Saraswathi Gora

Saraswathi Gora (1912–2006) was an Indian social activist. Notable as the leader of the Atheist Centre for many years, she campaigned against untouchability and the caste system.

Born on September 28, 1912 at Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, she got married at the age of ten to Goparaju Ramachandra Rao. Along with her husband, Saraswathi Gora established Atheist Center with the intention of promoting human values based on atheism, rationalism and Gandhism.

A political activist of India's freedom movement, she was imprisoned during the Quit India movement. She went to jail carrying her two-and-half-year old son, Niyanta.

The wedding of her eldest daughter Manorama with Arjun Rao was performed in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960.

Awards and recognition

In 2001, she was selected for the Basava Puraskar, conferred by the Karnataka Government. She is also the recipient of the G.D.Birla International Award for Humanism ; the Jamnalal Bajaj Award; the Janaki Devi Bajaj Award; and the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Award.

She is the mother of Dr. Samaram.

Saraswathi Gora died of lung infection on August 19, 2006 at Vijayawada.

External links

• A short biography of Saraswathi Gora in Indian Skeptic by Sunanda Shet
• Obituary in The Hindu
• Obituary in Deccan Herald
• Obituary at www.newsfix.de

Persondata
Name	Gora, Saraswathi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1912
Place of birth
Date of death	2006
Place of death