Mangaluru, January 17, 2025: Prof. Narendra Nayak elected President, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) in the 13th Biennial National Conference in collaboration with The Rationalist’s Forum, Tamil Nadu, held from December 28–29, 2024, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. The event brought together over 1,000 representatives from social movements across India.
New National Executive Committee elected
During the General Body meeting, the National Executive Committee for the upcoming two years was elected. The key office bearers include:
President: Dr. Narendra Nayak (Mangalore, Karnataka)
General Secretary: Dr. Sudesh Ghoderao (Nashik, Maharashtra)
Treasurer: Sajith C. (Kozhikode, Kerala)
Other elected members:
Vice-Presidents:
E. T. Rao (Berhampur, Odisha)
R. Tamil Selvan (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Lal Salam (Trivandrum, Kerala)
Harish Deshmukh (Nagpur, Maharashtra)
J. V. Krishnaiya (Andhra Pradesh)
Manoj Bansod (Gondia, Maharashtra)
Secretaries:
B. Sambasiva Rao (Hyderabad, Telangana)
M. N. Buddha (Andhra Pradesh)
Mohan Viswanathan (Tamil Nadu)
Gangadhar Sahoo, IAS (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
Ram Kumar (Punjab)
Haribhau Pathode (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
Organising Secretary: Thressia John (Kerala)
Office Secretary: Vijay Khanderao (Nashik, Maharashtra)
Members:
Iringal Krishnan (Kerala)
M. S. N. Murthy (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)
Basanti Acharya (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)
Monica Shridhar Puramshetty (Telangana)
Mamta Nayak (Bangalore, Karnataka)
Mayur Shetty (Mangalore, Karnataka)
Patron: Dr. Dhaneswar Sahoo (Bhubaneswar, Odisha), a prominent rationalist and writer.
Conference highlights
The two-day event marked the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement initiated by the renowned social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu. Discussions during the conference spanned four key sessions:
100 Years of Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement
Article 51 (A) (h) of the Constitution of India
Impact of India’s New Laws and Judiciary on Social Movements and Activists
Women and Superstitions
The conference also included presentations of activity reports by FIRA-affiliated organizations and a visit to Periyar World. Delegates collectively planted trees on the premises to commemorate the event.
Leadership and organization
The conference was organized under the guidance of Dr. K. Veeramani, Leader of Dravidar Kazhagam and Patron of The Rationalists Forum; Dr. Narendra Nayak, President of FIRA; and Dr. Sudesh Ghoderao, General Secretary of FIRA. The efforts of R. Tamil Selvan (President, The Rationalists Forum), Mohan Viswanathan (Secretary, The Rationalists Forum), Meenakshi Sundaram (Secretary, The Rationalist Writers Forum), and other office bearers of The Rationalists Forum, Tamil Nadu, were instrumental in ensuring the event’s success.
The 13th Biennial National Conference not only celebrated the rich legacy of the rationalist movement but also reinforced its commitment to fostering scientific temper and critical thinking in society.