The Centre of Astrological Study and Research in Sakchi. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Nov. 19: Astrology arouses either curiosity or suspicion. But the thirst to learn about one’s future and verify how stars tell stories of one’s past has driven one and all.

And now learning about the unknown has become easy. Having started courses in astrology, the city-based Centre of Astrological Study and Research (CASAR) is now expanding its base and establishing an institute on astrology, palmistry and vastu.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 20 crore.

S. Kumar Shastri, the director of CASAR, said they have signed an MoU with Bangalore-based Aries and Libra Hotels India Pvt Limited and almost all formalities have been completed.

“We have short-listed two plots in Sakchi to set up the college. The deal is in its final stages,” he added.

According to him, CASAR is already running a college at its centre in Sakchi and is now expanding. The institution will function from a five-storeyed building. Students will also be offered hostel facilities. Local and outstation faculty will handle the academic sessions,” Shastri said.

While the course on astrology and palmistry will be of one-and-a-half years each, classes on vastu will be of six months duration. It is costlier, too. While the astrology and palmistry degree courses are priced at Rs 9,000 each, the vastu course would cost students Rs 14,000. An additional registration fee will be charged to these prices. “We are yet to decide on the charges for accommodation. We are also working on several fronts related to the functioning of the college,” Shastri said. Degrees for the respective courses will be give through CASAR, a government registered body.

Besides sessions on astrology, palmistry and vastu, CASAR will indulge in welfare activities by organising free tuition sessions for students of Classes VII to X. “We have already initiated talks with principals of certain schools. We’ll be offering free tuition to students belonging to low-income groups,” he added.

Shastri said the Bangalore-based Aries and Libra Hotel India Pvt Limited also has branches in Hyderabad and Mauritius. “The group organises many welfare programmes. Besides hospitality, the group is also interested in aviation and other businesses,” he said.

Among those students who completed their studies from CASAR, most practice astrology and palmistry. Some have also become experts on vastu.

“We would be enrolling some of our ex-students from the 1995-96 batch, who have already become professors,” said Shastri, adding that they would come up with a formal announcement about the college during the Asian Astrology Conference scheduled to be held in February next year.