What is Rationalism? In Epistemology (the branch of philosophy studying the nature, sources and limits of knowledge) “Rationalism” is “the theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge”. Those who accept rationalism in this epistemological sense assert that knowledge is gained a priori (prior to experience) and it is often contrasted with Empiricism, which is…
Ram Puniyani Putting on masks with changing times are the compulsions of electoral politics for many parties, more so with a party like Bhartiya Janta Party. BJP so far has been doing this with great amount of ease, but lately its dilemmas are increasing in intensity due to its track record in the political arena…
Ram Puniyani Nitish Kumar in an obvious reference to opposition to Modi’s possible projection as the Prime-ministerial candidate of NDA, in the next parliamentary elections said that NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate should be one with secular credentials. His aide went on to say that Vajpayee had the intention of sacking in the wake of Gujarat…
The All-India Ulama & Mashaikh Board (AIUMB), a Sufi Islamic branch claiming to represent 80 per cent of Indian Sunni Muslims, has come out strongly against hardline Wahabism, holding the ideology responsible for radicalisation of young Indian Muslims. The AIUMB counts itself among the significant Sufi Khanquahs in India, among them Ajmer Shareef and Dargah…
Carvaka Notice on Petition against Puja in Government Offices The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to the State government on a writ petition seeking a direction to authorities not to permit Ayudha Puja celebrations in government offices. In the petition, filed through counsel S. Doraisamy and V. Elangovan, petitioner T.S. Mani, president of…
Atheists and Agnostics of Pakistan have recently started a website to, we quote from their website, “promote secular causes and the separation of religion and state. We advocate the rights of women and minorities, as well as secular humanist values and free speech. PAA is about rational thought, compassion, science, freedom and education. Above all,…
We reproduce the responses we have received from activists from various parts of the country in response to our blog on attack on Kalanathan, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations http://carvaka4india.blogspot.com/2011/07/kalanathan-attacked.html *** This is terrible and I condemn the rowdies whoever involved in such horrible action. I am asking all humanists and rationalists in Europe and…
The house of U Kalanathan, patron of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, was attacked by miscreants yesterday (July 3, 2011). It is reported that these miscreants were angered by Kalanathan’s suggestion during a television debate that the treasures (estimated to be more than Rupees 100,000 crores) discovered at Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapura, Kerala, should be used…
Prabhat Patnaik is a well known economist and a political commentator. In an incisive article written in the latest issue of Frontline (June 19 – July 1, 2011) Professor Patnaik says: Prabhat Patnaik Ramdev project is fundamentally anti-democratic, anti-secular and a disturbing throwback to our pre-modernity. This is because while everybody in a democracy has…
Ram Puniyani On 9th June 2011, M.F. Husain breathed his last in a London Hospital, and was later buried in the cemetery in London as per his wish that he should be buried at a place of his death. The most celebrated painter of India, a thorough Indian and understanding Hindu culture much more than…