CHARVAKA

Rationalism. Secularism. Freedom

NARENDRA NAYAK

  • My Encounters with Healing In The Name Of Jesus!

    Prof Narenda Nayak recounts personal encounters with faith healers and miracle evangelists across India, detailing rationalist interventions, legal challenges under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, and the tactics used by these groups. It highlights the importance of critical thinking, scientific temper, and vigilant activism against fraudulent medical claims and religious exploitation.

  • India’s Blasphemy Law: Section 295A of IPC

    Laws like Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code have no place in a civilized society and need to be consigned, along with many such laws, to the trash bins of history. This is to be contrasted with Article 51A(h) of the Constitution of India which states “It shall be the duty of every citizen…

  • Women’s Day Musings

    Dive into an eye-opening reflection on gender equality and societal norms. From challenging traditional religious dogmas to exposing everyday hypocrisy and double standards, this thought-provoking talk empowers young women to recognize their inherent rights, break free from patriarchal bonds, and fearlessly reclaim their equal standing in a modern secular democracy.

  • The Rise of Intolerance

    The rise of intolerance is no longer a distant threat—it is actively reshaping our daily lives, laws, and freedoms. From literary censorship to digital surveillance, dissenting voices face systematic silencing. Read the full analysis by Narendra Nayak on how these forces jeopardize democratic expression and why breaking our silence is now imperative.

  • TIME TO MOVE ON
    Reflections on the Passing of Ajita Kamal

    While Ajita’s death was a very sad one and there are no reasons to suspect any foul play, it is time for us to introspect and move on. We have to think of effective ways to keep Nirmukta going and build up the movement. That would be the best tribute to him. Many groups have…

  • Made Snana:
    Extraordinary Claims Need Extraordinary Evidence

    Expose the harsh reality of Made Snana, a degrading ritual rooted in deep-seated caste discrimination and superstition. This critical analysis challenges pseudo-scientific defenses, unmasks political hypocrisy, and calls for rationalism, human dignity, and evidence-based science to eradicate primitive practices that exploit vulnerable communities in the name of tradition.

  • Deepti weds Sandesh

    The union of Deepti and Sandesh triumphed over deep-rooted caste prejudice, intense family opposition, and threats from right-wing vigilantes. Since Karnataka does not recognize self-respect marriages for formal legal registration, this ceremony served as a necessary symbolic ritual—organized with rationalist support—to secure official protection and registration for the brave couple.

  • Superstitions and Human Rights

    Broadcast on All India Radio, this insightful talk by Prof. Narendra Nayak examines how superstitious beliefs and religious dogmas systematically infringe upon fundamental human rights. Covering issues from caste discrimination to gender inequality and mental health abuses, the article underscores why rational thinking and secular law must prevail over outdated traditions.

  • Saffronisation of Karnataka

    State power and religious orthodoxy have merged in Karnataka, transforming a secular democracy into a battleground of political patronage and superstition. From funneling public funds into religious institutions to imposing sectarian texts in public schools, the ruling dispensation has turned elected government into a mere rubber stamp for powerful monastic heads.

  • After the dust has settled

    This statement by Narendra Nayak, President, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, sharply critiques Sathya Sai Baba, alleging widespread fraud, financial corruption, media manipulation, and legal immunity despite severe misconduct. It calls for immediate government intervention to seize trust assets, eliminate elite trustees, and launch a full investigation before financial misdeeds are obscured, framing religious authority…

  • The Bhagwan of Puttaparthi 

    This Critical Article Questions The Divine Claims Of Sathya Sai Baba During His Final Hospitalisation. It Exposes Alleged Miracles As Simple Sleight Of Hand Tricks, Highlights Financial Opacity, And Critiques Political Patronage. The Author Urges Government Intervention To Take Over Institutional Assets And Protect Public Funds From Misappropriation.

  • Children of a Lesser God!

    This moving personal reflection recounts a visit to shelters for HIV-positive children abandoned by society. Despite facing terminal illnesses at birth, the children display remarkable resilience, warmth, and joy. The author highlights their vulnerability, legal privacy protection needs, and appeal for community support following severe funding cuts to their care organization.

  • A Twice-Born Atheist

    This autobiographical essay reflects on the author’s journey from a traditional Gowd Saraswat Brahmin upbringing to explicit atheism. It details childhood health struggles, disillusionment with unanswered prayers and oppressive caste rituals like Agelu, mandatory religious schooling, and early exposure to Hindutva ideology, ultimately charting the path toward lifelong rationalism.

  • Practicing Atheism at All Times in One’s Life

    This personal essay details the Narendra Nayak’s lifelong commitment to practicing atheism despite societal, familial, and emotional pressures. It chronicles refusing religious rites during major life events—including marriage, business, and parental deaths—and rejecting post-mortem rituals, advocating instead for living by rationalist convictions and standing firm against superstitious traditions.

  • Railways and Health

    This Satirical Essay Lambasts Indian Railways For Permitting Quackery On Public Premises, Highlighting Claims That “Sin Causes Disease” And Pseudoscience Promoted By A Five-Rupee Health Gadget. The Author Demands Legal Accountability Under Consumer Protection Laws To Stop Misleading Vulnerable Passengers With Exploitative Magic Remedies.

  • Intimidation of Dissent and Rule of Superstition

    This essay critiques political fundamentalism, moral policing, and superstition in civil society. It denounces attacks on free speech, the misuse of state power, and political reliance on black magic rituals. The author calls for national legislation to outlaw superstitious practices, protect democratic dissent, and safeguard secular values against intolerance

  • An Atheist’s Marriage

    This autobiographical recount chronicles an atheist’s journey to secure a completely non-religious marriage under the Special Marriage Act. Overcoming societal skepticism, commercialized wedding norms, and priestly expectations, he stood firm in his convictions, ultimately publishing his marriage certificate to prove that a life and union can be built without superstition.

  • Scientific Temper Under Siege: Rationalism, the Judiciary, and Public Myths

    Narendra Nayak examines the state of scientific temper in India, critiquing judicial reliance on faith in the Ayodhya title suit. It contrasts this with legal victories upholding rationalism, such as quashing FIRs against miracle busters demystifying Sabarimala’s Makara Vilakku, while highlighting ongoing outreach efforts to engage students in rationalist inquiry.

  • Swearing by God

    This autobiographical narrative reflects on the author’s encounters with judicial oaths in India as a steadfast atheist. From marriage registration to court witness boxes, he persistently rejects swearing in the name of God, demanding solemn affirmations instead—highlighting the legal right of non-believers to maintain their convictions without religious compromise.

  • Rising Intolerance and the Rule of the Mob

    Reason & Rights: Rising Intolerance and the Rule of the Mob — Charvaka.net Reason & Rights Examining Khap Panchayats, Religious Extremism, Political Hypocrisy, and the Threats to Constitutional Democracy Check the following: Khap Panchayats in North India sentence young married couples to death and execute that. In Kerala, a lecturer’s hand is chopped off for…

  • Alternative Medicine

    This essay dismantles the claims of unproven alternative therapies, contrasting their reliance on pseudoscientific assumptions and commercial quackery with the self-correcting, evidence-based nature of scientific medicine. The author exposes regulatory loopholes in India, warns against dangerous diagnostic delays, and stresses that there is no true alternative to genuine health.

  • Consolidating Rationalism Across India

    This message from Narendra Nayak, President of FIRA, reviews extensive rationalist training tours across India, assessing how sensation-seeking media coverage was strategically leveraged to promote scientific temper. The author outlines ongoing efforts to consolidate regional rationalist networks in Odisha, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, while emphasizing the vital need to engage urban youth through platforms like…

  • Building the Rationalist Movement in Bihar

    This report chronicles the expansion of the rationalist movement in Bihar, stemming from efforts to counter politicians honoring tantriks. Following nationwide miracle-exposure workshops and district tours with Science for Society, activists convened at Patna University to form the Bihar Rationalist Forum, establishing specialized investigative panels and electing ad hoc leadership under FIRA affiliation.

  • A Miracle Exposed: The Story of Ranjana Agarwal

    This article details a live television investigation exposing a fourteen-year-old girl claiming blindfolded sight. The author demonstrates how she peeked through gaps around her nose and reveals how publicity-hungry parents, TRP-obsessed media, and uncritical officials exploited an ordinary myopic child for sensation, avoiding rigorous testing through staged emotional displays.