EsSENSE Global

esSENSE GLOBAL (officially registered as ESSENSE CLUB GLOBAL) is a Kerala-based atheist and freethinker organisation committed to promoting scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform in Indian society. It is best known as the organizer of Litmus, widely regarded as the world’s largest atheist gathering.

The organisation uses the stylized form esSENSE GLOBAL, with the first two letters in lowercase, as part of its unique branding across internet, social, and print media. For legal, technical, and banking purposes, the registered name ESSENSE CLUB GLOBAL is used, under the registration number TSR/TC/352/2018 with the Registrar of Societies, Government of Kerala^[1]

esSENSE GLOBAL’s objectives are inspired by Article 51A(h) of the Constitution of India, which calls for the development of scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform. The organisation aims to promote scientific thinking, rational inquiry, and evidence-based understanding while encouraging unbiased freethinking free from religious or secular dogmas.

It seeks to challenge superstition, pseudoscience, and intellectual conformity, and to foster a closer relationship between society and the scientific method as a foundation for civilizational progress. Guided by its motto, “Fact-based politics, evidence-based medicine, and humanism-based society,^[2]” esSENSE GLOBAL organizes seminars, panel discussions, study sessions, debates, and awareness programmes throughout Kerala.

The organisation also conducts educational campaigns and quizzes to promote scientific temper among school students, and it disseminates its programmes through digital platforms such as YouTube and social media. Overall, esSENSE GLOBAL emphasizes secular humanist values and advocates for scientific reasoning as the default mode of thought in society

Litmus is esSENSE GLOBAL's flagship annual event, held each October in various cities across Kerala. The 2025 edition, titled Litmus’25, was scheduled for October 19 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kochi. This event is recognized as one of the world's largest atheist gatherings, attracting thousands of participants annually. Litmus features a diverse range of activities, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, debates, and cultural performances, all centered around themes of scientific temper, humanism, and secularism.

In addition to the annual summit, esSENSE GLOBAL organizes regional programmes throughout the year in various districts of Kerala. These events aim to promote rational thinking and scientific inquiry at the grassroots level. For instance, Spandrel’25, a regional public event, was conducted in Thrissur on August 17, 2025 . These programmes often feature local freethinkers and activists, fostering community engagement and dialogue on pertinent social issues.

Internationally, esSENSE GLOBAL has been involved in various collaborations and initiatives to promote secularism and scientific reasoning. While specific international events are less frequent, the organisation's global reach is evident through its online presence and participation in international dialogues on atheism and secularism.

All events and programmes are documented and shared through esSENSE GLOBAL's official YouTube channels Neuronz and esSENSE Global as well as other social media platforms, ensuring accessibility and fostering a global community of freethinkers.

esSENSE Global states it has units across Kerala’s districts and some international presence (e.g., Malayali diaspora communities in Australia, the United Kingdom, United States) though publicly available details about structure, membership and finances are limited.

The organisation uses Malayalam and English as its working languages.

esSENSE GLOBAL has been positively received for its large-scale public engagement and its promotion of rationalism, secularism, and scientific temper in Kerala. Its flagship event, Litmus, has garnered significant media coverage and public participation.

Litmus 22, held in Kochi, was described by The Hindu as “the spring festival of rationality and freethinking.^[3]” The event brought together writers, scientists, and thinkers from across India and abroad, and was widely seen as a celebration of secular and scientific values. According to The News Minute, the event attracted approximately 10,000 attendees, featuring discussions on atheism, caste, religion, and politics.^[4]

Litmus 23, organised in Thiruvananthapuram, featured sessions addressing Hindutva, neoliberalism, and contemporary political ideologies. The New Indian Express highlighted it as a space for critical debate on sociopolitical issues, further cementing esSENSE GLOBAL’s status as a prominent voice in Kerala’s rationalist discourse.^[5]

The organisation has been recognized for creating an open platform for freethinkers, and for mobilizing large, diverse audiences around themes of humanism, secular ethics, and evidence-based reasoning.

Despite its growing influence, esSENSE GLOBAL has also been subject to criticism and controversy. According to a report by The News Minute, the organisation’s founder has been accused by some critics of having sympathies with the Sangh Parivar, leading to debate within Kerala’s wider rationalist and secularist circles.^[4]

A more public incident occurred during Litmus 25 in Kochi in October 2025, when the event was briefly disrupted after a delegate was found carrying a licensed firearm inside the venue. The programme was temporarily suspended while police conducted a security check. The incident was widely reported in the media and led to discussions about event security and public safety at large gatherings.^[6][7][8]