An uncompromising atheist leader

An era has gone with the demise of one of the greatest atheist leaders of the twentieth century, Lavanam, in Vijayawada on Friday. He was one of the close associates of a number of Gandhians including Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He stayed in Sevagram Ashram for a number of years and studied Gandhism. He could be described as one of the rare authorities on the Gandhism.

Lavanam was born during the Salt Satyagraha movement, and was hence named after salt (Lavanam) by his illustrious father Gora (Goparaju Ramachandra Rao) who himself was a pioneer in the atheistic movement in the country. Lavanam followed in the footsteps of his father since childhood, after discontinuing education at the age of ten.

Though he had no formal education, he was a fountain of knowledge. Just sitting with him would make you learn umpteen things in life. Lavanam married Hemalata, daughter of another illustrious personality and Navayuga Kavi Chakravarti of the twentieth century, Gurram Joshua.

I had the privilege of meeting him when he conducted the atheist study classes in 1976. That was the beginning of our intense relationship over philosophy of atheism. I used to listen carefully whenever he addressed meetings. In 1977 November, a huge tidal wave hit Divi Seema in which several thousands of people died.

He immediately rushed along with his wife Hemalata, another wonderful personality, to Gandhi Kshetram of the then Minister for Education, Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao, at Avanigadda which became the centre for rehabilitation for the next few years. No need to say I was along with him.

I was given the task of preparing socio-economic survey of agriculture labourers, small and marginal farmers in the tidal wave-affected villages in Divi Seema. I travelled extensively in all the 33 villages, which were virtually wiped out due to the tidal wave, to prepare the survey report.

In 1978, the former criminals of Kapparala Tippa settlement in Kavali appealed to Lavanam for rehabilitation. He convinced the district administration that these ex-criminals really intended to change their life style and join the mainstream. The district administration agreed to give house site and two acres of land for undertaking agriculture to each of them.

While distributing land pattas to the former criminals, Lavanam said that theft was also one of the 64 arts in the Indian culture. Even kings before they were crowned needed to prove their talent in theft also. Like that these former criminals were also being crowned i.e. Pattabhishekam with land pattas. Hence, they should not continue the burglaries, he said much to the applause of the audience.

Again in 1979, there were floods in Prakasam district which washed away several villages. We – Lavanam, Hemalata Lavanam and I – rushed to these villages for undertaking relief and rehabilitation work. Oxfam and Save the Children Fund came forward to fund the relief and rehabilitation work. A centre was started and the children were given nourishment before the villages were brought to regular life.

When I introduced Rajyalakshmi to him in 1980, he congratulated me and encouraged me to marry her. We got married at the Atheist Centre in January 1981. Due to the knowledge I had acquired while following him everywhere, it had become an easy task for me to become a journalist and I never looked back since then.

In 1989, after Vijayawada MLA Vangaveeti Mohan Ranga was murdered, there were riots all over the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. He took an initiative and launched a peace march with hundreds of followers to bring back peace among people.

By M V Syam Sundar