Joseph Edamaruku

Edamaruku was born on 7 September 1934 in what is now Idukki district, Kerala. ==Journalism==

Edamaruku worked as a Malayalam journalist and was associated with the Kerala Sabdam group of publications after moving to Delhi in 1977. He later became the publication's Delhi bureau chief. He was also involved in rationalist publishing, including as a founder-editor of Therali, a Malayalam rationalist weekly or periodical. ==Rationalist activism==

Edamaruku was a prominent figure in the rationalist movement in Kerala and in the wider Indian rationalist movement. DNA India described him as "the face of rationalist movement in Kerala" and noted his campaigns against superstition, obscurantism and blind belief. Edamaruku was also publicly critical of astrology and of the introduction of astrology courses into Indian universities. In 2004, while president of the Indian Rationalists, he was quoted by UCANews criticising a court decision that allowed astrology courses in universities. ==Writing==

Edamaruku wrote in Malayalam and English on religion, philosophy, rationalism, magic and claims of miracles. His obituary in DNA India stated that he authored 168 books and more than 2,000 essays. His major works included Christ and Krishna Never Lived, Quran: A Critical Study, and Bhagavad Gita: A Critical Study. He also translated and published works by Abraham Kovoor in Malayalam. His autobiography, Kodumkattuyarthiya Kaalam (The Times that Raised the Tempest), received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography in 1999. ==Death==

Edamaruku died on 29 June 2006 at his residence in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi. In accordance with his wishes, his body was donated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for medical research. ==Personal life==

Edamaruku was married to Soley Edamaruku. Their son, Sanal Edamaruku, became a rationalist writer and activist and later president of the Indian Rationalist Association and Rationalist International. ==Selected works==

• Christ and Krishna Never Lived • Quran: A Critical Study • Bhagavad Gita: A Critical Study • Upanishathukal: Oru Vimarsana Padanam • Yukthivada Rashtram • Kodumkattuyarthiya Kaalam • Kovoorinte Sampoorna Krithikal ==Awards==

• Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography, 1999, for Kodumkattuyarthiya Kaalam. • International Atheist Award, 1979. ==See also==