Hemalatha Lavanam

Hemalatha Lavanam (26 February 1932 —19 March 2008) was an Indian social reformer, writer, and atheist who protested against untouchability and the caste system. She was also a co-founder of Samskar with her husband Lavanam.

Hemalatha was born on 26 February 1932 at Vinukonda in Madras Presidency of British India, now in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. She was the daughter of Telugu poet Gurram Joshua and Mirayamma and the daughter-in-law of social reformer Goparaju Ramachandra Rao and Saraswathi Gora, who were atheist social reformers and founders of the Atheist Centre in Vijayawada.

Hemalatha was the founding secretary of Samskar, a non-governmental organization which works for humanism, social justice, human rights and socio-economic development in the state of Andhra Pradesh. She was also the founding secretary of the Joshua Foundation, which memorializes her father and recognizes and honors outstanding poets of various languages.

Samskar's reformation of denotified tribes:

Lavanam and Hemlatha couple took part in historical surrenders of decoits in chambal valley to Vinobha bhave and Jaya Prakash Narayan inspired the couple to work on criminal rehabilitation. Hemlatha, Lavanam and volunteers from atheist centre participated actively in criminal reformation and rehabilitation in 1974 in the areas of erstwhile criminal settlements Sitanagaram, Stuartpuram, Kawali, Kapparallathippa of Andhra Pradesh. They devoted their time to bring change in the mindset of criminal tribal shelter helped to provide alternative livelihood to criminal rehabilitated families. Hemalatha and Lavanam demended government of Andhra Pradesh to abolish settlements. Due to their efforts, the state government took a step in abolishing the managements and declaring them as free colonies in 1976. They visited the prisoners of Stuartpuram and kept constant contact through letters. The families of settlers visited Atheist center for advice. This contact changed some hardened criminals. They motivated the criminals to change from crime culture.

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