| Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations | |
| Type: | Nonprofit organisation |
| Purpose: | To work for implementation of Art. 51AH of Indian Constitution and for its fundamental rights except Art. (30) |
| Leader Title: | Founder |
| Leader Name: | Basava Premanand |
| Region Served: | India |
The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) is an umbrella body of 83 (as of 2012)[1] rationalist, atheist, skeptic, secularist and scientist organisations in India.
As an apex body of rationalist organisations, it is committed to the development of scientific temper and humanism in India, involved in promoting tolerance, critical thinking, women's rights, secularization, and freedom of expression, and fighting against the caste system and violence (especially towards Dalit population), superstition, pseudoscience, and child marriage.
The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations was launched on 7 February 1997 following the 10th Kerala State Conference of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham. The stated purpose of the organization is to coordinate the activities of the member organizations at the national level.[2]
Basava Premanand is the founder of the FIRA who died on 4 October 2009.[3] Shortly before his death, Premanand put out a statement declaring his commitment to rationalism to prevent false rumors that he had turned to god on his deathbed.[4]
In 2004, Premanand put forth a proposal for Narendra Nayak to become president of FIRA at a general body meeting held at Bhatinda, Punjab. It was unanimously accepted. Premanand and Nayak met in 1980 or 1981 when Nayak was the secretary of Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association.[5] U. Kalanathan of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham is the current General Secretary of the organization. FIRA has grown from about 50 organizations in 2005 to 83 organizations in 2012.[6]
FIRA is affiliated to International Humanist and Ethical Union and supports minimum statement on Humanism (as required by IHEU bylaw 5.1[7]) and the Amsterdam Declaration 2002.
"Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality."
| Name | Based in | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982[8] | National organisation | ||
| 1980 | Founding unit since 1997 | ||
| 1940 | |||
| 13 February 1972 | |||
| 1985 | |||
| 1976 | |||
| State umbrella | |||
| 19?? | |||
| State umbrella | |||
| 1935 | [9] | ||
| Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) | 1989[10] | Maharashtra state branch | |
| Sunday Sapiens | 2018 | Founding activities since 2012 | |
| 1985 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 1984 |