Atheism is a science of living & giving

Vijayawada: Founded in 1940 in a small village of Mudunuru in Krishna district by Gora (Goparaju Ramachandra Rao) and his wife Saraswati Gora, the Atheist movement has grown to be a way of life for many. In fact, its relevance is growing with communal forces raising their heads in the name of religion. The ninth world Atheist Conference, which began here on Wednesday, showcased the relevance of atheism projecting it as a way of life with tolerance and higher respect to the human beings as basic principle.

Sharing the spread and survival of atheism all these years, Dr G Niyantha, told The Hans India on the sidelines of the conference that the youth were now looking at atheism as a science of life, keeping people of different sects, races, faiths, gender together despite differences. “Atheism had suffered heavily with the death of Gora first and later Saraswathi Gora, the founders. But, it survived the loss of the founders, with the initiatives of Dr Lavanam, who died in August 2015. It is not just Gora, Saraswati Gora and Lavanam that have left us over the years. There were many such leaders across the world but, the ideology is alive and active,” asserts Dr Niyantha.

The Atheist Centre had moved to its present location at Benz Center in Vijayawada in 1947 and since then, the place had been the epic center of this new concept of Atheism. It had held seven out of nine world conferences, leaving 3rd conference in Finland and 7th conference in Tiruchurapalli in Tamil Nadu. Perhaps this is the first world conference of the Atheists without the presence of its founders, but it looked no different as “Atheism is the way of life” in which people have confidence.

Chennupati Vidya, Mythri, Dr Samaram, Dr Maru and everyone in the family are dedicated to the service of the people. Dr Samaram’s weekly health education programme organized in his Vasavya Nursing Home, spreads health education to the patients and it had been a regular programme for over 16 years. The science exhibition in the hospital which is open to every visitor gives greatest knowledge on the human science to the children.

“The Atheism brought forward and widely spread by late Gora has come to stay now. It will remain forever, no matter the founders are alive or dead. It is gaining importance with communal forces raising their heads,” asserted Dr Niyantha.