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We Become Atheists
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.
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.
Unknown Binding
First published November 13, 1975
About the author
Goparaju Ramachandra Rao
7 books14 followersGoparaju Ramachandra Rao (nickname: Gora) (1902 – 1975) was an Indian social reformer, atheist activist and a participant in the Indian independence movement.
Gora was born on 15 November 1902, into an orthodox Telugu Brahmin family in Chhatrapur, Odisha, India. He pursued a botany degree, eventually earning his Master's in botany at Presidency College in Madras. He married Saraswathi Gora in 1922, when she was only 10. He taught botany at various institutes at Madurai, Coimbatore, Colombo and Kakinada, for fifteen years.
Gora started his activism against superstition in 1920s. He and his wife publicly viewed solar eclipses, as there was a superstitious belief that pregnant women should not do so. They stayed in haunted houses to dispel the myths around such places.
Gora used to run a monthly program called "cosmopolitan dinners" every full moon night, where people of all castes and religions gathered together. Gora insisted on staying in a Harijan locality whenever he was invited to address a village. He also conducted several inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. One of his own sons and daughters married spouses from untouchable castes.
In 1933, he was dismissed from the PR College in Kakinada for his atheist views. In 1939, he was dismissed from the Hindu College in Machilipatnam for the same reason.
In 1940, after his dismissal, he and his wife founded the Atheist Centre, in a small village called Mudunur in the Krishna district. The Atheist Centre was (and is) heavily involved in social reforms. On the eve of Independence in 1947, they moved the Atheist centre to Vijayawada. In 1941, he published his first book on atheism in Telugu, Atheism: There is no god (Telgu: Nasthikatvamu: Devudu ledu).
Throughout the 1940s, he worked in the Indian independence movement. In 1942, Gora along with his wife and eldest son were arrested during the Quit India Movement. Their 18-month son had to accompany his mother to the Royavellor jail.
Gora and Gandhi had several discussions, some of which have been recorded in the book An Atheist With Gandhi. Gandhi supported Gora's anti-untouchability reform movement, and remarked that he wished Gora would succeed in producing a Tuskegee in India.[8] Tuskegee in Alabama, United States, is an important site in Africa American history where Booker T. Washington established the Tuskegee University.
In 1949, Gora got his eldest daughter, Manorama, married to Arjuna Rao, who belonged to the Dalit community.[5] The marriage was held in Sevagram, in presence of Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1960, the marriage of his eldest son, Lavanam, with Hemalata, the daughter of Gurram Jashuva, was also held in Sevagram. He and his wife established two periodicals called Sangham and Arthika Samata.
In 1952, he contested in the parliamentary elections to propagate his idea of party-less democracy. In 1967, he also contested in the assembly polls.
Gora visited several nations in 1970 and 1974. He was in touch with the American atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. On 5 October 1970, O'Hair mentioned Gora and his Atheist Center on her radio show. In 1970, when Gora stopped in United States during his tour, he met O'Hair. They decided that a World Atheist Conference should be held every three years. Gora offered to host the first one in 1972. O'Hair was not able to attend as her visa was not approved in time.[9] The first World Atheist Conference was held on 1972. After the event, Gora published a book in English called Positive Atheism. Gora organized a pork and beef dinner on 15 August 1972, as the dishes are considered sacrilegious in some religions.
Gora died on 26 July 1975 in Vijayawada. His autobiography, completed a few days before his death, was published in 1976. The Atheist Centre continued under the guidance of Saraswathi Gora, until her death in 2006 on 19 August.
Gora was born on 15 November 1902, into an orthodox Telugu Brahmin family in Chhatrapur, Odisha, India. He pursued a botany degree, eventually earning his Master's in botany at Presidency College in Madras. He married Saraswathi Gora in 1922, when she was only 10. He taught botany at various institutes at Madurai, Coimbatore, Colombo and Kakinada, for fifteen years.
Gora started his activism against superstition in 1920s. He and his wife publicly viewed solar eclipses, as there was a superstitious belief that pregnant women should not do so. They stayed in haunted houses to dispel the myths around such places.
Gora used to run a monthly program called "cosmopolitan dinners" every full moon night, where people of all castes and religions gathered together. Gora insisted on staying in a Harijan locality whenever he was invited to address a village. He also conducted several inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. One of his own sons and daughters married spouses from untouchable castes.
In 1933, he was dismissed from the PR College in Kakinada for his atheist views. In 1939, he was dismissed from the Hindu College in Machilipatnam for the same reason.
In 1940, after his dismissal, he and his wife founded the Atheist Centre, in a small village called Mudunur in the Krishna district. The Atheist Centre was (and is) heavily involved in social reforms. On the eve of Independence in 1947, they moved the Atheist centre to Vijayawada. In 1941, he published his first book on atheism in Telugu, Atheism: There is no god (Telgu: Nasthikatvamu: Devudu ledu).
Throughout the 1940s, he worked in the Indian independence movement. In 1942, Gora along with his wife and eldest son were arrested during the Quit India Movement. Their 18-month son had to accompany his mother to the Royavellor jail.
Gora and Gandhi had several discussions, some of which have been recorded in the book An Atheist With Gandhi. Gandhi supported Gora's anti-untouchability reform movement, and remarked that he wished Gora would succeed in producing a Tuskegee in India.[8] Tuskegee in Alabama, United States, is an important site in Africa American history where Booker T. Washington established the Tuskegee University.
In 1949, Gora got his eldest daughter, Manorama, married to Arjuna Rao, who belonged to the Dalit community.[5] The marriage was held in Sevagram, in presence of Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1960, the marriage of his eldest son, Lavanam, with Hemalata, the daughter of Gurram Jashuva, was also held in Sevagram. He and his wife established two periodicals called Sangham and Arthika Samata.
In 1952, he contested in the parliamentary elections to propagate his idea of party-less democracy. In 1967, he also contested in the assembly polls.
Gora visited several nations in 1970 and 1974. He was in touch with the American atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair. On 5 October 1970, O'Hair mentioned Gora and his Atheist Center on her radio show. In 1970, when Gora stopped in United States during his tour, he met O'Hair. They decided that a World Atheist Conference should be held every three years. Gora offered to host the first one in 1972. O'Hair was not able to attend as her visa was not approved in time.[9] The first World Atheist Conference was held on 1972. After the event, Gora published a book in English called Positive Atheism. Gora organized a pork and beef dinner on 15 August 1972, as the dishes are considered sacrilegious in some religions.
Gora died on 26 July 1975 in Vijayawada. His autobiography, completed a few days before his death, was published in 1976. The Atheist Centre continued under the guidance of Saraswathi Gora, until her death in 2006 on 19 August.
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