Humanist Thought in Contemporary India

Contents: Preface. 1. What is humanism? 2. Naturalism: Devatma (Fight for the true and the Good). 3. Marxist vision: D.P. Chattopadhyaya (Fight against exploitation). 4. New humanism: M.N. Roy (Fight for freedom). 5. Socialism: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (Fight for equality). 6. Neo-Buddhism: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Fight for social justice). 7. Creative humanism: Dr. N.K. Devaraja (In search of human excellence). 8. Rationalism: Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (Fight for self-respect). 9. Positive atheism: Goparaju Ramachandra Rao (Gora) (Fight against mental slavery). Index.

"This book is a pioneer study in the field of contemporary India\'s humanist philosophy. Contemporary humanism is a mundane plan of life developed in the atmosphere of modernism and rationality.

The author has, for his study, chosen only one thinker from the various humanist trends in India. General principles of Marxism as practised in communist countries are also stated.

The general humanist aim is to create a spiritually enlightened society consisting of spiritually liberated persons.

Although God, omniscience and immortality are not worthwhile pursuits for the humanists, yet, the readers will find that the humanist plans for a happy human life are quite ingenious, lofty and ennobling." (jacket)