Date:19/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/19/stories/2007041903200300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Atheist leader passes away

GUNTUR: Well known atheist Boddu Ramakrishna, whose Charuvaka Ashramam near Mangalagiri in Guntur district was popular, died of illness on Wednesday morning at a hospital in Vijayawada. He was 67. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter .

Born in 1940 in Thullur in Guntur district, he cultivated the scientific way of thinking among children and sought to develop questioning spirit among them. Some of his books included Sambhukavada, Guddinammakala Guttu, Moodhanammkalu and Charuvakudu. For 11 years he had been conducting the alternative festival `Nastika Mela' on every second Saturday of February every year, which was very popular.