Humanist to the core, Prof Dhaneswar Sahoo is the founder of the Odisha Rationalist Society. He is a retired teacher of philosophy after serving in different Government colleges of Odisha. He superannuated from the BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar as Head of the Department of Philosophy in 2007. He was awarded the Utkal University Gold Medal for securing first position in MA in 1973. Known for his rationalistic thinking, logical reasoning and questioning intellect, his Odisha Rationalist Society is fighting against superstitions and social discriminations. He is one of the founder-members of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Association. A columnist, writer and translator, he has authored fifteen books and translated some monumental rationalist works into Odia. He was conferred upon Odisha Sahitya Academy Award in 2010. He was also honoured by the Periyar International with the K Veeramani Award for Social Justice in 2014, the first Odia to bag it.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Prof Sahoo spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on his perception of rationalism and social reform to improve the quality of life and usher in a superstition-free and discrimination-free social order.
How did you become a rationalistIJ
I was born at Bhuban in Dhenkanal district. My parents were not educated. My childhood was spent in a very conservative and superstitious environment. Caste system was rigidly followed in village and untouchability was very much in practice. Some of my friends were not allowed to enter into temples nor did the priest give Prasad to their hands. When I was curious about it, I was told that they belonged to some untouchable caste and were destined to remain low. The Dalits in my village were living in a very miserable condition due to abject poverty. I was feeling very bad about it. One of my elderly relatives was an Arya Samajist. In my schooldays, he gave me a copy of Satyartha Prakasa by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. I read its two volumes. Though some of the ideas were beyond my comprehension at that age, I could know that idol worship carries no meaning. In my college days, I visited different famous temples. But the behaviour of the priests was very rude. This moved me to think that those who worship deities are not inspired by any spiritual or moral ethos but by greed and selfishness.
Because of my study of philosophy, I was exposed to the writings of great minds. Their critical thinking, logical reasoning and intellectual inquisitiveness greatly influenced me to understand human situation, progress of civilisation and the basic spirit of scientific thinking. Such events had a cumulative effect on my mind to develop a rational attitude towards life. In 1980, I had gone to the World Atheist Conference at Vijayawada, which was a turning point in my life. I bought the books of Gora, Periyar and some other classic works on rationalism, atheism, humanism and free thought. After reading these works, my conviction on rationalism became very strong, turning me a rationalist.
What’s your perception of rationalismIJ
Rationalism is an ideology and a philosophy of life. Rationalism, to speak the least, is founded on scientific temper, secular humanism and a man-centric world-view. Scientific temper signifies an open mind, supremacy of human reason, universality of the scientific procedure to explain the world of events and denial of supernaturalism. The very spirit of science is that nothing is supernatural. Anything that exists in the world or any phenomenon that happens in nature is explainable in a natural framework. Nature is full of mysteries and as civilisation progresses man becomes more and more capable to discover the mysteries around him. Every event has a natural cause whether we know it or not. Verily, scientific knowledge is methodical, open-ended, progressive, self-corrective and universal. Scientific knowledge is always supported by evidence and articulated by a well-defined procedure. Secular humanism connotes that ethical ideals are free from any religious injunctions. Secular morality is different from theistic morality. A rationalist believes that humanity is one, and there should not be any discrimination in society. But in theistic morality crusades, jehad, dharma-yuddha, etc., are sanctified in many religions. With atomic weapons at man’s disposal, what will be the destiny of humanity if there occurs a just warIJ For, a rationalist morality is a social obligation. Morality is not something divinely inspired but based on man’s own perception of good and evil.
Further, to a rationalist all that has been achieved in human civilisation is the result of man’s rational inquisitiveness. From a primitive state, man has progressed to this age of technological sophistication by his effort. Nothing has descended from the sky to give a leap to human situation. Similarly, human situation can be ameliorated and society can be better off by rational endeavour.
Who are the rationalists that you have been mostly influenced byIJ
There are numerous thinkers, philosophers, atheists, agnostics, scientists who have influenced me. But if I am to state the name of the few Indians, I will refer to Abraham Kovoor, Gora and Periyar. Kovoor passed away in 1978, Gora in 1975 and Periyar in 1973. Their ideas and legacies have greatly influenced me and I have written books or translated their works into Odia. In 1964, Kovoor gave an open challenge to all Babas, Godmen, miracle performers, yogis, spiritualists to show a single miracle before him or before his nominee under fraud-proof condition. After his retirement from service, Kovoor made a declaration to pay one lakh rupees to anyone who can show a miracle by his spiritual power. To save his time and energy he declared that he would accept a challenge if there was an earnest deposit of Rs 1,000 with him or his nominee. One would get back his deposit and Kovoor’s one lakh if he demonstrated his miracle publicly. If he failed at any stage, his deposit would be forfeited. Very interestingly a few persons who accepted his challenge failed miserably. After Kovoor’s death, his challenge continues at international level and in India as well by rationalist organisations. Gora, a freedom fighter, philosopher and social reformer established Atheist Centre in Andhra to spread positive atheism, humanism and social reform. Periyar, called Socrates of Asia, was also an ardent rationalist and founder of self-respect movement in India. He fought against untouchability and all sorts of social evils. All these thinkers were great reformers and crusaders against many a social evil.
What is your vision of Indian social lifeIJ
Indian civilisation is very old compared to many other countries. But the tragedy is our society is very backward and we are economically poor. Poverty, illiteracy, child labour, beggary, malnutrition, etc., largely prevail in our social milieu. So also, corruption, lack of work-culture, communal mindset, social discrimination, lack of civic values are the realities of our national life. When people fail to repose faith in the larger society, they turn other-worldly and misguidedly believe in some supernatural agency. Millions of people believe that by taking a holy dip in an auspicious moment, by touching the rope used in a chariot of a deity, by having the darsan of an idol, by sacrificing an animal in front of a female deity, etc., all their sins will be washed off and they will reach heaven. This type of mindset is not only irrational but detrimental to social progress. People should be educated to inculcate scientific temper and kindly feeling towards others.
How do you practise rationalism in personal lifeIJ
I firmly believe that human beings are equal in dignity and rights. The caste system which is founded on graded inequality is a great evil. By large-scale casteless marriages, the caste system is likely to be removed. We adopt this practice in our family. We do not practise any religious rituals at home. Three decades ago, I had pledged to donate my eyes after my death. My mother expired a few months back. I donated her eyes to an eye bank and the dead body to the Department of Anatomy of SUM hospital. Charity must begin at home. I believe in the ideology that ‘hands that help are better than lips that pray’.