India’s most famous Atheists and Agnostics who believe God doesn’t exist
As per the last census of India, over 2.87 million (0.27% ) Indians have no faith. Atheism and agnosticism in India are growing at a rapid rate due to rising awareness against social stigma, westernization and most importantly, the realization of the fact that probably God is a myth.
However, irreligion is still a small factor in a secular country which sees the acceptance of all major religions from across the world over.
You may be wondering why 0.27% of the country’s massive population of 1.32 billion is suddenly ditching God? Well, this is not a new phenomenon! Atheists in India have long been propagating the fact that God doesn’t exist and some very famous Indians have been rejecting the basis of religion and God since ancient items (Buddhism and Jainism reject the idea of a creator).
In this article, we talk about some of India’s most famous atheists
Gautama Buddha (c. 563/480 – c. 483/400 BCE), the first Buddha Lord refused to endorse the concept of mankind’s creation by any ‘God’.
Jabali, (4th Century BCE), a sophist mentioned in the Ramayana considered Hindu religion a man-made tactic to receive alms.
Ajita Kesakambali (6th century BCE), a materialist philosopher, is mentioned in the Buddhist Samaññaphala Sutta as a person who rejected the afterlife, karma and the concept of worshiping gods.
Payasi (6th century BCE), a prince finds mention in the Digha Nikaya of the Buddhist Payasi Sutta who didn’t believe in Karma.
Jinasena, (8th century BCE), a Jain philosopher who wrote the Mahapurana alleged that ‘men themselves declare that there is a creator of this world, but this doctrine is ill-advised and should be rejected’.
Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi (1852 - 1929), a sage from Kerala, admonished the wide use of idol worship.
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy (1879–1973), an Indian social activist who founded the Dravidar Kazhagam and led the Self-Respect Movement was a staunch atheist and rejected most Hindu beliefs like the afterlife, rebirth, etc.
Bhagat Singh (1907–1931), India’s most under-recognized nationalist-revolutionary who was hanged for his anti-colonial views was a staunch atheist mainly due to the Hindu-Muslim riots during the pre-Independence era of India.
Veer Savarkar (1886–1966), the erstwhile President of the Hindu Mahasabha, described himself as a Hindu atheist because he believed that Hindutva was not a religious movement, but a cultural one.
Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), India’s first Prime Minister of India described himself as a Hindu Agnostic.
C. V. Raman (1888–1970), a world-class scientist who won the Physics Nobel Prize in 1930 was an atheist.
M. Karunanidhi (1924-2018), the former 5-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu was a famous writer and artist known as ‘Kaliagnar’. He rejected all Hindu practices and considered himself an agnostic and atheist.
Baba Amte, (1914 – 2008), a conservationist and social worker was an atheist. He considered the River Narmada his only God.
B. R. Ambedkar (1891 –1956), the ideator of the Indian Constitution and a social reformer was a follower of Navayana Buddhism in which there is no one true God making him a Buddhist atheist.
Satyendra Nath Bose (1894 – 1974), a mathematical physicist who pioneered the Bose-Einstein statistics and Bose-Einstein condensate (BOSON) also rejected religion.
Meghnad Saha (1893 – 1956), an astrophysicist who developed the Saha Equation was an atheist.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1910–1995), another astrophysicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 rejected any kind of deity worship.
Goparaju Ramachandra Rao (1902-1975), a social reformer and anti-caste activist along with his social reformer wife Saraswathi Gora (1912-2007), were both atheists who founded the Atheist Centre in India.
Khushwant Singh (1915-2014), a celebrated author, journalist, and media critic was irreligious and atheist.
Abu Abraham (1924-2002), a famous cartoonist was an atheist.
Verghese Kurien (1921–2012), credited for starting the milk revolution of India by transforming India from a milk deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer by co-founding AMUL was a self-proclaimed atheist.
Markandey Katju (1946-), a former permanent judge at the Indian Supreme Court of India is an outspoken critic of Hinduism and an atheist.
Amol Palekar (1944-), one of India’s most famous actors, rejects spirituality and God’s existence.
Amartya Sen (1933-), India’s only Nobel laureate in Economics is a Hindu atheist.
Barkha Dutt (1971-), one of India’s most famous TV journalists is an agnostic.
Sathyaraj (1954-), an actor most famous for the role of ‘Kattappa’ in the Baahubali franchise is a self-proclaimed atheist who rejects religion.
Rajat Kapoor (1961-), famous actor and director considers that there is no heaven and hell and that God is a totally man-made concept.
Javed Akhtar (1945-), pioneering lyricist and screenwriter in Bollywood was initially a Muslim before turning an atheist.
Kamal Haasan (1954-), a highly popular actor considers religion a podium to propagate lies. He does not endorse any kind of worship.
S. S. Rajamouli (1973-), the creator of the magnum opus, the Baahubali franchise, is an atheist.
Rahul Bose (1967-), an international rugby player and actor, director, philanthropist is also an atheist.
Ram Gopal Verma (1962 -) An ace filmmaker is an outspoken atheist.
Farhan Akhtar (1974–), a famous film actor, producer, screenwriter, and singer considers himself an agnostic.
George Fernandes, (1930 –2019), former Defence and Railway Minister of India, was also a non-believer of God.
Rajeev Khandelwal (1975-), a TV actor, producer, and filmmaker, is an atheist.
Bhaichung Bhutia (1976-), India’s most famous footballer and a Buddhist by origin, is now an atheist.
Mani Ratnam (1956- ), a highly successful screenwriter and filmmaker is an atheist.
John Abraham (1972- ), a famous model and actor is an atheist and agnostic since childhood.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (1963 -), a filmmaker is a self-professed atheist.
Onir (1969-), an Indian filmmaker and gay rights activist is also an atheist.
