‘Saraswathi Gora was a great humanist’

[rug]

‘Women have an equally important role in promoting humanism and rationalism’



German Freethinkers Association president Volker Muller inaugurating the Saraswathi Gora photo exhibition in Vijayawada on Friday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VIJAYAWADA, September 29, 2012
Special Correspondent

The contribution of Saraswathi Gora to humanism and atheism was in some ways greater than that of Gora himself, said speakers at the inauguration of an international conference held as part of her 100 birth anniversary.

International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) president Sonja Eggerickx, Dravidar Kazhagam president and Periyar Maniaammai University Chancellor K. Veeramani, former editor of Humanist magazine Jim Herrick, and German Freethinkers Association president Volker Mueller participated in the function on Friday.

Ms. Eggerickx said women had an equally important role in promoting humanism and rationalism in the world.

Many in the world were not aware of the strong atheist movement in India and the ancient atheist traditions, she said and added that the inauguration of the International Atheist Research Centre was a significant development. Social dimensions of the research centre were “immense”, she said, adding that humanist and atheist theory should be discussed thoroughly and the findings shared.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/saraswathi-gora-was-a-great-humanist/article3948618.ece

[2on2u]

1. My God, what a great human being. n/t

[cbayer]

2. I was one of those who was unaware of the atheist movement in India.

Sounds like her work in the areas of humanism and feminism have been great.

[rug]

3. The Carvaka school of Hinduism has been around for 2700 years.

The atheist movement in India, old as it is, is in its infancy compared to how long atheist thought has existed there.

The modern movement, from its inception, has had a social agenda beyond atheism.

http://atheistcentre.in/HistoryRemovalofUntouchability.html

[Odin2005]

4. Where is Vehl? He'd like this article.