In my 12 years in journalism, this 1999 story on the scams perpetrated by the American Biographical Institute, stands out… Sadly, this scam continues to happen till date though the frequency is much less now.
Here is an extract from my 1999 report for a weekly tabloid called “Bangalore Weekly”:
Do you want to become the International Man (or woman) of the Millennium? If you have US $245 for a ‘Warrant of Proclamation’ you needn’t bother with achievement and accomplishment. Just send an international money order or a Eurocheque to the institute and they’ll send you a citation announcing your selection for this honour. And if you are willing to pay them US $405, they’ll send you the citation, laminated on a nice wood plaque for better effect.
If you intend to have both the Warrant of Proclamation and the Medal of honour, you will have to pay US$510 (without lamination) or US$665 (with lamination). And then send a copy of the ‘certificate’ to the leading newspapers who will be happy to publicise your name.
The International Biographical Institute (IBI), Cambridge, England and the American Biographical Institute (ABI), USA are handing out certificates like ‘Man of the Year’, ‘The 2000 Millennium Medal of Honour’ to anyone prepared to shell out the prescribed fees, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 28,000.
And helping the IBI and the ABI find Indians in search of accolade without too much activity, is The Indian Institute for Talent Search (IITS) in Mysore. Headed by one S Ramananda, anyone who wants an international award only has to send him a letter.
Among the many Bangaloreans who have been approached by IITS in recent times is a gentleman named Regret Iyer, whom we wrote about in Jan 21 issue of Bangalore Weekly. Iyer, who appears both in the Guinness and Limca books (where money cannot buy you fame) was initially drawn to these awards because of their supposedly high profile patronage. “I was introduced to Mr Ramananda by a friend. When I sent in my biodata with a list of achievements, I was asked to pay up a whopping Rs 20,000 if I wanted to be the ‘Man of the Year’. Now where can I get the money? I am a poor man but an achiever all right. My father even told me to sell off some ancestral property to get the award… but my conscience did not permit me to do so,” said Iyer, who is disgusted with the state of affairs. “It seems that anyone can become Man of the Year. The institute also asked me to nominate 20 others, people that I felt would deserve the prize.”
The IBI and the ABI appear to operate in the manner of some popular pyramid schemes, gratifying the egos of men and women who want fame and are willing to pay for it… at any price.
“I could have nominated the roadside vendor and he would have received a letter announcing his ‘selection’ as Man of the Millennium,” Iyer told Bangalore Weekly.
You can even earn the title of one of the ‘Outstanding People of the 20th Century’. The letter written to Iyer by one Jon Gifford of IBC goes something like this: “We have specially commissioned a magnificent Outstanding Achievement Diploma (US$150) to commemorate your inclusion in this celebratory publication. Our designers have also created a fine Outstanding Achievement Medal (US$150) which will be engraved with your own name to again commemorate your inclusion in this important book.”
The International Biographical Institute call themselves ‘one of the most highly respected and long established biographical publishers in the world today.’ And claim to have ‘honoured’ more than 195,000 individuals from almost every nation in the world… for a price, of course. These people figure in the Who’s Who International Biography brought out by them.
The case is the same with the American Biographical Institute, USA. They are offering ‘The 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor’ to anyone willing to pay US$295 (first medal) and US$199.50 (additional medals each). The form reads: ‘Yes, I wish to be one of the few who receive this century’s most revered honor from the American Biographical Institute, USA, who will make known the honor through my choice of media, anywhere in the world. Please reserve — 2000 Millennium Medal (s) of Honor in my name. I am eligible for one or more of the medals so that I can place one in a secure place for posterity and safekeeping, and the other for wearing for ceremonial occasions…”
Iyer says that these institutes are aggressive in their marketing. “When I did not respond to their ‘Man of the Year’ offer, they sent me another offer for the ‘Man of the Millennium’, but at a lower price. Anyway, the title doesn’t hold any sanctity because ultimately, many people are given the ‘Man of the Year’ award.”
The letter Iyer received from the Indian Institute for Talent Search dated Sep 24,1998 goes something like this: “Dear Applicant, I am glad to inform you that you have been selected for getting nominated for the awards and honours of the American Biographical Institute, USA and the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK by the Indian Institute for Talent Search, Mysore, India. You are one amongst 68 achievers from all professional fields from Karnataka State (list enclosed for your reference) and 512 International Achievers (256 Men and 256 Women) selected by our Institution in a Press conference held on 18th September 1998 at the Bangalore Press Club.”
That explains why most newspapers go ahead and publicise the so-called ‘achievers’ without so much as a second thought. The letter is signed by Mr S Ramananda who claims to be the Deputy Governor of the American Biographical Institute Research Association, USA. He calls himself a scientist, doctor, author and poet.
When Iyer did not respond to the letter, he received another letter dated Nov 30 that said arrangements were being made to invite US President Bill Clinton for the award ceremony. The letter said, “It has been more than a year since the Institution selected all of you and announced its plans to felicitate all of you and award certificates of recognition for being selected for getting nominated for the Awards and Honours of the American Biographical Institute, USA and the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK. Although our inaugural function was supposed to be as early as in December 1998 we had to propose it to April 1999 as we could not get the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India whom we planned to call as our Chief Guest. Meanwhile we thought of calling the US Ambassador to India our Chief Guest but could not get a date from him. At this time, the General Elections were announced and all our inaugural plans could not be put to place until October-November 1999 and now we had talks with the US Embassy in New Delhi through our representative and we plan to have our Inaugural Function in early 2000 coinciding with President Clinton’s trip to India where we are planning to call him as out Esteemed Honoured Guest…”
The letter ended with an ‘Opinion Poll’ that outlined step-by-instructions on how to get the ‘certificates’. It said, ‘1) I wish to get my certificate by mail without bothering about any felicitation or inaugural function. 2) I wish to get my certificate in a very simple function at the Regd Office which can be arranged within 1 month. 3) I wish to get my certificate in the Inaugural Function of the Institution “TALENT EXPO 2000” planned during President Clinton’s visit to India early next year.’ Unfortunately for the IBC, Clinton has since postponed his trip indefinitely.
This should come as a revelation to leading newspapers that have always publicised these ‘awardees’ with great aplomb. Only recently, a geologist from Bangalore received the award and was widely publicised in a leading daily.
The letterhead of S Ramananda’s Indian Institute For Talent Search is a virtual who’s who. Aside from Iyer, there are many other Bangaloreans who have made it to the list of ‘Outstanding Indian Achievers from Karnataka.’
Dr Radha Murthy of Nightingale Home Health Services is another Bangalorean, who, like Regret Iyer, turned down the ‘millennium honour’. She told Bangalore Weekly, “I don’t believe in paying to get a medal of honour. My work speaks for itself.”
Some of the people who have taken the IBC and ABC route to quick fame include an environmentalist, a scientist from the IISc, a musician, a reknown historian, several social workers, educationists, doctors, sportspersons and theatre personalities. Whether or not the accolade was justified, one thing is clear; the ‘Institutes’ in question have made a pretty packet from Bangaloreans seeking fame. And leading dailies have accorded them publicity without verification.