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{{Short description|Indian organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations
| formation = {{start date and age|1997}}
| type = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit organisation]]
| purpose = To work for implementation of Art. 51AH of Indian Constitution and for its fundamental rights except Art. (30)
| leader_title = Founder
| leader_name = [[Basava Premanand]]
| region_served = [[India]]
| website = {{url|http://fira.org.in/}}
}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

The '''Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations''' ('''FIRA''') is an umbrella body of 83 (as of 2012)<ref name="MR">{{Cite web |url=http://new.modernrationalist.com/2012/03/viii-fira-national-conference-v-kumaresan/ |title=VIII – FIRA National Conference – V.Kumaresan |author=Sankar |work=The Modern Rationalist |date=8 March 2012 |access-date=22 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113837/http://new.modernrationalist.com/2012/03/viii-fira-national-conference-v-kumaresan/ |archive-date=26 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[rationalist]], [[atheist]], [[Scientific skepticism|skeptic]], [[secularist]] and [[scientism|scientist]] organisations in [[India]].

As an apex body of rationalist organisations, it is committed to the [[Public awareness of science|development of scientific temper]] and [[humanism]] in India, involved in promoting [[Toleration|tolerance]], [[critical thinking]], [[women's rights]], [[Secularism in India|secularization]], and [[Freedom of expression in India|freedom of expression]], and fighting against the [[Caste system in India|caste system]] and [[Caste-related violence in India|violence]] (especially towards [[Dalit|Dalit population]]), [[Superstition in India|superstition]], [[pseudoscience]], and [[child marriage]].

==History==
[[File:Basava Premanand.JPG|thumb|[[Basava Premanand]], founder-convener of FIRA]]
The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations was launched on 7 February 1997 following the 10th Kerala State Conference of [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]]. The stated purpose of the organization is to coordinate the activities of the member organizations at the national level.<ref name="About Us (FIRA)">{{cite web |title=About Us - FIRA |url=http://www.indiansceptic.in/fira.htm |website=Indian Sceptic |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

[[Basava Premanand]] is the founder of the FIRA who died on 4 October 2009.<ref name="Premanand Obituary">{{cite web |title=Basava Premanand - A Great Skeptic & Human Being |url=http://www.carvaka4india.com/2011/10/basava-premanand-great-skeptic-human.html |website=cārvāka 4 india |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> Shortly before his death, Premanand put out a statement declaring his commitment to rationalism to prevent false rumors that he had turned to god on his deathbed.<ref name="Premanand Declaration">{{cite web |last1=Nayak |first1=Narendra |title=Premanand in Abhirami Hospital, Coimbatore. |url=http://nirmukta.com/2009/09/22/premanand-in-abhirami-hospital-coimbatore/ |website=Nirmukta |access-date=18 January 2020|date=22 September 2009 }}</ref>

In 2004, Premanand put forth a proposal for [[Narendra Nayak]] to become president of FIRA at a general body meeting held at [[Bathinda|Bhatinda, Punjab]]. It was unanimously accepted. Premanand and Nayak met in 1980 or 1981 when Nayak was the secretary of [[Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association]].<ref name="Nayak Tribute Premanand">{{cite web |last1=Nayak |first1=Narendra |title=Premanand – My Ideological Father |url=http://nirmukta.com/2009/10/15/premanand-my-ideological-father/ |website=Nirmukta |access-date=18 January 2020|date=15 October 2009 }}</ref>
U. Kalanathan of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham is the current General Secretary of the organization. FIRA has grown from about 50 organizations in 2005 to 83 organizations in 2012.<ref name="FIRA History">{{cite web |title=History |url=http://fira.org.in/history/ |website=FIRA |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

== Affiliation to IHEU ==

FIRA is affiliated to [[Humanists International|International Humanist and Ethical Union]] and supports minimum statement on Humanism (as required by IHEU bylaw 5.1<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iheu.org/bylaws |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117101233/http://iheu.org/bylaws |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>) and the [[Amsterdam Declaration 2002]].

=== Minimum statement ===
<blockquote>"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."</blockquote>

== FIRA member organisations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Based in !! Founded !! Notes
|-
| [[Akhil Bhartiya Anddashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] || [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] || 1982<ref>{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.co.in/translate?hl=en&sl=mr&u=http://www.abans.org.in/&prev=search |title=Pvt. Shyam Manav, founder of Ashbhaashraddha Nirmulan Samiti |author= |date=17 November 2018 |website=www.abans.org.in |publisher=Akhilbhartiya Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti |access-date=17 November 2018 |quote=All India Superstition Nirmulan Samiti has been formed in 1982 from all over Maharashtra including Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan etc.}}</ref> || National organisation
|-
| [[AMOFOI (Anti-caste Marriage & One-child Family Organization of India)]] || [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Odisha]] || 1980|| Founding unit since 1997
|-
| [[Ananthapur Rationalist Association]] || [[Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh|Anantapur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Andhra Pradesh Rationalist Association]] || [[Khammam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[ARIVU]] || [[Bellary]], [[Karnataka]] || ||
|-
|[[Arjak Sangh]] || [[Faizabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Atheist Centre]] || [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || 1940 ||
|-
| [[Atheist Society of India]] || [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] ||13 February 1972 ||
|-
| [[AT Kovoor Memorial Trust]] || [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]] || ||
|-
| [[Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj]] || [[Patna]], [[Bihar]] || 1985 ||
|-
| [[Bombay-Gujarat Rationalist Association]] || [[Ankleshwar]], [[Gujarat]] || ||
|-
| [[Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association]] || [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]] || 1976 ||
|-
| [[Democratic Action Forum of Dalits, Women and Minorities]] || [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]] || ||
|-
| [[Ekasila Activity and Education Society]] || [[Itarsi]]/[[Hoshangabad]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Federation of Karnataka Rationalist Associations]] || [[Karnataka]] || || State umbrella
|-
| [[Freethinkers Forum]] || [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]] || ||
|-
| [[Goa Science Forum]] || [[Goa]] || ||
|-
| [[Hyderabad Rationalist Forum]] || [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Indian CSICOP|Indian Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Paranormal]] || [[Podanur]], [[Tamil Nadu]] || 19?? ||
|-
| [[Jana Vijnana Vedika]] || [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Karnataka Federation of Rationalist Associations]] || [[Karnataka]] || || State umbrella
|-
| [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]] || [[Kerala]] || 1935 || <ref>[http://www.keralayukthivadi.org/ Kerala Yukthivadi website]</ref>
|-
| [[Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] (MANS) || [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]] || 1989<ref name="not against">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/he-was-not-against-god-but-fought-exploitation/article5042507.ece?ref=relatedNews |title=He was not against God but fought exploitation |author=Priyanka Kakodkar |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> || Maharashtra state branch
|-
| [[Manava Vikasa Vedika]] || [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] || ||
|-
| [[Manavatavadi Vishwa Sansthan]] || Rajghat, [[Kurukshetra]], [[Haryana]] || ||
|-
| [[Mandya Science Forum]] || [[Mandya]], [[Karnataka]] || ||
|-
| [[Orissa Rationalist Association]] || [[Odisha]] || ||
|-
| [[Periyar Rationalists Forum]] || [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]] || ||
|-
| [[Rationalists' Forum]] || [[Tamil Nadu]] || ||
|-
| [[Rationalist Society]] || [[Haryana]] || ||
|-
| Sunday [[Maharashtra Rationalist Association#Current status|Sapiens]]|| [[Mumbai]] ||2018
|Founding activities since 2012
|-
| [[Satya Shodhak Sabha]] || [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]] || ||
|-
| [[Science and Rationalists' Association of India]] || [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]] || 1985 ||
|-
| [[Science for Society]] || [[Jharkhand]] || 2010 ||
|-
| [[Science for Society]] || [[Bihar]] || 2010 ||
|-
| [[Science Trust]] || [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]] || ||
|-
| [[Soshit Samaj]] || [[Jharkhand]] || ||
|-
| [[Tarksheel Society]] || [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] || 1984<ref name="Ohmy">{{Citation | url=http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=328911 | title=Man With a Mission: Indian teaches science to locals to overcome superstitions | author=Nagar, Munish | newspaper=[[OhmyNews]] | date=8 May 2006 | access-date=18 August 2009 }}</ref> || <ref>[http://www.tarksheel.org Tarksheel website]</ref>
|-
| [[TRUST]] || [[Bhubaneswar]] || ||
|-
| [[Vicharavadi Sangham]] || [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]] || ||
|}

== National conferences ==
FIRA has so far convened twelve national conferences:
# [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]]: 7 February 1997
# [[Hyderabad (India)|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]: 21 & 22 March 1998
# [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]: 7, 8 & 9 December 2001
# [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]]: 10 & 11 May 2003
# [[Bhatinda]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]: 2, 3 & 4 April 2004
# [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]: 28 & 29 April 2007
# [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]: 26 & 27 December 2009
# [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]]: 11 & 12 February 2012
# [[Brahmapur, Odisha]]: 24 & 25 December 2014
# [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]]: 24 & 25 February 2017
# [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]: 5 & 6 January 2018
# [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]: 9, 10 & 11 August 2019

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
FIRA CONFERENCE - NAGPUR-2.jpg|Delegates of 8th National Conference of FIRA held in [[Nagpur]]
Exposing Miracles - FIRA CONFERENCE - NAGPUR.JPG|A delegate exposing a so-called 'miracle' of eating fire at the 8th FIRA conference in [[Nagpur]]
FIRA CONFERENCE - NAGPUR-1.JPG|Banner for 8th FIRA National Conference
FIRA CONFERENCE - NAGPUR- inauguration.JPG|Dr Vilas Sapkal, vice chancellor, [[Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University]], inaugurating the 8th National Conference of FIRA held in [[Nagpur]] by cutting a string of seven chilies and a lemon, a charm commonly used by Hindus to ward off evil
</gallery>

== Targeted attacks on rationalists ==
[[File:Gauri Lankesh.jpg|thumb|Gauri Lankesh, 14 January 2012]]
[[File:Sunday Papers 2018 Shantanu Abhyankar.webm|thumb|Our Fight to Bring in the Anti-black Magic Law in India, presented by Shantanu Abhyankar at [[CSICon]] 2018]]
Although India is a secular democracy, [[Blasphemy law|blasphemy laws]] are still enforced under the Indian penal code and threats of violence are common for members of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations. Secular organizations such as FIRA have received pushback and protest from far-right groups.<ref name="Hostility Against Nonreligious">{{cite web |last1=Dore |first1=Bhavya |title=Nonreligious in India face hostility, danger |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/nonreligious-india-face-hostility-danger |website=National Catholic Reporter |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Gauri Lankesh]] was assassinated by an unknown terrorist in her home. She was a journalist and rationalist. She was outspoken against [[Hindutva]], a right-wing Indian nationalist movement. The ''Columbia Journalism Review'' states that the Hindutva is "associated with activities ranging from lynchings, riots, and bomb blasts to threats of rape, dismemberment, incarceration, and hanging of people critical of them and their sectarian idea of India."<ref name="Gauri Lankesh">{{cite web |last1=Deb |first1=Siddhartha |title=The killing of Gauri Lankesh |url=https://www.cjr.org/special_report/gauri-lankesh-killing.php |website=Columbia Journalism Review |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> [[Narendra Nayak]] of FIRA, along with many other international skeptical organizations, condemned the assassination of Gauri Lankesh in a [[Center for Inquiry|CFI]] press release stating, "as a fellow member on the hit list of these organizations, I feel sad that I have lost a good friend and a supporter. She was one of those who was not afraid to speak her mind on any issue which she felt was important."<ref name="Gauri Lankesh Press Release">{{cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL SKEPTIC ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN THE MURDER OF GAURI LANKESH IN INDIA |url=https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/international_skeptic_organizations_condemn_the_murder_of_gauri_lankesh_in_/ |website=Center for Inquiry |access-date=18 January 2020|date=8 September 2017 }}</ref>

[[Narendra Dabholkar]] of the [[Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] (MANS) was assassinated by gun shot on 20 August 2013 in [[Pune|Pune, Maharashtra]]. The assassination followed the introduction of the [[Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act|Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill]] which was deemed "anti-Hindu" by far-right groups.<ref name="Narendra Dabholkar">{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Deepshikha |title=Renowned rationalist Narendra Dabholkar shot dead in Pune |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/renowned-rationalist-narendra-dabholkar-shot-dead-in-pune-532180 |website=NDTV |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> In 2018, Dr. Shantanu Abhyankar, President, Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, presented at [[CSICon]] discussing the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill.

== See also ==
*[[Prabir Ghosh]]
*[[Basava Premanand]]
*[[List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal]]
*[[Narendra Nayak]]
*[[Narendra Dabholkar]]

=== Similar organisations ===
*[[Indian Humanist Association]]
*[[Indian Rationalist Association]]
*[[A. B. Shah|Indian Secular Society]]
*[[Radical Humanist association of India|Radical Humanist Association of India]]
*[[Maharashtra Rationalist Association]]
*[[Science and Rationalists Association of India]]
*Manavatavadi Vishwa Sansthan (The International School of Humanitarian Thoughts and Practice), Rajghat, Kurukshetra, Haryana

*[[Manavavedhy Kerala]]

=== Rationalism and science in ancient India ===
*[[Ajita Kesakambali]]
*[[Atheism in Hinduism]]
*[[Charvaka|Cārvāka]]
*[[History of science and technology in the Indian subcontinent|History of science and technology in India]]
*''[[Barhaspatya sutras|Bārhaspatya Sūtras]]''
*''[[Lokayata: A Study in Ancient Indian Materialism]]''

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.carvaka4india.com/2012/03/8th-fira-national-conferance.html Report on 8th National Conference of FIRA held in Nagpur in February 2012]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714110116/http://www.modernrationalist.com/2010/january/page04.html Report on 7th National Conference of FIRA in ''The Modern Rationalist'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040117113327/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/05/31/stories/2003053100110300.htm Report on Fourth National Conference of FIRA in ''The Hindu'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070604012932/http://www.iheu.org/node/1329 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]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060426232715/http://www.iheu.org/node/552 Humanism in India today] IHEU report
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050512/aplus.htm FIRA's Proposal] : A brief report in [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|''The Tribune'']], [[Chandigarh]], on the demonstration organized by ''FIRA'' in support of [[Secularism]] on Parliament Street in [[New Delhi]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091214133711/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=233548 Rationalists target yoga, spirituality, Art of Living] : Report in [[Indian Express]] on the 6th National Conference of FIRA (Accessed on 2 May 2007)
* [http://www.carvaka4india.com/ Carvaka4India.com]
* [http://www.rationalthoughts.org RationalThoughts.org]

{{Skeptic Organizations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Federation Of Indian Rationalist Associations}}
[[Category:Rationalist groups based in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Secularism in India]]

Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations - Revision history

UpdateBot at 19:07, 28 June 2022