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{{Short description|Indian writer and activist (1922–2023)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Lead rewrite|date=August 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2021}}
{{Lead too long|date=February 2024}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ravipudi Venkatadri
| image =
| alt = Venkatadri
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|02|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nagandla, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|01|21|1922|02|09|df=y}}
| death_place =
| occupation = Writer and activist
| years_active = 1940–2023
| caption =
}}

'''Ravipudi Venkatadri''' (9 February 1922 – 21 January 2023) was an Indian activist in the [[rationalist]] and [[humanist]] movements.

Venkatadri was born into a middle-class peasant family in 1922 at [[Nagandla]], a village in [[Prakasam district]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]], turned to rationalist ideas in 1940<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPz-oITV4iw|title=Ravipudi Venkatadri: వందేళ్లలో 100 పుస్తకాలు రాసిన ఈ హేతువాది ఒకప్పుడు రామభక్తుడు | BBC Telugu|date=9 February 2021 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> after reading ''Sambukavada'' written by [[T. Ramaswamy Choudary|Tripuraneni Rama Swamy]]. Ravipudi was the founder director of Kavirajasram, Nagandla (1943). He propagated rationalist ideas in and around Nagandla. He attended the study camps organised by [[M. N. Roy]] at Dehradun (1946) and Mussorie (1949). He was the founder president of Rationalist Association of Andhra Pradesh. He was elected president of Rationalist Associations of India (RAI) in 1989,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=55wFpydSZ8oC&dq=humanist+conference+1993+ravipudi&pg=PA98 |title=Disenchanting India: Organized Rationalism and Criticism of Religion in India - Johannes Quack - Google Books |isbn=978-0-19-981260-8 |accessdate=2021-03-18|last1=Quack |first1=Johannes |year=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://iheu.org/membership/our-members/?page=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/profile/view&reset=1&id=1122&gid=4|title=Our members - Rationalist Association of India|work=IHEU|access-date=2017-05-28|language=en-US}}</ref> and Radical Humanist Association (Andhra Pradesh) in 1993. He established Hetuvada Manavavada – HEMA ([[acronym]] from Hetuvada-Manavavada, meaning Rationalist-Humanist) – Foundation and was the founder editor of ''Hetuvadi''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Hetuvadi|publisher=Hema Publication|year=1982|location=Prakasam Dt, Andhra Pradesh|page=408}}</ref> – a rationalist periodical in Telugu language<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hetuvadi|title=Hetuvdi|journal=Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers NO 44832/82}}</ref> which was established in September 1982.

Venkatadri conducted and headed a number of study camps to educate the cadre on rationalist and humanist lines. He has written extensively in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] on [[science]], [[religion]], [[rationalism]], [[Marxism]], [[materialism]], [[atheism]] and other subjects. He wrote over 90 books, edited them into 23 Volumes, translated six of them into English<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nastiknation.org/product/rationalism-by-ravipudi-part-one/|title=Hetuvadam – Nastik Nation|website=nastiknation.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-28}}</ref> and published them through Hetuvada Manavavada Publication (popularly mentioned as HEMA Publication), from Chirala, Andhra Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telugubooks.in/products/raavipudi-rachanalu-hethuvadamrationalism-set-of-23-books|title=Raavipudi Rachanalu, Hethuvadam(Rationalism) Set of 23 Books|website=www.telugubooks.in}}</ref> Some of his books have been translated into Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Malayalam<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nastiknation.org/product/yukthivadam-ravipudi-venkatadri/|title=Yukthivadam – Ravipudi Venkatadri – Nastik Nation}}</ref> and English. He started Hetuvadi,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.atheistcentre.in/pdfs/AtheistMovementInAndhraPradeshIndia.pdf |title=Atheist Movement In Andhra Pradesh India |publisher=www.atheistcentre.in |date= |accessdate=2021-03-18}}</ref> a Telugu monthly magazine, to propagate the aims of the Andhra Pradesh Rationalist Association for which he had been elected president since 1979. He led Rationalist Associations of India (RAI)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://humanists.international/2007/11/annual-conference-rationalist-association-india-24-and-25-november-2007/|title=Annual Conference of Rationalist Association of India - 24 and 25 November 2007|newspaper=Humanists International |date=12 November 2007|author1=Andy }}</ref> for over two decades. He was the chairman of it. He is supposed to be the first author to write a book on rationalism with the title ''Rationalism''. It was published in 1978. He toured America and Europe to participate in the Humanist Conferences held there in the year 1993.

Venkatadri extensively and frequently toured to attend rationalist conferences and study classes. He had visited Kerala, Mumbai, Delhi and other places in the country to strengthen rationalist movement.

Venkatadri delivered speeches on rationalism and humanism at various universities, including Andhra University, Vizag Telugu University and Telugu Academy in Hyderabad. He had received award from the then vice-president of India in 1996 for his remarkable intellectual life.

==Political life==
In 1945, Ravipudi Venkatadri joined the [[Radical Democratic Party (India)|Radical Democratic Party]] founded by [[M. N. Roy]]. He contested the combined Madras State elections in 1946 from Bapatta-Ongole constituency but was defeated. He was unanimously elected as Nagandla village president and continued in the post for 40 years from 1956 to 1996. He brought about radical changes in the village on rationalist and humanist lines while he was holding this position.

==Personal life and death==
Venkatadri [[Centenarian|turned 100]] in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sundara Rao |first=Beeram |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/guest-columns/atheist-ravipudi-venkatadri-celebrates-101st-birthday-1433362 |title=Ravipudi Venkatadri: వంద వసంతాల హేతువాది |trans-title=Ravipudi Venkatadri: Rationalist of Hundred Years |work=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |date=9 February 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022 |language=te}}</ref> Even at the advanced age of 100 he continued writing, proof reading, editing and publishing ''Hetuvadi'' and Rationalist-Humanist literature on behalf of the organizations he was a part of.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spectroom.com/1024767169-ravipudi-venkatadri|title=Ravipudi Venkatadri|website=www.spectroom.com}}</ref>

Venkatadri died on 21 January 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=ప్రముఖ హేతువాది రావిపూడి వెంకటాద్రి కన్నుమూత |url=https://telugu.samayam.com/andhra-pradesh/news/humanist-ravipudi-venkatadri-passed-away-at-101/articleshow/97206044.cms |access-date=16 February 2023 |publisher=Samayam |date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2021 he received Dr [[A. T. Kovoor|A T Kovoor]] National Award instituted by Bharatheeya Yukthivadi Sangham<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.nastiknation.org/news/2021/01/18/veteran-rationalist-ravipudi-venkatadri-receives-dr-a-t-kovoor-national-award/|title=Veteran rationalist Ravipudi Venkatadri receives Dr A T Kovoor National Award}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/stop-efforts-to-create-nation-based-on-religion/articleshow/60137120.cms|title='Stop efforts to create nation based on religion' | Kochi News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=20 August 2017 }}</ref> on his 100th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLOINqCKEcY|title=What Does Rationalism mean? Ravipudi Venkatadri Explains || హేతువాదమంటే….రావిపూడి వెంకటాద్రి వివరణ|date=3 February 2021 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1G4o3XAIMo|title=శ్రీ రావిపూడి వెంకటాద్రి నూరవ పుట్టిన రోజు వేడుక || Promo || Ravipudi Venkatadri || Sakalam Channel|date=3 February 2021 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> The award was to appreciate his activism and achievement, spreading free-thought and rationalism. One of the previous recipients of Dr A T Kovoor Award was superstar [[Kamal Haasan]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/buzz/blog/Movies/8-less-known-facts-about-kamal-haasan|title=8 Less Known facts about Kamal Haasan|website=BookMyShow}}</ref> A prolific rationalist author Ravipudi Venkatadri has also received the [[Kondaveeti Venkatakavi]] Sahitya Peetham Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailygkintelugu.com/current-affairs/10577/%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%AA%E0%B0%A1-%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%9F%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%95-%E0%B0%9C%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%A4%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B2-%E0%B0%B8%E0%B0%AB%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%AF-%E0%B0%AA%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%B8%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B0-lifetime-achievement-award-for-ravipudi-venkatadri|title=Daily GK in Telugu|website=dailygkintelugu.com}}</ref> He received ''"Modern Charwaka National Award"'' from Charvaka Kala Peetham, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh in 2021. He received ''Tripuraneni Ramaswamy National Award'' from Kaviraju Trust, Hyderabad<ref name="auto1"/> which was presented through the hands of [[K. R. Narayanan]], then Vice President of India. He was also given the "Bharateeyudu" Award from Bharateeyam, [[Ongole]].

==Radical Humanist Centre==
Radical Humanist Centre at Inkollu, Andhra Pradesh was founded by Ravipudi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Radical+Humanist+Center/@15.8340429,80.1950502,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x871d229799c03fdc!8m2!3d15.8340429!4d80.1950502|title=Radical Humanist Center|website=Radical Humanist Center}}</ref> It constructed a building on the land donated by Ravi Subbarao, a retired post master. This building houses a conference hall, rooms for guests including amenities for them and a well stocked library with back issues of the monthly magazine ''Hetuvadi'', books on rationalism, humanism and atheism – mostly written by Ravipudi Venkatadri himself.

==Hetuvadi==
Hetuvadi – a monthly journal, meaning of the title in English The Rationalist – is devoted to Science, Rationalism and Humanism was being edited by Ravipudi Venkatadri. This periodical in Telugu was started in the year 1982.

==Quote of Ravipudi==
"If we hang on to the concept of Godhood, that has been drowning mankind in the deep waters of ignorance for thousands of years – in spite of the fact that it is unfounded, useless and unproven – evidently it shows that we do not accept evolution of ideas."

==Books by Ravipudi==
[https://nastiknation.org/product-category/books-by/ravipudi-venkatadri/ Books authored by Ravipudi Venkatadri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927010109/https://nastiknation.org/product-category/books-by/ravipudi-venkatadri/ |date=27 September 2022 }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venkatadri, Ravipudi}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:People from Prakasam district]]
[[Category:Indian atheism activists]]
[[Category:Indian rationalists]]
[[Category:Indian materialists]]
[[Category:Indian religious sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian sceptics]]
[[Category:Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Indian men centenarians]]

Ravipudi Venkatadri - Revision history

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