Prof. Narendra Nayak demonstrates ’Fire Walking’ at Hassan

Prof. Narendra Nayak demonstrates ’Fire Walking’ at Hassan

Mangalore Today News Network

Hassan, October 28, 2025: Dr. Narendra Nayak, President of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Hassan proposing a public education event aimed at promoting scientific temper. The initiative follows recent media reports highlighting the Deputy Commissioner’s participation in a temple firewalking ritual, described as a test of faith and endurance.

In his letter, Dr. Nayak emphasized that firewalking is governed by a well-understood scientific principle, primarily the Leidenfrost Effect, where a layer of vapor insulates the foot from hot embers. “This phenomenon is purely physical and can be performed safely without any religious or supernatural association,” he noted. He also cited decades of public demonstrations conducted by rationalists to educate the public about the scientific basis of such practices.

The FIRA president drew attention to the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017, which prohibits coercing people to perform firewalking. While acknowledging that the Deputy Commissioner’s participation did not breach the Act’s direction, Dr. Nayak pointed out that associating the act with faith could inadvertently legitimize a practice that the law seeks to regulate.

In alignment with Article 51(A)(h) of the Indian Constitution, which encourages the development of scientific temper, Dr. Nayak proposed organizing a firewalking demonstration in Hassan as a purely scientific experiment. The event would aim to educate citizens on the principles behind the act while promoting rational thinking and inquiry.

Dr. Nayak requested the Hassan district administration’s support for the initiative, emphasizing that such a demonstration could serve as a positive step toward fostering public awareness and scientific reasoning.