>Citation bot at 06:45, 6 October 2021

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{{short description|Indian atheist}}{{Lead too long|date=July 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{use Indian English|date=April 2017}}

{{Infobox person
| name =Babu Gogineni
| image = Babu Gogineni.jpg
| birth_name = Rajaji Ramanadh Babu Gogineni<ref name="whoswho">{{Cite book
| last = Smith
| first = Warren Allen
| title = Who's who in hell: a handbook and international directory for humanists, freethinkers, naturalists, rationalists, and non-theists
| publisher = Barricade Books
| year = 2000
| isbn = 9781569801581
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinhellhan00smit
}}</ref><ref name="mis">{{cite news|url=https://misimi1990.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/misimi_2000_11.pdf/|title=Misimi - Monthly magazine|language=Telugu|work=Misimi|date=1 November 2000}}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad, Telangana]], India
| years_active = 1988–present{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
| occupation =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Nizam College]]
| movement = [[Humanism]]<ref name="whoswho"/>
| children =
}}

'''Babu Gogineni''' (born '''Rajaji Ramanadh''' in 1968<ref name=":0" />) is an Indian [[Humanism|Humanist]], [[Rationalism|rationalist]], and [[human rights]] activist,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/indias-own-carl-sagan-meet-babu-gogineni-science-populariser-hyderabad-70951|title=India's own Carl Sagan: Meet Babu Gogineni, the science populariser from Hyderabad|date=2 November 2017}}</ref> who served as Executive Director of the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] (IHEU).<ref name="iheu1">{{cite web|url=http://iheu.org/end-of-an-era-babu-gogineni-steps-down-as-iheu-director|title=End of an era: Babu Gogineni steps down as IHEU Director|work=IHEU Admin|date=23 March 2015}}</ref>

Gogineni is the founder of, [[South Asian]] Humanist Association<ref name="saha1">{{cite web|url=http://www.humanism.asia/events.html|title=Schedule - The Human Angle Lecture Series by Babu Gogineni|work=SAHA|date=2016}}</ref> and Indian Humanists.<ref name="ih1">{{cite web|url=http://indianhumanists.org/|title=Indian Humanists|date=2017}}</ref> He is also the founder and owner of Skillguru, a training organization and private business.<ref name="sguru">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-educationplus/Learning-foreign-languages-for-better-job-opportunities/article15943734.ece|title=Learning foreign languages for better job opportunities |work=The Hindu|date=4 May 2009}}</ref>

In his activism, Gogineni campaigns against established privilege and abuse of rights done in the name of religion.<ref name="wrnews">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/hinduism/second-world-conference-untouchability-held-friday-april-18|title=Second World Conference on Untouchability Being Held Until Friday April 18|work=World Religion News|date=15 April 2014}}</ref> During his time with the IHEU, he led IHEU's worldwide campaigns for the protection of Bangladeshi writer [[Taslima Nasreen]], bringing Pakistani freethinker [[Younus Shaikh]] to safety in Europe. In India, he successfully led the campaign for rehabilitation and [[Children's rights|protecting the rights]] of Sambhavi, a child who was claimed as a reincarnation of a Buddhist goddess.<ref name="nir1">{{cite web|url=http://nirmukta.com/2009/12/10/sambhavi-gudilona-badilona-story-of-a-humanist-campaign-against-religious-exploitation-of-a-child/|title=Sambhavi Gudilona, Badilona? Story of a Humanist Campaign Against Religious Exploitation of a Child|work=Nirmukta|date=10 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="sa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sacw.net/article1470.html|title='Child Goddess' Sambhavi has to go to School! Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission Orders|work=South Asia Citizens Web|date=15 June 2010}}</ref>

In 2003, Gogineni was one of the signatories to the [[Humanism and Its Aspirations|Humanist Manifesto]].<ref name="ah1">{{cite web | url=https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto3/signers/|title=Humanism and Its Aspirations: Notable Signers|work=American Humanist Association|accessdate=2 May 2017}}</ref> He also identifies himself as a [[Brights movement|Bright]].<ref name="bright">{{cite web | url=https://www.the-brights.net/people/enthusiastic/index3.html|title=Enthusiastic Brights|work=The Brights|accessdate=2 May 2017}}</ref> Gogineni writes in English, French and Telugu.<ref name="pn1">{{cite news|url=https://issuu.com/postnoon/docs/postnoon_epaper_for_22_january_2012/|title=Preaching in a Godless world|work=Postnoon|date=22 January 2012}}</ref> He was a columnist for Hyderabad-based daily newspaper ''[[Postnoon]]'' and wrote a column called "The Human Angle".<ref name="pn2">{{cite news|url=https://issuu.com/postnoon/docs/postnoon_epaper_for_01_may_2012/|title=The Human Angle - Babu Gogineni|work=Postnoon|date=2012}}</ref> He has also hosted a multi-language TV series called ''The Big Question with Babu Gogineni'' offering a Humanist perspective on [[science]] and [[civilization]].<ref name="sh1">{{cite web|url=https://www.saddahaq.com/the-big-question-with-babu-gogineni-10tv|title=The Big Question with Babu Gogineni|work=Saddahaq|date=26 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="saha1"/>

Gogineni travels domestically and internationally to spread humanism and awareness of social issues.<ref name="tedx1">{{cite web|url=http://tedxhyderabad.com/speaker/babu-gogineni/|title=TEDx Hyderabad - Babu Gogineni|work=TEDx|date=2015}}</ref><ref name="saha2">{{cite web|url=http://www.humanism.asia/docs/saha-flyer-v1.2.pdf|title=South Asian Humanist World Tour - The Human Angle Lecture Series by Babu Gogineni|work=SAHA|date=2016}}</ref> He speaks on television on [[Superstition in India|superstition]], [[science]], [[Humanism]] and [[human rights]].<ref name="wrnews"/>

He appeared on the [[Bigg Boss Telugu 2|second season]] of the reality TV show Bigg Boss Telugu. He was eliminated from the show after 63 days on Aug 12, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/bigg-boss-telugu-2-week-9-elimination-live-updates-babu-gogineni-evicted-nanis-show-777637|title=Bigg Boss Telugu 2 elimination live updates: Babu Gogineni evicted; humanist drops big bomb on Roll Rida|first=Shekhar H|last=Hooli|date=12 August 2018|publisher=}}</ref>

==Early life and activism==
Gogineni , the son of Aruna Kumari (née Vegunta) of [[Eluru]], [[West Godavari district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and Gurubabu of [[Tenali]], [[Guntur district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] was born in Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ap7am.com/lv-194772-open-heart-with-rk-gogineni-babu-on-his-family-background.html|title=Open Heart with RK: Gogineni Babu on His Family Background..|publisher=}}</ref> At the age of 18, he became the youngest certified [[French language]] teacher in Hyderabad.<ref name="whoswho"/> He later graduated from [[Nizam College]].<ref name="sos">{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrPQchfICB8|title=Secret of Success Interview - Babu Gogineni|work=INews|date=10 December 2016}}</ref>

He served as Joint secretary of Indian Radical Humanist Association, Bombay between 1988-1996; Vice-President of the Indian Rationalist Association, Hyderabad between 1993-1996; Secretary General of Rationalist Association India, Hyderabad between 1995-1996, and was part of South Asian Humanist Network, Bombay between 1995-1996, before moving to the United Kingdom in 1997, where he continued his activism work with the International Humanist and Ethical Union.<ref name="iheu1"/>

==IHEU career==
Gogineni was appointed as Executive Director of the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]] (IHEU) in 1997. He was associated with IHEU till 2015.<ref name="iheu1"/>

During his long association with IHEU, Gogineni implemented the IHEU's move to the [[United Kingdom]], turned IHEU into a multi-lingual proactive campaigning organization, arranged IHEU's lobbying efforts at an international level by securing Special Consultative status at the [[United Nations]], organized IHEU's first General Assembly (GA) in Africa, and conceptualized and founded the IHEU Centre for Bioethics at the UN in New York.<ref name="bg1">{{cite web|url=https://conwayhall.org.uk/speaker/babu-gogineni/|title=Conway Hall - Babu Gogineni|work=Conway Hall|date=29 September 2014}}</ref> He also helped organize IHEU's Congresses in Mumbai (1999), Amsterdam (2002) and Paris (2005), and its first GA in Africa (2004).<ref name="bg1"/><ref name="iheu1"/>

==Positions held==
* Executive Director, IHEU, from 1997 until 2015.<ref name="iheu1"/>

==Keynotes, Lectures and Debates==
*[[National Autonomous University of Mexico|Mexico National University]]'s Primavera lecture on [[Globalization]] at the Anthropology Museum of Mexico City, 1999.<ref name="bg1"/>
*''Hinduism and the Myth of Evolution'' at conference on ''Darwin, Humanism and Science'' sponsored by [[European Humanist Federation]], [[British Humanist Association]], and IHEU, 2009.<ref name="bg2">{{cite web|url=http://humanistfederation.eu/ckfinder/userfiles/files/our-work/darwin-humanism-science.pdf|title=Conference on Darwin, Humanism and Science - Report|work=European Humanist Federation|date=5 June 2009}}</ref>
*[[World Humanist Congress]] in Oxford, 2014.<ref name="iheu1"/>
*[[The Cambridge Union]] Society's Debate, Cambridge University, 2014.<ref name="bg1"/>
*''The Human Angle'' lecture series (30+ lectures) in the US and the UK at MIT/Harvard University Humanist Hub, University of South Florida, [[Birmingham Humanists|Asian Rationalist Society Birmingham]], South Asian Human Conference, North American Telugu Association (NATA) Conference, 2016.<ref name="saha1"/>
*''Championing the Light of Reason'' at TEDx Hyderabad, 2016.<ref name='tedx'>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOKm710g7A|title=Championing the Light of Reason: Babu Gogineni: TEDxHyderabad |work=TEDx|date=27 June 2016}}</ref>

==In media==
* ''What is Religion?'' a two-episode series of ''The Big Question'' radio program broadcast by [[BBC World Service]] featured Gogineni, 2004.<ref name='bbc1'>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p033jty7|title=What is religion - The Big Question|work=BBC|date=17 April 2004}}</ref><ref name='bbc2'>{{cite web|url=http://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/about-the-big-question?in_menu=13267|title=OU on the BBC: The Big Question - About the series |work=The Open University|date=30 March 2004}}</ref>
* ''Superstition Kills'', a documentary about [[superstition in India]], made by Henrik Thomé features Gogineni, 2009.<ref name='ssk'>{{cite web|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/06/12/superstition-kills-a-must-see-video/|title=Superstition Kills: A Must-See Video|work=Patheos|date=12 July 2009}}</ref>
* ''The Big Question with Babu Gogineni'', a TV series hosted by Gogineni on [[science]] and [[civilization]], 2015.<ref name="sh1"/>
* ''Open Heart With RK'', Season 2, [[ABN Andhra Jyothi]], 2015.<ref name='rk1'>{{cite news|url=http://www.aptoday.com/newsnpolitics/promo-open-heart-with-rk-babu-gogineni/18873/|title=Promo : Open Heart with RK - Babu Gogineni|work=AP Today|date=31 July 2015}}</ref>
* ''Secret of Success'', INews, 2016.<ref name='sos'/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFHuwZe_8ec ''Superstition kills'', a documentary about superstitions in India featuring Babu Gogineni]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOKm710g7A ''Championing the Light of Reason'', Babu Gogineni at TEDx Hyderabad]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gogineni, Babu}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Secular humanists]]
[[Category:Indian rationalists]]
[[Category:Indian humanists]]
[[Category:Indian atheism activists]]
[[Category:Writers from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:English-language writers from India]]
[[Category:Asian writers in French]]
[[Category:Telugu-language writers]]
[[Category:Pondicherry University alumni]]
[[Category:Bigg Boss Telugu contestants]]

Babu Gogineni - Revision history

>Citation bot at 06:45, 6 October 2021