Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations 3414858 221566678 2008-06-25T02:23:41Z Rjwilmsi 203434 gen fixes + format *date= in cite news/web/paper templates - full explanation [[User:Rjwilmsi#My_correction_of_dates_in_templates|here]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] '''Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations''' ('''FIRA''') is an umbrella body of more than 50<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050512/aplus.htm | title=FIRA’s proposal | publisher=[[India Tribune]] | date=2005-05-12 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-18}}</ref> [[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. ==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. [[Narendra Nayak|Prof Narendra Nayak]] of [[Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association]], [[Karnataka]] is the current national president of the association. And [[Kalanathan|U.Kalanathan]] of [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]] its General Secretary. ==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 [http://www.iheu.org/bylaws]) and the [[Amsterdam Declaration 2002]]. ===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''.'' ==Organizations associated with FIRA== #[[Akhil Bhartiya Anddashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] #[[Ananthapur Rationalist Association]], [[Ananthapur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] #[[Arjak Sangh]], [[Faizabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] #[[Atheist Center]], [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] #[[AT Kovoor Memorial Trust]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]] #[[Vicharavadi Sangham]], [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]] #[[Baratia Bigyan O Yuktibadi Samity]] #[[Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj]], [[Patna]], [[Bihar]] #[[Bombay-Gujarat Rationalist Association]], [[Ankaleshwar]], [[Gujarat]] #[[Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association]], [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]] #[[Goa Science Forum]] #[[Hyderabad Rationalist Forum]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] #[[Indian CSICOP|Indian Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Paranormal]], [[Podannur]], [[Tamil Nadu]] #[[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]], [[Kerala]] #[[Mandya Science Forum]], [[Mandya]], [[Karnataka]] #[[Orissa Rationalist Association]]. [[Orissa]] #[[Rationalists' Forum]], [[Tamil Nadu]] #[[Science for Society]], [[Jharkhand]] #[[Soshit Samaj]], [[Jharkhand]] #[[Tarksheel Society]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] (''The list is incomplete'') ==National Conferences== '''FIRA''' has so far convened six National conferences in various parts of India. They are: # [[Palakkad]], [[Kerala]] : February 7, 1997 # [[Hyderabad (India)|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]: March 21 & 22, 1998 # [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]: December 7, 8 & 9, 2001 # [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]]: May 10 & 11, 2003 # [[Bhatinda]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]: April 2,3 & 4, 2004 # [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]]: April 28 & 29, 2007 == 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]] *[[Narendra Dabholkar]] ===Similar organisations=== *[[Indian Humanist Association]] *[[Indian Rationalist Association]] *[[A. B. Shah|Indian Secular Society]] *[[Radical Humanist association of India]] *[[Science and Rationalists Association of India]] <!-- a google search of the SRAI website gives no hits, so I assume it is not a member. --Singkong2005--> == References == <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> <references/></div> ==External links== * [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/05/31/stories/2003053100110300.htm Report on Fourth National Conference of FIRA in ''The Hindu''] * [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]]. * [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]], on the demonstration organized by ''FIRA'' in support of [[Secularism]] on Parliament Street in [[New Delhi]] * [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) {{Skeptic Organizations}} [[Category:Indian rationalist groups]] [[Category:Humanist associations]] [[Category:Secularism organizations]] [[Category:Skeptic organisations]] [[Category:Atheism organizations]] [[Category:Organizations established in 1997]] [[Category:Organizations based in India]] [[Category:Supraorganizations]] [[Category:Secularism in India]]