Introduction
We look back into our lives and review them either for ourselves or for others. We weigh the pros and cons of the past from the vantage of the present. Such a retrospect more often than not is colored by our looking at them from a time which is not its own. Our passions cool down and our past views change. It is next to impossible to relive our past, but retrospection is as valuable a psychological process as introspection. They may lead a man into dejection or inspire him to further action.
A man like Gora can hardly find time to spare for writing an autobiography. His life was so active and dynamic that he hardly found time to stand and stare. He was not a man to wait for things to shape his life. He endeavored all his life to shape them. He was of the firm opinion that free humans shape events and create conditions and slaves' lives are shaped by events. In choosing alternatives or giving a turn to events he displayed a rare dynamic spirit. In organizing campaigns for the establishment of social and economic equalities he could not indulge in the pleasure of sharing his personal experiences with others.
Gora suffered and struggled. He put up with hardships patiently and with a smile on his lips. If he had compromised his principles on any issue he would not have been Gora. With his family, friends and colleagues backing him up he weathered many a storm. Those who knew him personally know how he kept sufferings to himself and spared a smile for others. It was not self imposed suffering but he suffered for atheism. All his life was devoted to removing the prejudice against atheism and making it an acceptable and respectable term. He made atheism more positive than negative. In this he differed from other rationalists and agnostics. He fought against all religious racial, communal and caste labels. He stood for democracy, economic and social equalities. All his campaigns were directed towards this goal. He respected human personality and raised his voice against anything that denies or curbs human freewill.
In his hectic life, at the age of 73, he could spare a month to write about his past experiences, rather, in outline. Four days after finishing this draft he breathed his last. He didn't expect to die so early. He hoped to live actively, at least, for ten years more. When he was asked to write an autobiography, he pleaded lack of time. His mind was attuned more to programs of action than to cool retrospection. But he did look back on his life at its far end. We don't know what he would have done if he had lived longer. But what little he has given us of his autobiography is a precious picture of his life and message. Gora's life was intertwined with his philosophy. So, while he was narrating certain experiences and influences in his life he invariably gave expression to his views on human affairs. A careful reader will find in this book the quintessence of his life and views from his own pen. Gora lived and died an atheist.
We look back into our lives and review them either for ourselves or for others. We weigh the pros and cons of the past from the vantage of the present. Such a retrospect more often than not is colored by our looking at them from a time which is not its own. Our passions cool down and our past views change. It is next to impossible to relive our past, but retrospection is as valuable a psychological process as introspection. They may lead a man into dejection or inspire him to further action.
A man like Gora can hardly find time to spare for writing an autobiography. His life was so active and dynamic that he hardly found time to stand and stare. He was not a man to wait for things to shape his life. He endeavored all his life to shape them. He was of the firm opinion that free humans shape events and create conditions and slaves' lives are shaped by events. In choosing alternatives or giving a turn to events he displayed a rare dynamic spirit. In organizing campaigns for the establishment of social and economic equalities he could not indulge in the pleasure of sharing his personal experiences with others.
Gora suffered and struggled. He put up with hardships patiently and with a smile on his lips. If he had compromised his principles on any issue he would not have been Gora. With his family, friends and colleagues backing him up he weathered many a storm. Those who knew him personally know how he kept sufferings to himself and spared a smile for others. It was not self imposed suffering but he suffered for atheism. All his life was devoted to removing the prejudice against atheism and making it an acceptable and respectable term. He made atheism more positive than negative. In this he differed from other rationalists and agnostics. He fought against all religious racial, communal and caste labels. He stood for democracy, economic and social equalities. All his campaigns were directed towards this goal. He respected human personality and raised his voice against anything that denies or curbs human freewill.
In his hectic life, at the age of 73, he could spare a month to write about his past experiences, rather, in outline. Four days after finishing this draft he breathed his last. He didn't expect to die so early. He hoped to live actively, at least, for ten years more. When he was asked to write an autobiography, he pleaded lack of time. His mind was attuned more to programs of action than to cool retrospection. But he did look back on his life at its far end. We don't know what he would have done if he had lived longer. But what little he has given us of his autobiography is a precious picture of his life and message. Gora's life was intertwined with his philosophy. So, while he was narrating certain experiences and influences in his life he invariably gave expression to his views on human affairs. A careful reader will find in this book the quintessence of his life and views from his own pen. Gora lived and died an atheist.
Atheist Center
Patamata, Vijayawada. LAVANAM 13th November, 1975.
Following are the few topic covered in this Atheism ebook.
Patamata, Vijayawada. LAVANAM 13th November, 1975.
Following are the few topic covered in this Atheism ebook.
- Introduction
- The Change
- Thirst For Knowledge
- Clash With Parents
- The First Dismissal
- An Early Experiment
- The Second Dismissal
- To a Village
- Atheist Awakening
- My Children
- With Gandhi
- Political Action
- Between Gandhi and Marx
- Economic Equality
- Direct Action
- Seeking Election
- Are They Outrageous?
- Spread of Atheism
- Atheist Centers
- Future of Atheism