In 1940 the Indian philosopher Gora and his wife Saraswathi Gora founded the Atheist Centre as an institution for a social change. Secular social work was meant to be the appropriate medium to develop the aim of a humanitarian oriented lifestyle. For that purpose social and psychological advice is offered, used mainly to by those who seriously suffer from the barriers of caste and religion in India's traditional society. Equally important is it to pass on knowledge about health, sexuality, and birth control. The Atheist Centre organizes touring exhibitions and edits printed material in order to fulfill this task.
Practical aid is given through rural development programs.
More that 150 villages get benefit from this work. Again the improvement of the social situation of women and other deprived persons is focussed here. Furthermore certain single activities take place, sponsored by donations. For instance polio stricken children can have operations that enable them to walk again. In 1972 the Aziz Nesin Foundation was brought into being by the atheist Turkish writer Aziz Nesin in order to enable children in need of to get a proper personal and professional education.