Prof. Narendra Nayak Attends National Atheist Conference in Wardha

Prof. Narendra Nayak Attends National Atheist Conference in Wardha

Mangalore Today News Network

Wardha, Nov 16, 2025: A three-day National Atheist Conference was held from November 14 to 16 at the Gandhi Ashram in Sewagram, drawing around 300 participants from across India. The event was organised by The Brights, a Pune-based registered society of atheists with members from Maharashtra and other parts of the country.

The conference opened on November 14 with a lecture-demonstration by Prof. Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), who showcased and debunked various so-called miracles. Prof. Nayak also delivered the inaugural address, tracing the evolution of India’s rationalist movement over the past century, with particular focus on developments in the last five decades.

Renowned lyricist and film personality Javed Akhtar, a prominent atheist, addressed the gathering on the relevance of atheism and shared his personal experiences. Feminist activist Sharada Sathe spoke on constitutional values and women’s perspectives. The inaugural day concluded with a play on Charvaka philosophy.

On the second day, sessions covered atheism in the media and included interactive dialogues between leading atheists and participants. The prestigious Charvaka Award was presented posthumously to eminent physicist and astronomer Prof. Jayant Narlikar. His daughter received the award on behalf of the family.