Ramendra Nath
Encyclopedia
Professor Ramendra Nath is an India
n philosopher. Reader and Head of the Department of Philosophy
at Patna College, Patna University, where he has taught philosophy since January 13, 1983, and where he won his BA
(Hons) in philosophy in 1977, his MA
in 1979, his PhD
("The Ethical Philosophy
of Bertrand Russell
") in 1985 and his DLitt
. ("M. N. Roy
's New Humanism
and Materialism
") in 1995, he cites his primary areas of philosophical interest as ethics, social
and political philosophy
, philosophy of religion
; rationalism
, humanism and atheism
in 20th-century Indian thought; and logic
and analytic philosophy
. He is founder of the Buddhiwadi Samaj
(Rationalist Society), founder-trustee
of the Buddhiwadi Foundation and honorary editor of Buddhiwadi (Hindi
) and the Buddhiwadi Newsletter. He has written several books and booklets (not listed below) in Hindi, and over 100 articles and papers.
An outspoken atheist, humanist
, freethinker
and rationalist, Nath has long railed against the unreason and immorality of religion
. In his 1993
paper "Why I Am Not a Hindu", inspired by Bertrand Russell
's "Why I Am Not a Christian
" (which he admired) and Mahatma Gandhi
's "Why I Am a Hindu" (with which he disagreed), Nath spoke out strongly against the irrationality and evil of the local faith:
Nath rejects the doctrine of the infallibility of the Vedas
, varnashram dharma, moksha
, karmavada and avatarvada, and advocates in their stead a humanistic secularism based on liberty, equality, fraternity and the inalienable rights of each individual.
He has a wife, Kawaljeet Kaur, whom he married on December 7, 1981, and a daughter, Priya, born September 1, 1984.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n philosopher. Reader and Head of the Department of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Patna College, Patna University, where he has taught philosophy since January 13, 1983, and where he won his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) in philosophy in 1977, his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1979, his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
("The Ethical Philosophy
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
of Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
") in 1985 and his DLitt
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
. ("M. N. Roy
Manabendra Nath Roy
Manabendra Nath Roy , born Narendra Nath Bhattacharya and popularly known as M. N. Roy, was an Indian nationalist revolutionary and an internationally known radical activist and political theorist. Roy was a founder of the Communist Parties in both Mexico and India and was a delegate to...
's New Humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
and Materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
") in 1995, he cites his primary areas of philosophical interest as ethics, social
Social philosophy
Social philosophy is the philosophical study of questions about social behavior . Social philosophy addresses a wide range of subjects, from individual meanings to legitimacy of laws, from the social contract to criteria for revolution, from the functions of everyday actions to the effects of...
and political philosophy
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
, philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
; rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
, humanism and atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
in 20th-century Indian thought; and logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century...
. He is founder of the Buddhiwadi Samaj
Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj
Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj is a rationalist group based in Patna, Bihar, India. It is an affiliate of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations and an associate member of International Humanist and Ethical Union...
(Rationalist Society), founder-trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the Buddhiwadi Foundation and honorary editor of Buddhiwadi (Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
) and the Buddhiwadi Newsletter. He has written several books and booklets (not listed below) in Hindi, and over 100 articles and papers.
An outspoken atheist, humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, freethinker
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
and rationalist, Nath has long railed against the unreason and immorality of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. In his 1993
1993 in literature
The year 1993 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Professor Stephen Hawking's book, A Brief History of Time, becomes the longest running book on the bestseller list of The Sunday Times....
paper "Why I Am Not a Hindu", inspired by Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
's "Why I Am Not a Christian
Why I Am Not a Christian
Why I Am Not a Christian is a 1927 essay by the British philosopher Bertrand Russell hailed by The Independent as "devastating in its use of cold logic", and listed in the New York Public Library's list of the most influential books of the 20th century....
" (which he admired) and Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
's "Why I Am a Hindu" (with which he disagreed), Nath spoke out strongly against the irrationality and evil of the local faith:
Is there any other religion, which sanctions slaverySlaverySlavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and untouchabilityUntouchabilityUntouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
? Is there any other religion in which only persons born in a particular casteCasteCaste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
(BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
) are entitled to become priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s?
Slavery is not peculiar to India or to HinduismHinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, but carrying it to the extremes of untouchability, and granting it divineDivinityDivinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
and religious sanction is peculiar to Hinduism.
Nath rejects the doctrine of the infallibility of the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, varnashram dharma, moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
, karmavada and avatarvada, and advocates in their stead a humanistic secularism based on liberty, equality, fraternity and the inalienable rights of each individual.
He has a wife, Kawaljeet Kaur, whom he married on December 7, 1981, and a daughter, Priya, born September 1, 1984.
English
- "Why I am Not a Hindu" (Patna: Bihar Rationalist Society, First edition 19931993 in literatureThe year 1993 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Professor Stephen Hawking's book, A Brief History of Time, becomes the longest running book on the bestseller list of The Sunday Times....
, Second edition 19951995 in literatureThe year 1995 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea is opened by Jimmy Carter....
). - The Ethical Philosophy of Bertrand Russell (New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
: Vantage Press, 1993). - Is God Dead?, (Patna: Buddhiwadi Foundation, 19981998 in literatureThe year 1998 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*March 5 - Tennessee Williams' 1938 play, Not About Nightingales, receives its stage première....
). - M. N. Roy's New Humanism and Materialism (Patna: Buddhiwadi Foundation, 20012001 in literatureThe year 2001 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* The film version of J. R. R. Tolkien's classic book, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is released to movie theaters...
). - The Myth of Unity of all Religions (Patna: Buddhiwadi Foundation, 20032003 in literatureThe year 2003 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Peter Ackroyd - The Clerkenwell Tales*Atsuko Asano - No...
) - Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought (published as a free e-book on the website of the Buddhiwadi Foundation, 20072007 in literatureThe year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:...
). - Some Reflections on Ethics (Published as a free e-book on the website of the Buddhiwadi Foundation, 20082008 in literatureThe year 2008 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*January 1 - In the 2008 New Year Honours, Hanif Kureishi , Jenny Uglow , Peter Vansittart and Debjani Chatterjee are all rewarded for "services to literature".*June 15 - Gore Vidal, asked in a New York Times...
.)
Hindi
- Kya Ishwar mar chuka hai? (Is God Dead?), (Patna: Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj, First edition 19851985 in literatureThe year 1985 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Isaac Asimov - Robots and Empire*Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale*Jean M. Auel - The Mammoth Hunters*Iain Banks - Walking on Glass...
, second edition 1995). - Andhwishwas ke virudh (Against Superstitions), (Patna: Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj, First edition 1985, second edition 19971997 in literatureThe year 1997 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Clancy signs a book deal with Pearson Custom Publishing and Penguin Putnam Inc. , giving him US$50 million for the world-English rights to two new books . A second agreement gives him another US$25 million for a...
, third edition 20062006 in literatureThe year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
). - Main Hindu Kyon Nahin aur Main Buddhiwadi Kaise bana (Patna: Buddhiwadi Foundation, 20012001 in literatureThe year 2001 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* The film version of J. R. R. Tolkien's classic book, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is released to movie theaters...
). - Sampoorna Kranti aur Buddhiwad (Total Revolution and Rationalism), (Patna: Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj, 19921992 in literatureThe year 1992 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Ben Aaronovitch - Transit*Julia Álvarez - How the García Girls Lost Their Accents*Paul Auster - Leviathan*Iain Banks - The Crow Road...
). - Dr. Ambedkar ne Hindu dharma ka tyag kyon kiya? (Why Dr. Ambedkar renounced Hinduism?), (Patna: Bihar Buddhiwadi Samaj, First edition 19921992 in literatureThe year 1992 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Ben Aaronovitch - Transit*Julia Álvarez - How the García Girls Lost Their Accents*Paul Auster - Leviathan*Iain Banks - The Crow Road...
, second edition 19971997 in literatureThe year 1997 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Clancy signs a book deal with Pearson Custom Publishing and Penguin Putnam Inc. , giving him US$50 million for the world-English rights to two new books . A second agreement gives him another US$25 million for a...
). - Swatantrotra Bhartiya Darshnik Chintan (Post-Independence Indian Philosophical Thought), (Patna:Motilal Banarsidass, 1993).
- Samaj aur Rajniti Darshan evam Dharma Darshan (Social-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion), (Patna: Motilal Banarsidass, 19991999 in literatureThe year 1999 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*June 19 - Stephen King is hit by a Dodge van while taking a walk. He spends the next three weeks hospitalized...
, 2003). - Samaj aur Rajniti Darshan (Social and Political Philosophy) (Patna: Motilal Banarsidass, 20052005 in literatureThe year 2005 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*February 25 - Canada Reads selects Rockbound by Frank Parker Day as the novel to be read across the nation....
). - Dharma Darshan (Philosophy of Religion), (Patna: Motilal Banarsidass, 20062006 in literatureThe year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings...
).