Freedom fighter, social reformer and atheist leader Gora’s focus had always been on promoting atheism as the alternative to theism. “Godliness is negative; it merely denies the existence of god. Atheism is positive; it asserts the condition that results from the denial of god,” said atheist and poet Ranjeet, on Saturday.
Addressing a seminar on “Atheism and Social Progress’ organised to mark Gora’s 40{+t}{+h}death anniversary, Mr. Ranjeet said man should attribute his power to the nature and not to god. “Until I met Gora, I was a mere atheist. But after meeting him, I became an active atheist. Gora had seamlessly blended atheism and social reforms,” he said.
He said while people across the world hesitated to call themselves ‘atheists’, they would rather be known as ‘humanists’ or ‘rationalists’, Gora openly declared himself as a staunch atheist who would work relentlessly to promote atheism as a way of life.
Sunanda Shet, Professor of History, Nirmala College, Coimbatore, said people like Gora can never die. “He lives in the positive change that is happening around. He believed in revolution of mind; an intellectual revolution. He was an institution; an institution of change,” he said.
Vijayam, who presided over the session, recalled how after being forced to give up his profession as a college lecturer in 1940 for expressing his views on atheism, Gora along with his wife Saraswathi, co-founded the Atheist Centre. He engaged himself in the promotion of adult education and the eradication of ‘untouchability’.
G. Samaram said Gora insisted on empowering people at the grass root level. Former MP C. Vidya highlighted his role as a champion of women’s rights.
