Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

`Gora had his influence even on the Mahatma'

Staff Reporter

His service to society recalled

FIRM COMMITMENT: Rotary International district governor, M.C. Das, making a point with social worker & Executive Director of Peaceful Society, Kumar Kalnand Mani, at a seminar in Vijayawada on Tuesday.

VIJAYAWADA: "Gora was a leader of the masses who strove to bridge the gap between `perception' and `practice' and worked at the grassroot level for eradication of social evils like untouchability and caste system," according to Kalanand Mani, executive director of a Goa-based organisation, Peaceful Society.

Addressing a seminar on `Science, society and scientific outlook', organised by the Atheist Centre here on Tuesday to mark the late leader's 30th death anniversary, Mr. Mani pointed out that the steadfastness and truthfulness of Gora had even influenced, to some extent, Mahatma Gandhi's views on atheism and social change.

Though Gandhi was a staunch theist and firm in his convictions on God, Gora's practical approach towards atheism had impressed him to an extent wherein he altered his theory of `God is truth' to `Truth is God'.

He had even agreed to solemnise the marriage of Gora's eldest daughter in Sevagram ashram without uttering the name of God, he pointed out.

Reiterating that science and scientific outlook were interlinked, he said social progress in this modern age was closely linked to rationality and scientific temper.

Superstitions and religious fanaticism, casteism and regional parochialism were detrimental to the country's progress.

Lamenting absence of rationalism even in highly education people, he urged them to shun narrow considerations and develop broad-mindedness.

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