Daily Quiz: On Rationalists
6/1 | Founder of the committee for the elimination of superstition (Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, or MANS) after giving up his medical practice, he was also the editor of the Marathi weekly magazine Sadhna, which promoted scientific temper and liberal ideas. Name this rationalist who raised his voice against religious superstition and was murdered in 2013.
6 / 1 | Name the Indian philosopher who lived in the 6th century BC and is considered the first known proponent of “Indian Materialism”, who is also considered a forerunner of the Charvaka school of materialistic philosophy.
6/1 | Lokayata philosophy (also known as Charvaka) was propounded by a major atheistic sect in ancient India. Although the tradition has long lacked original works and is largely cited through secondary texts or criticism, there have been contemporary assessments. Name the Indian Marxist philosopher, awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1998, whose book, Lokayata: A Study in Ancient Indian Materialism is widely cited.
6/1 | One of the leading proponents of rationalism in public life and a pioneer of a successful political movement in India, this man led an organisation that is now headed by 90-year-old leader K. Veeramani. Name him.
6/1 | Another rationalist from Maharashtra, who was murdered for his views in 2015, was the author of a major Marathi work on Chhatrapati Shivaji – “Shivaji Kaun Hota?”. Name him.
6 / 1 | Name this eminent scientist, who was one of the authors of “A Statement on Scientific Temper” in 1980 and was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1986