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Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) is an
umbrella body of nearly 50
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.
A commoner
walking on burning charcoal in a Miracle Busting Programme
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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.
The Federation is affiliated to
International Humanist and Ethical Union, and supports minimum statement
on Humanism (as required by IHEU bylaw 5.1 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
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Akhil Bhartiya Anddashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti
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Ananthapur Rationalist Association,
Ananthapur,
Andhra Pradesh
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Atheist Center,
Vijayawada,
Andhra Pradesh
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AT Kovoor Memorial Trust,
Kozhikode,
Kerala
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Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj,
Patna,
Bihar
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Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association,
Mangalore,
Karnataka
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Dravidar Kazhagam,
Tamil
Nadu
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Goa Science Forum
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Hyderabad Rationalist Forum,
Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh
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Indian Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Paranormal,
Podannur,
Tamil
Nadu
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Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham,
Kerala
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Tamil Nadu Rationalist Forum
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Tarksheel Society,
Punjab
(The list is incomplete)
National Conferences
FIRA has so far convened five National conferences in various parts
of India. They are:
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Palakkad,
Kerala: February 7, 1997
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Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh: March 21 & 22, 1998
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Coimbatore,
Tamil
Nadu: December 7, 8 & 9, 2001
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Mangalore, Karnataka:
May 10 & 11, 2003
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Bhatinda,
Punjab: April 2,3 & 4, 2004
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