Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham

Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham (KYS) is a well known rationalist group based in Kerala, India. It stands for rationalism and humanism. It is the initiator of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.

History

Kerala rationalist movement is a continuation of Sri Narayana Movement. Sahodaran Ayyappan a favorite disciple of Sri Narayana Guru, changed the Guru’s slogan Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu (One Caste, One Religion, One God for Human-beings) to Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda Manushyanu (No Caste, No Religion, No God for Human-beings). Ayyappan organized the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherhood Association), and started two magazines “Sahodaran” and “Yukthivadi”. In August 1931 M. C. Joseph became Yukthivadi's sole editor-publisher and shifted the publication to Irinjalakkuda.

In 1935 a Yukthivadi Sangham was registered at Cochin M. C. Joseph as secretary and Panampilly Govinda Menon as treasurer.

M. C. Joseph managed Yukthivadi magazine without any interruption For forty five years until June 1974.

The vibrant rationalist movement that is seen in Kerala today is undoubtedly the direct consequence of the ideas spread by Yukthivadi for more than half a century.

The existing Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham (KYS) was formed at Kozikode in 1969 May Adv. M. Prabha as president and P.S. Raman Kutty as Secretary. Yukthi Darsanam is the philosophical text of KYS. Many militant rationalists like MBK, Joseph Edamaruku, P.V. Velayudhan Pilla, U.Kalanadhan, Pavanan, Johnson Eyeroor, Padmanabhan Pallath, Gangan Azikode, Rajagopal Vakathanam, Dhanuvachapuram Sukumaran, Sabhari Girish, Adv. Anil Kumar etc. had led the KYS in different times.

The periods of Abraham Kovoor and Basava Premanand is known as the golden eras of Rationalism. The Janayugam Varika, a Weekly owned by Communist Party of India by the chief editorship of Kambisseri Karunakaran, propagated their articles and rationalism in large scale.

The organization publishes a monthly magazine, Yukthirekha in Malayalam and a quarterly The Secular Humanist in English. The well-known rationalist Pavanan was founder and editor of Yukithirekha and was president of the organization for several years. Other presidents have included U. Kalanathan.[1][2]

Like many rationalist organizations in India they conduct demonstrations to expose god men as frauds.[3][4] They also support those who defy fundamentalist taboos[5] and support inter-caste marriages.[6] They have also been involved in public debate over school textbooks.[2]

The organization claims over 3,000 members across Kerala.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Media cautioned against sensationalising suicide", The Hindu, 10 September 2004, retrieved 17 August 2009
  2. Devasia, T.K. (30 June 2008), "Textbook pits religious groups against rationalists", Khaleej Times, archived from the original on 8 June 2011, retrieved 17 August 2009
  3. "Spiritual fraudsters under scanner in Kerala", Press Trust of India, Sify.com, 20 May 2008, retrieved 17 August 2009
  4. "Kerala: Godmen's Own Country!", Rediff News Bureau, Rediff.com, 21 May 2008, retrieved 17 August 2009
  5. Menon, Leela (13 January 1999), "Daring to defy conventions to live together", The Indian Express, retrieved 17 August 2009
  6. Kurian, Sangeeth (16 May 2006), "Leading life, rationally", The Hindu, retrieved 17 August 2009


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