For the last few weeks Humanists, Rationalists and Human Rights activists have been waging a huge battle against the forces of fundamentalism in Andhra Pradesh, India. This is a battle that involves the media, the police, the justice system, aggressive fundamentalists, the Dalai Lama, as well as the Humanists and Rationalists. It is a battle that is being watched with keen interest by millions of homes as it unfolds on live TV, in newspaper articles and through public discussions.
The campaign started publicly with a complaint made by Babu Gogineni in the name of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) along with a dozen collaborating intellectuals and organisations with the Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission. The campaign’s slogan Sambhavi Gudilona Badilona? has now become the byword for TV programs, for newspaper articles and also discussions as all citizens are challenged to take a stand whether Sambhavi, a child of seven years of age, who it is claimed is a reincarnation of a Buddhist goddess should be in school or remain in the temple.
This is also a story which has catapulted Humanists and Rationalists into the limelight as superstition, religious privilege and human rights clash publicly in Andhra Pradesh state which is home to 90 million Telugu speaking people – the second largest language group in India.
Please download the full report by Babu Gogineni from the link below. For help with downloading or opening a PDF file, go to www.iheu.org/pdfhelp