Dr. K.Veeramani
President
Dravidar Kazhagam
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Vanakkam. Vigorous social worker Dr. Samaram, dynamic, action-oriented Vikas Gora, all the members of Gora and Saraswathi Gora family, every one associated with the Atheist Centre – Vijayawada, the VIPs on the dais and off the dais –
I wish you all a thundering success of this historic international conference. It is a great occasion for all of us. I sincerely regret my inability to be physically present at the venue but feel great pleasure in addressing you virtually. I am sorry, I could not meet you all in person for the exchange of our ideas.
I was greatly shocked by the passing away of Arjuna Rao who had been a staunch Atheist at our Gora Centre. He had led his entire life converting his atheist principles into action. His activities were certainly monumental. I convey my deep concern and regret. When I heard the sad news, I immediately condoled. My heartfelt consolation to Ms. Manorama on behalf of our Dravidar Kazhagam
My dear friends, I always remember everyone associated with our Gora Centre, which is a dynamic force. I recall the enthusiasm of Dr.Vijayam, Lavanam and several others. But for their invaluable contributions, our Gora Centre could not have attained such a massive growth because the foundation was laid by them. We also recall with pride, our founder Gora Garu who was the most committed person who strove for social changes. He lived and died as an atheist.
Periyar Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925. Gora was then a lecturer in colleges after his post graduation in Natural Sciences. In 1938, the management of a college prohibited him from publishing his views on atheism. Another college dismissed him for contributing to a magazine an article under the caption, “The Conception of God.” He was penalised by many institutions over his ideal of atheism. His principles were condemned and action was taken but Gora never bothered about the hurdles.
Gora used to ask, “Am I to be sandwiched between rival forces and my noble principles?” His wife Saraswathi Gora always stood by him as a strong pillar of support. They never aspired for a comfortable life or luxuries. They sacrificed everything and got into the stream of public life. They were also dedicated freedom fighters. They addressed hundreds of public meetings on atheism and also worked in the slums of the downtrodden people. Political aspects hindered them a lot. The gullible mass didn’t support Gora and madam Saraswathi Gora, but they took a strong stand and continued their fight. The denial of God was the very important Principle of Atheism for them. Gora preferred principles to force.
Gora daringly travelled to every nook and corner of the country and highlighted his belief that atheism was the only way out to curb social isolations. he stressed that atheism is not a negative concept, but in fact a positive concept. He wanted to explain how an atheist is different from a theist and also better than him in the way of his life.
This made Gora write an excellent book “POSITIVE ATHEISM”. It was published in 1972 by Atheist Centre, Vijayawada, three years before his passing away in 1975. This book offers guidelines to every individual to plan his or her own life with full initiative and moral responsibility.
Gora spread his Atheist principle throughout his life, and always stood by it with unflinching resolve. The entire Gora family members, including the fifth as well as the sixth generation have accepted Gora’s ideology. They are all following the principles of Gora and Saraswathi Gora. This is certainly an exceptional family. Gora Centre has spread its wings throughout the world. The Atheist Centre founded by Gora is today an internationally acknowledged, renowned centre hailed for its principles. Our Dravidar Kazhagam feels proud of its association with Gora Centre. We are also thankful for the patronage of this popular Atheist Centre.
Gora Centre has been conducting once in 2 or 3 years magnificent international conferences. It is indeed commendable. The topics and subjects of all the seminars were highly significant. A few years back, we had a good opportunity of a meeting on behalf of Gora Centre in Tamil Nadu also. We shall convene such conferences in the years to come too. The caption chosen by you for this conference “Atheism: Secular Thought and Social Action” is indeed a very timely one and quite apt to the discussion.
The concept of secularism is already adumbrated in the Constitution of India. It gives us some sort of solace. But how far it is going to be translated into action is very important. It is a million dollar question in my opinion. It also makes us compare our Constitution to the American Constitution. They are supposed to have a consistently secular constitution but today we find it turned topsy-turvy. Every political leader, irrespective of party, used to say, “God bless America”. Even on the US currency notes we find the words “In God We Trust”.
In our country we believe only our Constitution because sovereignty does not lie in God. We have not left our sovereignty under the custody of God. Our sovereignty lies only in the people of India. Therefore in the preamble of our Constitution, it has been clearly stated, “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, social, secular, democratic republic, …..” It implies that it is not only a republic, but also a democratic republic. It also implies, not only a democratic republic, but also a secular democratic republic.
But what is happening today is the most important question. I would like to bring one important point to the attention of the august audience at your venue. It is about the makers of our Constitution, the founding fathers of the Constitution. I quote now from the Indian Constitution debate excerpts. During the debate, the late H.V.Kamath had unfolded a very interesting aspect. Kamath was a renowned socialist and a leading member of the Constituent Assembly. He moved an amendment to the preamble to the effect that the first sentence of the preamble was, as suggested by him, reframed thus “In the name of God, We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, secular, democratic republic, …..”
Kamath wanted the Constitution to be consecrated to a solemn dedication to God, in the spirit of Bhagavad Gita. I refer this to the book, “L.G.Havanur Endowment Lecture.” The amendment was supported by a few and opposed by many. This is history and the audience listening to me should know about it.
A political leader M. Thirumal Rao, who hailed from the then undivided Andhra Pradesh State, opposed the amendment and pleaded that God should not be subjected to the oath of the house. Pandit H.N.Khusru too said, “The sacred feeling should not have been brought into any array of discussion.” The proposed amendment was inconsistent with the preamble and with the promises “Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship to everyone.”
Thereafter Kamath insisted on a voice-vote and the amendment was negatived by 41 against 68. Reflecting on the outcome, Kamath said, “This Friday is a black-day in our annals. God save India!”
Whether God saved India or not is a debatable point. But we have to thank Babasaheb Ambedkar, the great revolutionary. He also swam against the current when he was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. My dear friends, this is in brief the history of secularism. It has now turned topsy-turvy. People have started building “Ram-Temple” and the foundation was laid by the Prime Minister. Where is secularism?
We can tolerate social inaction, but this is in absolute contrast. That is more important. Whenever there is launch of a new project, we find performance of pooja and spiritual offerings. This can be seen everywhere these days. I am not in any sort of political discussion now. I stick purely to the subject of the current conference.
They say, Ram-Temple would be built before the elections of 2024. Let them go ahead. It is their concern. But what about the routine lives of our people? What about unemployment problem? There is an army of unemployed youth. People are struggling for survival. What is the answer? What is the solution for all the burning problems? This is my question at this juncture.
Let me cite an example pertaining to the State of Tamil Nadu. The Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project remains shelved for nearly two decades. If it is completed, thousands of young men would get employment and acquire livelihood. But the vital project was prevented by the orders of the Supreme Court of India. The project was shelved owing to sheer political animosity. More than 2,000 crore rupees were already spent towards a large part of the work. Only 23 k.m. long construction work was pending when the project was abruptly stopped. 400 miles of navigational route could have been saved, if the project had been completed. That would have been a milestone achievement for the country, similar to the famous Suez Canal and the Panama Canal projects. But it remains a dream for us. On what account? They said there was an underwater bridge built by so-called ‘Ram’. The bridge is also known as ‘Adam’s Bridge’.
Recently one of the Union Government ministers exposed the myth while answering the query of a member in Parliament that there is no evidence to prove that a bridge was built by Ram. Oceanography experts agree with him and stress that it is absolute myth.
Public money to the tune of 2,000 crore rupees has gone to the drain since they have closed even the coast. The entire amount spent would be a dead investment if the project is not restarted. Our question is – what is the social action of the rulers in this particular issue related to Tamil Nadu? The theme of the current conference is “Atheism: Secular Thought and Social Action.” I have already spoken on secular thought. I am now coming to the other part of the topic – namely “Social Action”. Hence, I had to cite an example of social-inaction suffered by us in Tamil Nadu.
My dear friends, we have been discussing abstract principles time and again. Let us face the reality. So, it is our bounden duty to think concretely how the concepts affect our day-to-day life. How are we going to grow more food? How are we to get more employment opportunities? The superstition-seal is there preventing an outlet. The divine seal of superstition has automatically got imposed on us. Even the educated elite have no guts to oppose and expose it. It is therefore our duty. We may be small in number, but we need not bother about the numerical strength. Whether we are a microscopic minority or macroscopic majority is irrelevant. It is not the question of minority versus majority. It is the question of right versus wrong. That is very important.
I wish this conference at the Atheist Centre passes a very constructive resolution towards that end, to create a new society and to stand for real secularism.
Our leader Periyar had once rightly pointed out that people with political animosity have misinterpreted the term “Secularism”, quite intentionally. The original meaning has been distorted even today to mean – “Equal treatment to all religions”. It is unacceptable, indeed.
My dear friends, it is high time all of us collectively realised that mere principles are not important. How far they are translated into action and practice is important. We have to explain this to our people who are on the same wave length of our thoughts and ideals. We have to seriously plan how to mitigate all our sufferings and solve the burning problems. How are we to bring about necessary changes? That is very important. We must discuss all these in order to create a new society. Miseries in our day-to-day life should end by our collective efforts. Let there be secularism in practice – not in principle alone. I wish the current conference a thundering success.
Thank you dear friends.
