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pream's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Hard-hitting!!!
1. Realism became our cult.
2. The greatest sin in this world is to be poor? Poverty is a sin, it is a punishment.
3. Self-reliance is always liable to be interpreted as vanity. It is sad and miserable but there is no help.
These three lines from the extract are enough to showcase Bhagat Singh's ideals on the particular topic. This extract is a tight slap to all irrational beliefs. Sadly, orthodox beliefs are still lingering in so-called modern Indian society, and capitalism is playing a great role in it along with political humbug.
monikasatote's review
4.0
Let us see how I carry on: One friend asked me to pray. When informed of my atheism, he said, "During your last days you will begin to believe". I said, No, dear Sir, it shall not be. I will think that to be an act of degradation and demoralisation on my part. For selfish motives, I am not going to pray. Readers and friends, "Is this vanity"? If it is, I stand for it.
-Bhagat Singh
Why I am an Atheist is a memoir/essay written by Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Lahore centre jail. This essay was a reply to his religious friends who associated his atheism with his vanity. That is why he opened this essay with the same question. "Is it due to vanity that I do not believe in the existence of an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God?"
Through this 24 paged essay, Bhagat Singh explained how he denies the existence of a God or any supreme being and how his vanity has nothing to do with it. He was not born atheist as his family members were believers. As he joined the revolutionary party, his thought process changed. He studied mysticism and blind faith. He found no universal faith in all the religions and witnessing religious conflicts made him think about this more. Also, he did take the help of scientific theories too!
The book is very small so I don't want to explain every idea here. This book reflects how young, wild and revolutionary Bhagat Singh was. It does sound like an intellectual and emotional outburst, but I admire how wisely he explained everything at the age of 22. It’s a tragedy that we lost such a wise mind so early. I being atheist support many ideas and questions raised by him. There were some points my little brain could not process, but from whatever I understood, this was a thought-provoking read.
If you have ever got into the debate of god’s existence, give this book a read. This small essay can be a really heavy piece for some people, but there’s no harm in trying.
-Bhagat Singh
Why I am an Atheist is a memoir/essay written by Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Lahore centre jail. This essay was a reply to his religious friends who associated his atheism with his vanity. That is why he opened this essay with the same question. "Is it due to vanity that I do not believe in the existence of an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God?"
Through this 24 paged essay, Bhagat Singh explained how he denies the existence of a God or any supreme being and how his vanity has nothing to do with it. He was not born atheist as his family members were believers. As he joined the revolutionary party, his thought process changed. He studied mysticism and blind faith. He found no universal faith in all the religions and witnessing religious conflicts made him think about this more. Also, he did take the help of scientific theories too!
The book is very small so I don't want to explain every idea here. This book reflects how young, wild and revolutionary Bhagat Singh was. It does sound like an intellectual and emotional outburst, but I admire how wisely he explained everything at the age of 22. It’s a tragedy that we lost such a wise mind so early. I being atheist support many ideas and questions raised by him. There were some points my little brain could not process, but from whatever I understood, this was a thought-provoking read.
If you have ever got into the debate of god’s existence, give this book a read. This small essay can be a really heavy piece for some people, but there’s no harm in trying.
theredheded_bibliomaniac's review
5.0
One thing which I have noticed in atheists is that the don't try to force their belief on us.
But the believers always try to do that.
.
I am not am atheist but I do have a lot of curiosity and I ask my friends who are atheist, "why are they atheist?"
I just want to know their thought process.
Yeah I might give counter arguments to their thoughts.
And which some might consider as forcing my belief on them.
But that was not my intention and my friends know that. but yeah some might get offended ..
So I will make it clear I like to have Healthy discussion
But the believers always try to do that.
.
I am not am atheist but I do have a lot of curiosity and I ask my friends who are atheist, "why are they atheist?"
I just want to know their thought process.
Yeah I might give counter arguments to their thoughts.
And which some might consider as forcing my belief on them.
But that was not my intention and my friends know that. but yeah some might get offended ..
So I will make it clear I like to have Healthy discussion
akanksha's review
5.0
This pamphlet ended up being an amazing surprise. Usually, when we talk about Bhagat Singh, we only refer to him as a martyr, with little thought about his ideology. The glorification of the sacrifice of freedom fighters ironically undermines them as individuals whose struggle was more than their martyrdom. Bhagat Singh especially, is a controversial figure because of his revolutionary ideas that often ran against Gandhi's ideas. His leftist leaning still makes our leaders uncomfortable. This work offers us a glimpse into some of those ideas.
As the title suggests, Singh explains his position as an atheist, a very radical position to take at a time when most political leaders, especially revolutionaries awaiting execution took refuge in religious and spiritual mysticism to console their soul. The fact that Bhagat Singh, who wrote this treatise in his last days, chose to consciously reject this refuge in religion indicates the solidity of his arguments.
Bhagat Singh's approach in this work is rational and scientific. He not only enumerates the exploitative aspects of religion, but also gives a sympathetic glimpse into the motivations of the believers. He lays stress on the significance of thinking and criticising everything, including one's own position. This seminal work is especially relevant to the current times when there is an attempt to polarise people along imagined lines to serve an imagined God.
As the title suggests, Singh explains his position as an atheist, a very radical position to take at a time when most political leaders, especially revolutionaries awaiting execution took refuge in religious and spiritual mysticism to console their soul. The fact that Bhagat Singh, who wrote this treatise in his last days, chose to consciously reject this refuge in religion indicates the solidity of his arguments.
Bhagat Singh's approach in this work is rational and scientific. He not only enumerates the exploitative aspects of religion, but also gives a sympathetic glimpse into the motivations of the believers. He lays stress on the significance of thinking and criticising everything, including one's own position. This seminal work is especially relevant to the current times when there is an attempt to polarise people along imagined lines to serve an imagined God.
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