Superstition
The Clasp of Voodoo Patriotism
Aanchal Bansal Aanchal Bansal 14 Feb, 2013
Naveen Jindal’s Tiranga Bangle promises to make you a better, healthier and safer Indian
NEW DELHI ~ He may have championed the cause of the right of every citizen to fly the tiranga publicly on all days of the year, but Congress MP Naveen Jindal has gone overboard in his patriotic fervour with Tiranga Bangle, which was launched by his NGO, Flag Foundation of India, on Republic Day.
Apart from instilling patriotism in wearers, Jindal claims the copper bangle is capable of treating ailments ranging from acidity to arthritis, of purifying water and also of protecting people from harmful radiation. While its price is yet to be finalised, Jindal claims the bangle is treated with ‘Tri-vortex’ technology, which means that it is exposed to a range of natural sounds for about 24 hours to create a structure of ‘molecular flow’ that relaxes one’s muscles.
Ever since the bangle was launched by the MP in the presence of Congressman Shashi Tharoor and Anton Ungerer, a South African who developed Tri-vortex, Jindal has been accused of promoting voodoo science. According to Bangalore-based magician Nakul Shenoy, who launched a campaign on Twitter and change.org against the MP, Tri-vortex has roundly been dismissed as pseudo science baloney by CAMcheck, a credible consumer guide in South Africa. Moreover, a consumer complaint about the advertising of this so-called ‘technology’ was upheld by the South African ASA directorate as being unsubstantiated and against local laws.
While Tharoor tactfully slid out of the picture by declaring on Twitter that he was present for the launch only to support his friend and not endorse the product, Jindal has defended his claims. He recently updated his blog, saying the effect of the bangle can only be felt, and rubbishes the claims of doctors quoted by Shenoy as ‘not [from] a competent authority’. Shenoy, meanwhile, is busy digging up scientific research to prove his point. “It is okay to believe in something,” he says, “But as a public representative, you cannot peddle ideas and sell products that have no scientific basis. We are already a superstition-ridden country.”e promises to make you a better, healthier and safer Indian
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