My America Tour -15
Telugu Original : Avula Gopala Krishna Murty (AGK)
English Translation: Komala Venigalla
Humanism in America
Humanist movements are progressing internationally. Let us observe how the Humanists function in America.
In India Humanist movement started in 1946. M .N .Roy and some others felt the need of Renaissance in people`s ideas and led the Humanist movement in that direction. Both these views progressed together as the humanist movement in India.
The Humanist movement does not accept nationalism, sectarian movements or any other collective interpretation of work. Its philosophy is to accept man as an individual and take him to be the base for society. Man as the individual should work for his development and his future is dependent on his efforts , and not on any outside powers believed to be there.
He is the primary and foremost being in the society. Individual progress is more important than the collective progress. He should give up power politics and get into social political set up. Production should be made for usefulness not for profit . He should curb exploitation and work for cooperative relationship among people. That is what the Indian Humanists are aiming at and working for it.
Let us see the American Humanist movement.
America is a big country. People are educated and they love individual freedom. They work hard, eat well and enjoy their life. That is how they look at their lives.
It is a country which tirelessly works for individual freedom , respect and social equality. It is a country which insists on respecting and treating the person as individual being.
There are 53 chapters of Humanist association. The Humanist association of America is in Yellow Springs, Ohio State. They have humanist association branches in all the major cities. They call them chapters. There are 1500 members in some chapters. All the 53 chapters are affiliated to the American Humanist Association. Each chapter has its own manifestos and planning. They are mostly akin to main association,sometimes a bit different-here and there.
Humanism has faith in human beings, it emphasizes the need of scientific knowledge and search for truth. Its stress is on gathering ethical and human values through literature, arts, science and philosophy, thereby making the life meaningful as a whole.
Humanists do not have interest in any religion or god. They are against dictatorial ideas coming from any source or direction.
Majority of humanists participate in social activities individually and express their ideas instead of participating in collective activities. That way they work for the betterment of the individual making human life useful and meaningful.
That is how the humanist association of America defined its aim and system of activity. The association publishes bi-monthly `The Humanist and Free mind`.
They express in their editorials that Humanist movement will get a set back if they call it ` our movement` praising its superiority . They emphasize their aim positively.
Apart from Humanist associations there are many other associations in America. Ethical Union, Secularist association, American Rationalists, Unitarians Ethicalists.
The Humanist, The Progressive world, The American Rationalist are the main journals for the movement. There are 15 other journals published by several chapters. The country being vast and places are far distant apart , their chapters work separately. To coordinate the work of all branches they need to make serious efforts. If they do it over a period of two years continuously the Humanists can strengthen their movement.
There is one Humanist movement namely Humanist World digest. They run their activities keeping their faith in religion . Ethical Union also works on similar lines. Except in their belief in religion they are united in their attitudes and activities though their faith has its effect on the society in America.
Lots of literature is made ready from different areas to spread the Humanist ideas and principles. There are many famous writers , intellectuals and teachers who work for the advancement of Humanist movement.
There are some areas which are strong holds for humanist movement. But it has least influence at the government level.
Just as Humanism emphasizes the individual`s progress, the people stand for the freedom of the individual. If anyone creates obstacles to such freedom they fight against those obstacles.
This spirit of Americans is an indication that the aim of of Humanist movement is deep rooted in their minds.
In recent times the Humanist activities are attracting people and there is a possibility of a bright future and success of the movement.
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Fresno incident
Fresno in California is a small but beautiful city. It is the home of many food crops. It stands first in growing paddy. Agriculture is converted into a huge industry here as Andhra is famous in India for growing paddy just so is California State in America -like Tenali town in Andhra , Fresno is prominent in California.
Here the climate is suitable to various food crops. 213 varieties of crops are grown here. Paddy, cotton and grapes are major produce among them. They grow 2 lakh more tons of grapes of the total grape growth of the world. Their crops are valued at rs 200 crores a year. They have resources enabling each person get Rs 20 thousand annual income. There are 57 races of people. One out of seven is a foreigner. Fresno is a cosmopolitan city. There are many farmers from Punjab here.
It is a clean city with wide roads and office buildings like in Washington DC. They have trees on either side of the road.
I went to meet the city mayor G.L. Sellard. Having come to know that I was once municipal chairman of Tenali, the mayor arranged to felicitate me that day. Though it was an honor done to me I felt that Fresno people honored our municipal administration, which they have great respect for.
As the part of honor they appointed me as honorary mayor for the day. We went into the municipal building. Edward who accompanied me introduced me to the mayor. He called his staff and introduced them to me. They gave me copies of Fresno annual budget.
Mayor made me sit next to him and adorned me with the gown having the badge of mayor. He vacated his own seat and welcomed me to occupy it saying that I was the mayor of their Fresno city that day. He asked me to see some files and pass orders. He was all smiles making me take his seat and powers.
One lady officer brought a file. I took the file and said that the next mayor could pass the orders. I left the file there and said that I was appointing the next mayor and made the real mayor occupy his seat back.
All of us enjoyed the situation heartily. I said that I had the power but need not exercise it . People who had power but would not exercise are greater than those who exercised power though they did not have it the lady said.
In our meeting after tea we discussed our system of municipal administration and the American system.
We have panchayat laws to govern our villages and municipal laws for our towns and cities. They don`t have our system. They have the tradition of framing their own rules for their village and city administration. We interacted for a long time.Then I removed the gown with mayor badge. They took me round the office and gave me some literature.
That day I could buy anything free of State and Federal taxes in Fresno. That was the part of honor they gave me that day. That day`s experience is unforgettable for me. Their good will, their heartfelt welcome and respect to me were memorable. Fresno gave me such a wonderful experience.
*****
(to be continued…)
Komala Venigalla, wife of Sri Inniah Narisetty is a retired Assistant Professor of English from Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad. Written on Modern Women covering various aspects of their lives in contemporary world. Traslated M.N.Roy’s Memoirs of Cat into Telugu. Contributed articles to Misimi Telugu monthly.