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A Seminar
was held on the occasion of 174th Birth Anniversary of the Great British
Freethinker Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891) on 26th of September 2007,
in the premises of AMOFOI (Anti-caste Marriage and One-child Family Organisation
of India), to recall his everlasting contributions to the growth of
Freethought in the world. Bradlaugh was categorical in stating that
freethought and atheism are the two sides of the same coin. He was against
all religious rituals and customs planted by Monarchs and Feudal lords.
Participating
in the seminar, Prof. Dhaneswar Sahoo, Founder, Orissa Rationalist Society
said “Bradlaugh was fearless to the core and was outspoken in upholding
values of Humanism and Rational thought”.
“Bradlaugh
came from a working class family and he was not given much of formal
education, but he had a sharp mind and great determination to obliterate
superstitious practices and metaphysical ideas. He had the courage of conviction to say that ethical living and morality are fully independent
of the concept of God. He was all for Secular-Republican values. His
love for freedom was so deep that he did not hesitate to call for India’s
independence in the late 80’s of the 19th century” observed Mr. B
Ramchandra while taking part in the seminar.
“The
greatest contribution that Bradlaugh has made to the growth of Freethought
lies in his uncompromising refusal to take oath in the name of God and
expressing allegiance to the Monarch of Great Britain. On being elected
in 1880 as a Member of Parliament from Northampton constituency, he
claimed the right to affirm (instead of taking the Religious Oath of
Allegiance). But this was denied to him. He did not give in. He had
to fight legal battles and only in 1886 that he won the battle as an
atheist to have his Right of Affirmation. Thus Bradlaugh paved an alternative
secular, Godless path for freethinkers to gain access to the corridors
of political power with ‘I do solemnly affirm” This was pointed
out by Mr.Prince Aparajeet, Secretary AMOFOI-LGGPI.
“Bradlaugh
was champion of Indian Independence. At a time when the Indians themselves
had not raised the demand for even Dominion status, he had the far-sighted
view to plead for India’s total Independence from British rule. That
was why the Indian National Congress felicitated this great man in its
Bombay session in 1889, by bestowing upon him the title of ‘Mahatma’.
He was hailed as “Successful well-doer of India” and” the fearless
adherent of justice always treading on virtuous paths” in a
poem that was sung on that occasion of welcome by the leadership of
the Indian National Congress”, said Ms Swapna Bijayini, Teacher Educator,
Khurda DIET.
The 175th
Birthday of Charles Bradlaugh was observed as “Freethinkers’ Day”.
In his concluding remarks, the AMOFOI Seminar president Mr. Debendra
Sutar, Editor of Charcha, an Oriya Quarterly, observed that all the freethinkers
of India should come out and join hands so as to secularise the Indian
social order and make India a land of loving freethinkers. Then and
then alone there would be on controversy to have the Setusamudram Waterway
in the Palk Strait.
The Seminar
concluded with the resolve to organise the next year’s Freethinker’s
Day” on a greater scale.
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