Profile

Origin and History of SSS

Satya Shodhak Sabha established in 1979 is a leading association spearheading a movement for transformation of Society and instill scientific, rational and human values in all spheres of life. It is wedded to Rationalism, Humanism, Secularism, Atheism Social Justice and Democracy etc. Its main concern is to catalyse forces of Renaissance on the basis of scientific values in the cultural and social life of Indian society.

How the SSS evolved?

A story of its origin goes like this. Sometimes in the later part of 1978 a news item appeared in the local newspapers of Surat city regarding a proposed Radha Golok Yagna to be held in Surat at a cost of some 80 lakhs Rupees. It was claimed that this Yagna will bring world peace. It was also the year of draught and there was huge scarcity of food grains and water. So some of the sensitive intellectuals were disturbed at this colossal waste of money and food grains. A public meeting was held to oppose the Yagna. A small samiti was formed with Professor Babubhai Desai and Ambrish Mehta as the convenor, and the noted Rationalist Column writer Prof. Raman Pathak also opposed this Yagna in his popular column RAMANBHRAMAN in Gujaratmitra. At the same time the Principal K.C.Mehta and the Vice principal Dr. B.A.Parikh of M.T.B. Arts college invited a meeting of the citizens of Surat on this issue of Yagna. As a result of all these efforts a public meeting was held in Anne Beasant Hall in the heart of the city under the chairmanship of Shri Gordhandas Chokhawala, a Gandhian worker, once the Mayor of Surat Municipal Corporation and also a minister of Education in the Government of Gujarat. This public meeting unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Yagna and take suitable measures in the matter. Pamphlets were distributed, posters were placed at crowded places, the civic authorities were requested not to help the organisers of Yagna and be a party to this criminal waste, statements were issued in press etc. However as the result of this movement the tempo of this Yagna came to a very low level and practically not of much public support. This public opposition to Yagna revived the spirit of social reform and fight against tradition among the people of Surat city. Surat has a long tradition of social revolution a nd social reform and fight against superstitions from the days of Poet Narmrad, and Durgaram Mehtaji and others in the years from 1830 to 1880.

So it was thought that to make use of this opportunity, take some measures to give a concrete form to this new spirit of revivalism and take the society in the direction of Science and Rationalism. Hence a few enlightened persons got togather and mooted an idea of starting an association with the objectives of promotion of scientific temper and fight against superstitions, blind faith etc. Hence Sarya Shodhak Sabha came into existence in the early months of 1979 with Shri Chokhawala as its first President and Dr. B.A.Parikh and Shri. B.D Desai as its secretaries.

SATYA SHODHAK SABHA was thus born in 1979. The literal meaning of SSS means a Body in search of Truth, a TRUTH SEEKING BODY. This name is also after the SSS started by Mahatma Phule in Maharashtra who fought for social justice and education for Women in mid 19th century. The SSS has been flourishing since then and today it has spread over whole of Gujarat state and has earned recognition as a prestigious NGO at the national as well as the international level.

Aims and Objectives:

(1) To fight against superstitions, blind faith, rituals, ignorance, excessive religiosity etc
(2) To promote and popularize scientific temper, spirit of inquiry, rationalist thoughts through activities, programmes and generating literature
(3) To launch a campaign against so called supernatural phenomena and expose the claims of the Godmen
(4) Propagation of Scientific Temper and Rationalism by holding Conferences, workshops, seminars, public meetings and publication of books, booklets and pamphlets etc.

Present Status

The SSS is a voluntary body registered under the Bombay Trust Act of the government. Its registration no is E/2240. It is a democratic body with a constitution of its own. It has been recognized by the State and the Union government in India. It is affiliated to (1) Federation of Indian Rationalists Association. (2) International Humanist and Ethical Union based in London, (3) Committee for the Scientific Investigation of the claims of the Para Normal based in New York. (4) Actively associated with Gujarat and Mumbai Rationalists Association

PRESENT OFFICE BEARERS

(1) To provoke people into thinking along rationalist, scientific and modern value based ideas through Talks, Dialogues, Discussions and Workshops etc.
(2) Through a one hour popular miracle exposure programme demonstrate miracles and then explain the scientific principles behind their occurrence
(3) To expose centers of irrationality and superstitions run by the fraud men and where gullible people are exploited. They are known more as Mataji, Babas, Gurus, Swamis, and Astrologers-Vastushastris etc. Till date we have exposed more than 100 such fraud men.
(4) Organize camps, Conferences and Workshops on the philosophy of the SSS
(5) To associate with the like minded people and institutions at the State, National and International level.
(6) To generate literature preferably in Gujarati language on the aims and objectives of SSS. The SSS publishes a bi monthly magazine called Satyanveshan
(7) To act as a nodal agency for a Central Government sponsored Science project called National Children Science Congress at the State level
(8) The SSS has declared a prize money of Rs One lakh to anybody who can demonstrate under controlled conditions any phenomena called a miracle and which goes against the known principles of Science.

Show a Supernatural Phenomena Win Rs 100,000

The Satya Shodhak Sabha is emphatatic and cocksure about the view that THERE IS NO SUPERNATURAL POWER, No divine intervention and that nobody has that power. All those who claim having such power are FRAUDS and are cheating the ignorant and the gullible people. In order to convince the people we have declared a Prize money of Rs ONE LAKH to any one who can demonstrate a phenomena which goes against the known principles of science.
The prize money has been deposited in the local branch of the Surat Peoples co-operative Bank and the a/c no is FD 21307. Since many years, So far nobody as come toward to claim this amount.
Those who desire to take up this challenge are requested to contact the office bearers. Only two conditions are there. The demonstration has to be at a public place duly agreed by the SSS and under controlled conditions and secondly and the party has to deposit Rs 1000 which is non refundable.

The SSS has so far published following books in Gujarati

MEMBERSHIP

Membership to SSS is open to ALL persons without discrimination but who believe and accept rationalism and science
Annual fee Rs 25/ Life Membership Rs 250/
Satyanveshan Magazine
Annual Subscription Rs 50/. Life Membership Rs 500/
Subscription may be paid at Agrawal Trust, Sheth Rangildas Street, Near PO, Gopipura, Surat, Gujarat Phone 0261 2590 847

Address

3, Abhinav Park , Ghod dod Road,
SURAT Pin 395001
Gujarat INDIA