The genesis of the Indian Humanist Union lay in an earlier society called the Society for Promotion of Freedom of Thought (SPFT) established in 1954 at Allahabad (India) by Narsingh Narain, a former teacher, civil servant and concurrent philosophy scholar. Later, when he learnt of the International Humanist & Ethical Union, as a sequel to the "Amsterdam Declaration" (1952), he changed the nomenclature of SPFT to "The Humanist Union" which he founded in 1960 at Naini Tal with the primary objective of the diffusion of knowledge concerning moral and social problems considered from the Humanist point of view, which, briefly according to IHU, stood for two basic values - love for fellow beings coupled with the scientific spirit of free enquiry. The first Chairman of the IHU was P N Sapru, former High Court Judge and Member of Indian Parliament who was succeded by Narsingh Narain, earlier working as the first General Secretary of the Union .
In 1966, Indian Humanist Union commenced the publication of a periodical The Humanist Outlook devoted to the furthering of the scientific attitude, ethical values, social reform and communal harmony. In 1970 at the joint initiative of Narsingh Narain and Abe Soloman, a distinguished humanist & Life Member of IHU the Humanist Endowment Fund Society was set up by some members of the IHU to provide financial stability to the humanist movement in India. On his death in 1972 Narsingh Narain bequeathed all his life's savings to this Society. The Corpus of HEFS has continued to grow steadily though slowly, mainly through further donations by dedicated members.
Narsingh Narain wrote extensively for Indian and International journals. He attended World Humanist Congresses in London (1957), Oslo (1962) and Boston (1970). His input into humanist thinking was most significant in respect of some basic questions like theism and atheism in relation to humanism, the role and scope of reason, the distinction between moral and spiritual values, the nature of secularism, the concept of humanism as a religion, etc. On his death, in 1972, Narsingh Narain received rich tributes from all over the world for his erudition, intellectual brilliance & contribution to the humanist movement.
In 1966, Indian Humanist Union commenced the publication of a periodical The Humanist Outlook devoted to the furthering of the scientific attitude, ethical values, social reform and communal harmony. In 1970 at the joint initiative of Narsingh Narain and Abe Soloman, a distinguished humanist & Life Member of IHU the Humanist Endowment Fund Society was set up by some members of the IHU to provide financial stability to the humanist movement in India. On his death in 1972 Narsingh Narain bequeathed all his life's savings to this Society. The Corpus of HEFS has continued to grow steadily though slowly, mainly through further donations by dedicated members.
Narsingh Narain wrote extensively for Indian and International journals. He attended World Humanist Congresses in London (1957), Oslo (1962) and Boston (1970). His input into humanist thinking was most significant in respect of some basic questions like theism and atheism in relation to humanism, the role and scope of reason, the distinction between moral and spiritual values, the nature of secularism, the concept of humanism as a religion, etc. On his death, in 1972, Narsingh Narain received rich tributes from all over the world for his erudition, intellectual brilliance & contribution to the humanist movement.