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{{short description|Rationalist group based in Kerala}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham
| image = Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham Logo.png
|founded_date = {{Start date and age|1969|df=y}}
| caption = '''കേരള''' <Br /> '''യുക്തിവാദി സംഘം'''<Br /> ('''KYS''')
|location_country = Kerala, [[India]]
| affiliations = Associate Member, [[Humanist International]], headquartered in London
|homepage = {{URL|http://keralayukthivadisangham.org/}}
}}
{{Renaissance of Kerala}}
'''Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham''' (KYS, {{lit|Kerala Rationalist Association}}) is a well known [[rationalist]] organization based in [[Kerala]], India. It stands for rationalism and humanism. It is the initiator of the umbrella organization for rationalism and humanism, [[Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations]]. The Rationalist Movement in Kerala had started with ''the Sahodara Sangham'' (Fraternity Forum), formed by [[Sahodaran Ayyappan|K. Ayyappan]] on May 29, 1917, at Cherai, in Ernakulam. This fraternity forum propagated 'Mishra Bhojanam' (feasting without caste discrimination), which was unthinkable as well as very revolutionary at the time. These movements paved way for a rationalist organization (Yukthivadi Sangham) which started functioning in 1967. Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham is the continuation of this parent avatar. It has units in all the districts in Kerala and in the Union Territorial district of Mahi. [[Yukthirekha]], a monthly in Malayalam, is the official organ of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, which has been in circulation since 1983. KYS has a youth wing, Humanist Youth Movement, and a parallel wing, ''Kerala Misra Vivahavedi'', a sub-organisation for the cause of inter-religious and inter-caste married lives. KYS also manages [[A. T. Kovoor|A T Kovoor]] Trust and [[Pavanan]] Institute, named after A T Kovoor and Pavanan respectively. KYS is an associate organization of International Humanist Ethical Union, now [[Humanist International]], headquartered in London.

==History==
[[Kerala]] rationalist movement is a continuation of Sri Narayana Movement. [[Sahodaran Ayyappan]] a favorite disciple of Sri [[Narayana Guru]], changed the Guru's slogan ''Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu'' (One Caste, One Religion, One God for Human-beings) to ''Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda Manushyanu'' (No Caste, No Religion, No God for Human-beings). Ayyappan organized the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherhood Association), and started two magazines ''“Sahodaran” ''and'' “[[Yukthivadi]]”.''
In August 1931 [[M. C. Joseph]] became ''Yukthivadi'''s sole editor-publisher and shifted the publication to Irinjalakkuda.

In 1935 a Yukthivadi Sangham was registered at Cochin [[M. C. Joseph]] as secretary and [[Panampilly Govinda Menon]] as treasurer.

[[Mookencheril Cherian Joseph|M. C. Joseph]] managed ''Yukthivadi'' magazine without any interruption For forty five years until June 1974.

The vibrant rationalist movement that is seen in Kerala today is undoubtedly the direct consequence of the ideas spread by ''Yukthivadi'' for more than half a century.

The existing Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham (KYS) was formed at Kozikode in 1969 May Adv. M. Prabha as president and P.S. Raman Kutty as Secretary. '''''Yukthi Darsanam''''' is the philosophical text of KYS. Many militant rationalists like MBK, [[Joseph Edamaruku]], P.V. Velayudhan Pilla, U.Kalanadhan, [[Pavanan]], [[Johnson Eyeroor]], Padmanabhan Pallath, Gangan Azikode, Rajagopal Vakathanam, Dhanuvachapuram Sukumaran, Sabhari Girish, Adv. Anil Kumar etc. had led the KYS in different times.

The periods of [[Abraham Kovoor]] and [[Basava Premanand]] is known as the golden eras of Rationalism. The ''Janayugam Varika'', a Weekly owned by [[Communist Party of India]] by the chief editorship of [[Kambisseri Karunakaran]], propagated their articles and rationalism in large scale.

The organization publishes a monthly magazine, ''Yukthirekha'' in [[Malayalam]] and a quarterly ''The Secular Humanist'' in English. The well-known rationalist [[Pavanan]] was founder and editor of ''Yukithirekha'' and was president of the organization for several years. Other presidents have included U. Kalanathan.<ref>{{Citation | title=Media cautioned against sensationalising suicide | url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/11/stories/2004091102310300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041104055555/http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/11/stories/2004091102310300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2004 | date=September 10, 2004 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="khaleej"/>

Like many rationalist organizations in India they conduct demonstrations to expose [[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|god men]] as frauds.<ref>{{Citation | title=Spiritual fraudsters under scanner in Kerala | url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14677873 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202100019/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14677873 | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 2, 2013 | work=[[Press Trust of India]] | publisher=[[Sify]].com | date=May 20, 2008 | access-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=Kerala: Godmen's Own Country! | url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/may/21god.htm | date=May 21, 2008 | work=Rediff News Bureau | publisher=[[Rediff.com]] | access-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> They also support those who defy fundamentalist taboos<ref>{{Citation | title=Daring to defy conventions to live together | author=Menon, Leela | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990113/01350025.html | newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] | date=January 13, 1999 | access-date=August 17, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and support inter-caste marriages.<ref name="HinduFeature">{{Citation | title=Leading life, rationally | url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/16/stories/2006051619590300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105073028/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/16/stories/2006051619590300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 5, 2012 | author=Kurian, Sangeeth | date=May 16, 2006 | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | access-date=August 17, 2009 }}</ref> They have also been involved in public debate over school textbooks.<ref name="khaleej">{{Citation|title=Textbook pits religious groups against rationalists |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/June/subcontinent_June1059.xml&section=subcontinent&col= |author=Devasia, T.K. |newspaper=[[Khaleej Times]] |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608212709/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data%2Fsubcontinent%2F2008%2FJune%2Fsubcontinent_June1059.xml&section=subcontinent&col= |archive-date=June 8, 2011 }}</ref>

The organization claims over 3,000 members across Kerala.<ref name="HinduFeature"/>

==See also==
* [[Maharashtra Rationalist Association]]
*[[Maharashtra Rationalist Association#Current status|Sapiens Foundation]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://keralayukthivadisangham.org}}



{{Skeptic Organizations}}

Campaign Against Superstition: http://scientifictemper.hpage.com

[[Category:Rationalist groups based in India]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kerala]]

{{India-culture-stub}}

Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham - Revision history

CleanupBot at 09:14, 27 August 2023