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History

Atheist Centre is a social change institution founded by Gora (1902- 75) and Saraswathi Gora (1912 - 2006) in the year 1940 at Mudunur Village in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. On the eve of Independence to the country, Atheist Centre was shifted to Vijayawada in 1947 and since then it has been the hub of activity for promotion of atheism, humanism and social change.

Atheist Centre carries on its multifarious activities with the cooperation and good will of the people. Since the demise of Gora, in 1975, Atheist Centre activities are undertaken under the able guidance of Mrs. Saraswathi Gora, the cofounder of the Centre. She is assisted by a dedicated team of people who are engaged in the promotion of atheism as a way of life. Atheist Centre is also actively engaged in Secular Social Work activities for comprehensive rural development and rendering assistance to the people to develop an alternate way of life on secular and humanist lines.

The founders of the Centre were associated with Mahatma Gandhi and the nationalist movement. They participated in the freedom struggle. Gora had long discussions with Mahatma Gandhi on atheism and social change and they were published in the form of a book entitled An Atheist with Gandhi, published by the Navajivan, the official publishers of Gandhian literature. Even in the post-Gandhian period, Atheist Centre is also closely associated with the Bhoodan movement of Vinoba Bhave and other Gandhian activities all over the country. Atheist Centre is in the mainstream of national life, maintaining its distinctive position with its non- religious, humanist and atheist approach.

Right from its inception Atheist Centre adopted a comprehensive approach for sustainable development. It viewed life as an integrated whole and is striving to build an alternate way of life. Atheist Centre’s active association with the freedom struggle and its grassroots level work for the eradication of untouchability, caste and other parochial considerations, brought it in closer touch with the realities of the village scene, in addition to its activities on a wider plane.