Call to propagate scientific temper

Vijayawada: ‘Atheism is my conclusion where as Humanism is my identity’ screams a banner at Siddhartha auditorium, which is playing host to the 9th World Atheist Conference, which kicked off on a grand note on Wednesday.

The environs of the auditorium saw eminent theists, rationalists and free thinkers, who descended on the city to be part of the congregation that will discuss in the conference on various issues posing, directly or indirectly, a grave challenge to atheism worldwide. This year’s theme of the conference is ‘The Necessity of Scientific Outlook and Secularism’.

“Science is the tool for the progress of humankind. Rise of communal forces and religious institutions has always hampered scientific research,” said Dr K Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam Chancelkor, Periyar Maniammai University in his inaugural address.

Addressing the gathering, Veeramani stressed the need to strengthen scientific outlook among younger generations and promote popular science. He also emphasised for development of scientific temper as the duty of every Indian citizen in the provision of the Indian Constitution Article 51 a (h).

Avinash Patil, Chairman, Maharastra Andhsharaddha Nirmulan Samiti exhorted that youth not to believe the superstitions which ruin the latest trends in the fields of science and technology. He appealed to the Central government to enforce strict laws to eliminate superstitions among the society Dr Volker Mueller of Humanist Freethinker Association, Norway pointed out that the philosophical and cultural background of a country like India provided stronger potential for a radical humanism. “In fact, India had an agnostic and atheistic philosophical tradition hundreds of thousands of years before any other part of the world,” he said.

J Mythri, chairperson of the Atheist Centre said, “Human’s are becoming slaves for superstitions. Separating religion and State was not enough. There is a greater need to strengthen the atheism in the modern world. Religion must be separated from education and culture too.” Later, Dr K Veeramani, along with Dr Volker Mueller released a souvenir containing articles written by eminent atheists, humanists and rationalists. Alfred Harald Perzold, Member of Parliament, Federal Republic of Germany, Robert Rustad, Norwegian Humanist Association, Dr Narendra Nayak, president, Federation of Indian Rationalist Association (FIRA), Babu Gogineni, IHEU, Hyderabad and others also spoke on the occasion.