Indian writer (born 1956)
Sreeni Pattathanam (born 10 June 1956) is a rationalist, activist, and writer from Kerala, India. He was born in the Pattathanam area of Kollam City in the Indian state of Kerala. Pattathanam was the editor of "Ranarekha", a monthly in Malayalam, which ceased publication in the 1980s. He started publishing another monthly in Malayalam called "Yukthirajyam". This journal is the official journal of the organization, "Bharatheeya Yukthivadi Sangham" (Rationalist Association of India). He was also the secretary of the Kerala state branch of Indian Rationalist Association. Pattathanam later left IRA and started, with like-minded people, another rationalist association, Bharathiya Yukthivadi Sangham. He is the vice-chairman of the National Level Rationalist Organization, RAI, Rationalist Association of India that was established in 1930. RAI is one of the founding members of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), based in London. www.iheu.org
On Mata Amritanandamayi.
Sreeni Pattathanam authored a book, (lit. 'Matha Amritanandamayi: Sacred Stories and Realities'), which became controversial for the alleged derogatory remarks by the author about Matha Amritanandamayi.
The book contains critical comments about Mata Amritanandamayi, Mata's personal life, and sexual behaviour. The book also has references to court records, newspaper reports and quotations from some literary figures, and attempts to refute the Matha's claims to miracles and contends that there have been many suspicious deaths in and around her ashram, which he says need police investigation.
Some of deaths which the author alleges as murders are:
Advocate Ajan, a devotee of Mata Amrithanandamayi, found these allegations objectionable and asked Kerala government to prosecute the author for the derogatory and defamatory contents in the book. Despite pressure from the math and devotees, Kerala government refused to prosecute the author, but allowed the devotee to file a case for prosecution (government permission is required to move private prosecution in similar cases). There were public protests by international humanists, Indian rationalists, writers, and the youth wing of the Indian Communist Party (Marxist) in which the author was an activist, which yielded results.
However, in 2004, the Kerala State Government sanctioned criminal prosecution of Patthathanam, the owner of the publishing company, and the printer of the book on grounds that religious sentiments had been offended and for the libelous statements in the book. The order followed directions from the Kerala High Court to the Home Department for considering an application by T.K. Ajan, a resident of the Mata Amṛtānandamayī Math. CPI leader Thengamam Balakrishnan protested the move against Pattathanam.
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