DKRA GOLDEN JUBILEE / 50 YEARS OF RATIONAL INQUIRY
14th National FIRA Conference: Rationalism for Youth
25-26 January 2027 (Monday and Tuesday) · AIKBEA Auditorium, Mangaluru
The Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) will hold its 14th National Conference and Biennial Convention in Mangaluru on 25 and 26 January 2027. It brings together humanists, rationalists, atheists and freethinkers from across India for two days of papers, discussion and organising.
This edition is hosted with the Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association (DKRA), which turns 50 this year, and Aid Without Religion Trust, Mangaluru. The theme, Rationalism for Youth, is a direct call to the next generation to question, investigate and take part in the movement.
Conference at a glance
| Dates | 25-26 January 2027 (Monday and Tuesday) |
| Venue | AIKBEA Auditorium (All India Karnataka Bank Employees Association), Kapikad, Bejai-Kavoor Road, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575004 |
| Fee | ₹1,000 per delegate for both days (food, delegate kit, badges and handouts included) |
| Seats | Limited to 300 delegates; confirmed only after payment |
| Last date to register | 7 January 2027 |
Only 300 delegate places. Book yours early.
Call for papers
Delegates are invited to present papers on one of four subthemes:
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- Critical Thinking in the Age of Viral Campaigns
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- 50 Years of Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association (DKRA)
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- Article 51A(h) in Action: Scientific Temper as Civic Resistance
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- Women and Superstitions: Unpacking Social Realities
Papers must be in MS Word (.doc or .docx), Times New Roman, 12 point with 1.5 line spacing, and no more than 2,500 words. The title should be 14 point, bold and centred; author name, affiliation and contact details 12 point, bold and centred, with the author name underlined.
Full paper format and dates: Academic programme
50 years of DKRA
DKRA began as the South Kanara Rationalist Association on 25 November 1976, during the Emergency, when a group of young rationalists set out to bring Abraham T Kovoor’s Divine Miracle Exposure campaign to Mangaluru. Over five decades it has exposed so-called miracles through public demonstrations, worked with Basava Premanand, joined the Bharatiya Jana Vignana Jatha in 1987, trained science activists and teachers, and supported inter-caste and inter-religious marriages.
Its secretary, Dr Narendra Nayak, has led FIRA as President since 2004. The work has come at a cost: after the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh, he lived under police protection from 2016 to 2023 and survived attempts on his life. The Golden Jubilee is about handing this work on to younger people.
Read the full first-person history: DKRA 50 years
Be part of the Golden Jubilee conference
25-26 January 2027 · Mangaluru · ₹1,000 · 300 seats
Travel and stay
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- By air: Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), Bajpe. Prepaid taxis and app cabs available.
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- By train: Mangaluru Central (MAQ), or Mangaluru Junction (MAJN) at Kankanady.
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- By bus: KSRTC Bus Stand, Bejai. The venue is a short taxi or auto ride away.
Hotels near the venue range from budget to upper mid-range, and dormitory options are available through the organisers. Accommodation details will be shared in the conference WhatsApp group after registration. Please bring your own reusable water bottle; refill cans will be provided at the venue.
Hotel list with phone numbers and a venue map: Travel and accommodation
Contact
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- Registration and accommodation: Vivek +91 97432 90032 (WhatsApp) / Mayoor +91 99022 58950 (WhatsApp)
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- Conference email: [email protected]
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- Chief Coordinator: Vivek Vijay Kumar, [email protected]
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- Convenor: Eric Lobo, +91 98451 05181
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- Chairperson: Dr Narendra Nayak, +91 94482 16343
Organising committee and FIRA National Executive: People behind the conference
Registration closes 7 January 2027
Seats are confirmed only after payment.