Ramendra

From Philosopedia

Ramendra Nath (20th Century)

Dr. Ramendra, a reader in the department of philosophy at Patna College, Patna University, founded the Bihar Buddhiwadi [Rationalist] Samaj [Society] with his wife Dr. Kawaljeet in 1985.

In 1996 he founded the Buddhiwadi Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt educational trust that promotes rationalist-humanism and works to eradicate blind faith and superstition. Dr. Kawaljeet is the managing trustee of the organization. The two have written Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought, a work which contains life-sketches and philosophies of eight thinkers: Periyar, M. N. Roy, Ambedkar, Gora, Kovoor, A. B. Shah, Narsingh Narain, and Ramswaroop Verma.

Ramendra, who was born in a Hindu family, explains why he no longer is a Hindu in Why I Am Not a Hindu (1995):

• I have read and admired Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian. On the other hand, I have also read and disagreed with M.K.Gandhi's Why I Am a Hindu. My acquaintance with these writings has inspired me to write this [work], explaining why I am not a Hindu, though I was born in a Hindu family.

The work explains why he rejects the doctrine of the infallibility of the Vedas, varnashram dharma, moksha, karmavada, and avatarvada. In place of idol worship and ancient taboo, Ramendra advocates a humanistic secularism based on liberty, equality, and the inalienable rights of each individual.

He also wrote Is God Dead? (Kya Ishwar Mar Chuka Hai? 1998). He defends atheism by showing that the idea of “god” obstructs the growth of knowledge and morality.

(Why I Am Not a Hindu can be read online), as can Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism.

(See entry for his wife, Kawaljeet Kaur.)