Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations

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Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) is an umbrella body of nearly 50^[1] rationalist, atheist, skeptic, secularist and science organisations in India. As an apex body of rationalist organisations, it is committed to the development of scientific temper and humanism in India.

Contents 1 The beginning 2 Affilation to IHEU 2.1 Minimum Statement 3 Organizations associated with FIRA 4 National Conferences 5 See also 5.1 Similar organisations 6 References 7 External links

[edit] The beginning

There are a number of rationalist, atheist, skeptic, and secularist groups active in various states and regions of India. It was to coordinate the activities of these organizations at the national level that as part of 10th Kerala State Conference of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, a meeting of activists from various parts of India was convened at Trivandrum, Kerala. The meeting decided to launch a federation of all the rationalist and skeptic associations active in India. As a result, the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations was launched on February 7, 1997 at Palakkad, Kerala. Basava Premanand of Indian CSICOP, Tamil Nadu was the founder-convener of the Federation.

Prof Narendra Nayak of Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association, Karnataka is the current national president of the association. And U.Kalanathan of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham its General Secretary.

[edit] Affilation to IHEU

The Federation is affiliated to International Humanist and Ethical Union, and supports minimum statement on Humanism (as required by IHEU bylaw 5.1 [1]) and the Amsterdam Declaration 2002.

[edit] Minimum Statement

"Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.

[edit] Organizations associated with FIRA

1. Akhil Bhartiya Anddashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti
2. Ananthapur Rationalist Association, Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh
3. Atheist Center, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
4. AT Kovoor Memorial Trust, Kozhikode, Kerala
5. Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj, Patna, Bihar
6. Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association, Mangalore, Karnataka
7. Dravidar Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu
8. Goa Science Forum
9. Hyderabad Rationalist Forum, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
10. Indian Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Paranormal, Podannur, Tamil Nadu
11. Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, Kerala
12. Tamil Nadu Rationalist Forum
13. Tarksheel Society, Punjab

(The list is incomplete)

[edit] National Conferences

FIRA has so far convened five National conferences in various parts of India. They are:

1. Palakkad, Kerala : February 7, 1997
2. Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh: March 21 & 22, 1998
3. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Decenber 7, 8 & 9, 2001
4. Mangalore, Karnataka: May 10 & 11, 2003
5. Bhatinda, Punjab: April 2,3 & 4, 2004

[edit] See also

• Prabir Ghosh, the legendary West Bengal rationalist and his $50,000 challenge against Godmen and astrologers
• Basava Premanand
• List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
• Narendra Nayak

[edit] Similar organisations

• Science and Rationalists Association of India

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Report on Fourth National Conference of FIRA in The Hindu
• Fighting for Separation of Religion and State in India : IHEU report on the demonstration organized by FIRA in support of Secularism on Parliament Street in New Delhi.
• Humanism in India today IHEU report
• FIRA's Proposal : A brief report in "The Tribune", Chandigarh, on the demonstration organized by FIRA in support of Secularism on Parliament Street in New Delhi

Skeptic Organizations

Australian Skeptics • Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj (India) • Center for Inquiry • Committee for Skeptical Inquiry • Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association (India) • Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham (India) • Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations • Irish Skeptics Society • James Randi Educational Foundation • New England Skeptical Society • Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science • Science and Rationalists' Association of India • Skepchick International • The Skeptics Society • Tarksheel Society (India)