Mainstream Weekly[fond noir][blanc]BOOK EXCERPT *[/blanc][/fond noir]
The New India, like the old one, is a land of miracles. Western visitors admired Indians for walking on water and the rope-trick. Now, they love its Nonbiological Being (NB) who claims in human voice that he is not human! Moses split the sea. Prophet Muhammad split the Moon. NB split society, a feat no less than splitting the atom.
Indophiles, who come to explore exotica, find that the New India is not beguiled by modernity. They interview spiritual saints, criminal saints, and the Political Baba. In their countries miracles do not happen anymore but in India anything is possible. They know that Modi hai to mumkin hai. They see a child narrating his past life and a Baba producing a golden necklace out of thin air or talking to Lord Hanuman on the mobile. They record a first-hand account of cancer cured by milk or urine. India is far ahead of Africa in the number of faith healers. The demand for Godmen has shot up. Godwomen had always been there but now children appear as appropriately dressed miracle doers, attracting large audiences. Those shocked by this development point out that while China is training children in robotics, India is training them to be Godmen! The BBC does a TV report on a woman who calls herself