:1898 births|Kovoor, Abraham Thomas]]
[[Category:1978 deaths|Kovoor, Abraham Thomas]]
[[Category:Malayali people|Kovoor, Abraham Thomas]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Alumni of Thurstan College]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan sceptics]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:20th-century Sri Lankan people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Academics from Colombo]]
[[Category:Deshamanya]]
[[Category:Indian spiritual writers]]
[[Category:Writers about religion and science]]

Abraham Kovoor - Revision history

Ajithkumardas6 at 04:28, 23 August 2025