Indian Humanist Union

Indian Humanist Union

The Indian Humanist Union (IHU) is an Indian Humanist organisation established in 1960 by Narsingh Narain. The forerunner organisation, founded by Narain in 1954, was the "Society for Promotion of Freedom of Thought".

IHU is affiliated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). The official symbol of the IHU is a version of the Happy Human.

The funding arm of the organisation, the Humanist Endowment Fund Society (HEFS) was established in 1970. Donations are eligible for deduction from taxable income.

IHU publishes a quarterly journal, the Humanist Outlook which began publication in 1966.

Contents

Narsingh Narain (Founder IHU)

Narsingh Narain (1897-1972) was born on October 4, 1897 in Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1960, he founded the Indian Humanist Union, an organisation for promoting humanism, which is affiliated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). Narsingh Narain is one of the main humanist thinkers of twentieth century India. Some of his important essays have been collected in a book titled A Commonsense Humanism and Other Essays.

Biography

Narsingh Narain joined U. P. Civil Service in 1923. He remained in service till 1954. In 1954, he took premature retirement from government service so that he could work for promoting free thought. Narain had rebelled against traditional religious beliefs in his younger days. He favoured a scientific and tolerant attitude to life and religion.In 1954 itself Narsingh Narain founded the Society for the Promotion of Freedom of Thought, which was the forerunner of the Indian Humanist Union. In 1966, Narsingh Narain started a quarterly journal, Humanist Outlook, which he edited till the end. He used the journal for promoting ethical values, social reform, communal harmony and rational outlook on life. In 1970, he founded Humanist Endowment Fund Society (HEFS). Its aim is to provide financial support for humanist activities.

Narsingh Narain used to write widely in Indian and foreign journals. He wrote more than a hundred essays on humanist subjects. He attended the world congresses of the International Humanist and Ethical Union in London (1957), Oslo (1962) and Boston (1970). He made valuable contributions to the deliberations in these congresses. On his death he bequeathed all his life’s savings to the Humanist Endowment Fund Society.

References

Narsingh Narain (ed. A. Solomon), A Commonsense Humanism and Other Essays (Mumbai: Indian Humanist Union and Indian Secular Society, 1996).

Humanist Outlook, vol. 1, No. 9, August 1968.

"Narsingh Narain" in Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought by Dr. Ramendra in collaboration with Dr. Kawaljeet.

Indian Humanist Union on the website of IHEU

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Humanist Outlook — The Humanist Outlook is a quarterly magazine published by the Indian Humanist Union …   Wikipedia

  • Indian CSICOP — is a well known rationalist group based at Podanur, Tamil Nadu, India. Founded by Basava Premanand, Indian CSICOP is in the forefront of the rationalist campaigns in India which attempt to expose perceived miracles and to eradicate… …   Wikipedia

  • Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations — (FIRA) is an umbrella body of more than 50 [cite news | url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050512/aplus.htm | title=FIRA’s proposal | publisher=India Tribune | date=2005 05 12 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007 03 18] rationalist, atheist,… …   Wikipedia

  • A Secular Humanist Declaration — was an argument for and statement of belief in democratic secular Humanism. The document was issued in 1980 by The Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism ( CODESH ), now the Council for Secular Humanism ( CSH ). Compiled by Paul Kurtz, it is …   Wikipedia

  • List of secularist organizations — Secularist organizations promote the view that moral standards should be based solely on concern for the good of humanity in the present life, without reference to supernatural concepts, such as God or an afterlife. The term secularism, as coined …   Wikipedia

  • Happy Human — This article discusses the symbol of a major non theistic Humanist organisation. :: For the non theistic humanistic life stance in a broader sense, please see Humanism (life stance). :: For secular humanism in general, please see Secular humanism …   Wikipedia

  • Amsterdam Declaration — The Amsterdam Declaration 2002 is a statement of the fundamental principles of modern Humanism passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) at the 50th anniversary World Humanist Congress in… …   Wikipedia

  • National Secular Society — Part of Philosophy series on Humanism (humanist philosophies) Happy Human …   Wikipedia

  • education — /ej oo kay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of… …   Universalium

  • Europe, history of — Introduction       history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”