Nirmukta Videos

Journalist Publisher S.Anand talks about how the caste system plays itself out primarily by its control of women and their sexuality. The talk fuses ideas from the recent work of radical anthropologist David Graeber with those of Ambedkar and tries to examine why and how gender injustice in india is intrinsically linked to persistence of caste.

Freethought Events

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Science & Philosophy

  • The Tactics and Critical Analysis of FEMENMay 10, 20137

    The Tactics and Critical Analysis of FEMEN

    FEMEN have come under the scanner for their “outrageous” and unconventional tactics of exposing their torsos to send out messages that defy patriarchy. They have received MRA hate, feminist hate, and just general skepticism. They also have faithful supporters and enthusiastic admirers. They are militant, loud, brash, and angry. This has resulted in a lot of feminist divide. Some seem to think that their tactics will take away the attention from the actual message. Some say they’re redefining the manner [...]

  • How to Argue OnlineApril 18, 20131

    How to Argue Online

    If you spend any amount of time online, chances are you have been involved in online debates and arguments. Sometimes these things go well, but more often than not it’s a “comment trail war” where multiple participants say all kinds of things and no one is clear what the other person is saying. A hundred-plus comments and several hours later, you’re sitting at your computer dazed and angry, wondering – what’s happening? How did I get here? What time is [...]

  • Somewhere Over The Rainbow(s)March 2, 20132

    Somewhere Over The Rainbow(s)

    Last year, I was cooped up at home because of chicken pox, which is what made this year all the more special. Yes, I finally got my chance to go the Bombay Queer Azadi March this time around! And it elicited a range of emotions, thoughts and reflections. I and a group of very close and diversely queer identified friends went to the parade, full of excitement and anticipation. Dressed in colors, bows, and turbans, flaunting our tattoos and unconventional [...]

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Pseudoscience & Religion

  • The Curious Case of Angelina JolieJune 6, 20133

    The Curious Case of Angelina Jolie

    Last week, I attended a students’ conference, organized by a University of Medical and Health Sciences.  Although this University is located outside India, a significant proportion of the teaching staff and a vast majority of the students are from the Subcontinent.  The organizers of the conference decided to have Cancers in the local population as its major theme.  With breast cancer being the most common malignancy among women in this population, a lot of the students opted to do their [...]

  • Delhi Freethinkers’ March-13 meet reportApril 5, 20132

    Delhi Freethinkers’ March-13 meet report

    The Delhi Freethinkers’ meet for March 2013 started at around 12:30 pm at Hauz Khas Village. The cheerful sun shining bright over our heads, eleven freethinkers were up and about. Enthusiasm was in the air and Freethinkers geared up to question some of the most archaic and unreasonable commonly held beliefs. The attendees were Siddharth, Himel, Lalit, Mohit, Ali, Dhanshree, Supriya, Sanatan, Hammad, Appu, Bai Fu. Ali amused us all by exclaiming how science transformed his life. I guess it [...]

  • A Report on the Interactive Session with Narendra Nayak – BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa CampusMarch 10, 20136

    A Report on the Interactive Session with Narendra Nayak – BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus

    Much has been said about the culture of ‘lite’ that permeates the psyche of the average BITSian. Yet, after witnessing the proceeds of the much awaited interactive session with Narendra Nayak on the 24th of February, I couldn’t help but feel exhilarated and energised by the enthusiasm and support shown by the freethinkers of our campus. We successfully held the interactive session in the evening at 6:00 PM, after the TEDx conference of BITS Goa. Narendra sir had come to [...]

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Freethought Activism

  • Bengaluru Freethinkers May 2013 MeetMay 23, 20136

    Bengaluru Freethinkers May 2013 Meet

    Twenty-three people showed up for our May 2013 meet, held on the Cubbon Park grass outside the State Central Library. Twenty three (and four of them were bang on time)! On the agenda for the day were the Bangladeshi atheists, and parody religions. We did talk about that, but it became hard to manage in such a large group and discussion veered into other atheist subjects, like strategies for activism, experiences of coming out, and the upcoming Hug an Atheist [...]

  • A Report on the 23rd Chennai Freethinkers’ Meet

    We had four new attendees along with whom it summed up to a total of nineteen members for the 23rd monthly meet up of Chennai Freethinkers in April. The discussions were on assorted topics ranging from caste- based oppressions to child rapes to prostitution. Sruthisagar Yamunan started the discussion by mentioning the recent cosmological event that kicked off irrational reactions from gullible superstitious folk: the lunar eclipse! Yes, it was the partial lunar eclipse that came to pass on the [...]

  • Mumbai Freethinkers’ Meet (27.4.2013)May 5, 20132

    Mumbai Freethinkers’ Meet (27.4.2013)

    It was a terribly hot day as my taxi winded its way down the road alongside ShivSena Bhavan and I was wondering about some questions that popped into my mind after seeing a large poster of the erstwhile Shiv Sena Supremo. My thoughts quickly returned to the sweltering heat and eventually to the cabbie who now demanded change. No sooner had I gotten off the taxi than I saw some people who already had a seat comfortably at one of [...]

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Humor & Creative Arts

  • Thoughts From A Secular HumanistApril 20, 201227

    Thoughts From A Secular Humanist

    I have no invisible authority I am not mentally enslaved, I am not an unworthy sinner Who is waiting to be saved. My actions are my own Responsibility for which I will take, Credit for the good and penalty for the bad The payment for my deeds only I can make. I’m not the innocent, confused child; ‘Humble’ messengers try to find, I’m a skeptic with adult reasoning Who has left Faith behind. The answers gifted by logic and reason [...]

  • A Debate between GenerationsMarch 5, 201225

    A Debate between Generations

    The year is 2032 CE and I have perhaps kicked the bucket much earlier. Ananya, my eight year old grand-daughter currently, has since become a Rocket scientist and she likes to discuss philosophical issues with her grandmother, my wife, whom she calls as “Avva” meaning Grandma in our mother tongue Telugu.

  • We’re free to share cards and flowers if we wishFebruary 14, 20125

    We’re free to share cards and flowers if we wish

    Our love’s more alive than any dead saint, But some Valentine’s cheer why not relish? These jolly rose hues won’t our culture taint! We’re free to share cards and flowers if we wish! Grown women and men don’t need to be taught, Their close relationships how to cherish! Why is this simple freedom so hard-fought? We’re free to share cards and flowers if we wish! Some faithful in whose eyes such fun is sin, Should first from their midst hatred banish! Sweet nothings sound better than hate-filled din. We’re free [...]

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