Ramswaroop Verma

Ramswaroop Verma (1923-1998) was born August 22 1923 in Uttar Pradesh, India. He was the founder of Arjak Sangh, a humanist organisation. The organization emphasizes social equality and is strongly opposed to Brahminism. Verma denied the existence of god and soul. He was strongly opposed to the doctrine of karma and fatalism. Verma campaigned tirelessly against Brahminism and untouchability.

Biography

Ramswaroop Verma came from an agriculturist family. He did his M.A. (Hindi) from Allahabad University in 1949 and Law Graduation from Agra University. In both the examinations he secured first position in the first class in the University. He qualified in the written examination of the Indian Administrative Services, but did not appear in the interview. Verma was of the view that an administrator has to work within limitations. He wanted to work for social change as a free citizen. He came in contact of prominent Indian democratic socialist leaders of his time such as Acharya Narendra Dev and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. Consequently, he became a member of the Socialist Party. Several times he was elected to the U.P. Assembly.In 1967, he was for some time Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh in the government headed by Charan Singh, who later became the prime minister of India.According to Ramswaroop Verma, political and economic equality could not be achieved without a social and cultural revolution. Consequently, he founded Arjak Sangh on 1 June 1968 for achieving this aim. He also started "Arjak Saptahik", a Hindi weekly. He was the chief editor of the weekly. Verma was also influenced and inspired by Ambedkar. Verma was active in party politics for a long time. However, he is best known and remembered as a thinker,writer and the founder of Arjak Sangh. He kept working for Arjak Sangh throughout his life. He kept writing articles and books and delivered many lectures for promoting humanism. Ramswaroop Verma wrote and spoke in Hindi only. He died in Lucknow on 19 August 1998.

Books by Ramswaroop Verma

"Manavwadi Prashnotri" (Humanist Question-Answers), Lucknow: Arjak Sangh, 1984.

"Kranti Kyon aur Kaise" (Revolution: Why and How?), Lucknow: Arjak Sangh, 1989.

"Manusmriti Rashtra ka Kalank" (Manusmriti a National Shame), Lucknow: Arjak Sangh, 1990.

"Niradar kaise mite?" (How to remove Disrespect?) Lucknow: Arjak Sangh, 1993.

"Achuton ki Samasya aur Samadhan" (The Problem of Untouchables and its Solution) Lucknow: Arjak Sangh, 1984.

Reference

"Arjak Sangh Siddhanta Vaktavya -Vidhan -Karyakram" ( Principles, Statute and Programmes of Arjak Sangh), Patna: Arjak Sangh, ninth edition, 2001.

[http://www.buddhiwadi.org/Ramswaroop.htm "Ramswaroop Verma" in Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought] by Dr. Ramendra in collaboration with Dr. Kawaljeet