Friday, October 30, 2009

The Role of Religion in Society













"Humankind have to contend with the vagaries of nature, which remains inscrutable, making life unpredictable. Questions relating to life and death, suffering and the caprice of fate, and common conduct, always exercise the human mind. Society comes into being in response to the needs of human life dictating interdependence. Codes of conduct become necessary to curb and control greed and selfishness. Religion rises in a bid to understand the origin and end of life, to propitiate the supernatural power that seems to control, command and kill at will. It seeks a way of life embracing the individual and society, groping for communion with the True Reality inhering all existence," said Professor Sarva-Daman Singh, the Honorary Consul of India for Queensland, Australia, while giving a lecture under the auspices of Open Space - Lucknow on "The Role of Religion in Society" at the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, University of Lucknow on 1st December, 2009.

He added, "Morality takes its birth out of the constantly felt need to control and channel the human will towards the greatest good of the greatest number. Religion and morality combine to please and placate Providence; to discipline human conduct for the greatest good of humanity."

Professor Singh, who is also the Director of the Institute of Asian Studies, Brisbane, Australia, went on to say, "Religions broadly agree on a supernatural source and cause of creation, which presupposes the fraternity of all humanity, leaving no room, despite doctrinal diversity, for discord, intolerance and violence. If life is sacred, as our religions and secular laws alike uphold, it behoves us to preach and practise tolerance and engage in inter-religious dialogue to bring out the similarities of ethical values, instead of constantly harping on differences. Wars and violence, intolerance and unholy terrorism are a travesty of true religion, whatever its name. The ethical precept of religion evokes the best in human nature, sanctifying it with religious prescription.

"Monopolistic, exclusive, narrow formulations of the Truth consigning unbelievers to hell will not deliver the world from violent conflict. The ultimate Truth admits of many manifestations and many modes of worship. We must defeat the purveyors of intolerance with deliberate purpose, and do better than submitting to the tyranny of texts without weighing them in the scales of justice and fair-play. Religion must continually evolve to answer the needs of an ever evolving society. The search for ever greater truth must ceaselessly go on. Let us understand, live and let live.

"Life is full of suffering. Religion helps us cope. All religions must emphasize the indivisibility of humanity, enabling us to identify with one another. There can be no peace without peace among religions. There can be no peace among them without dialogue. No dialogue is possible without respectful tolerance. Religious peace is a pre-requisite to world peace. And peace, like humanity, must always remain indivisible: sarvam shantih."

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Remembering Gujarat 2002




Photo: Arko Datta, Reuters

Robin David


Open Space
presents
"Remembering Gujarat 2002"
Reading of excerpts from the Indian Jewish writer and journalist Robin David's account of the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002, City of Fear,
and the
Screening of Nooh Nizami & Akanksha Joshi directed documentary-film Passengers: A Video Journey in Gujarat

Sunday, 1st November, 2009

at
Open Space - Lucknow Office



The event also commemorated the publication of the first Hebrew daily newspaper, Hadoar, which began publication on 1st November, 1921.

An Assistant Editor with the Times of India and a member of the tiny Bene Israel Jewish community, Robin David's memoir of the anti-Muslim pogrom in the western Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 is City of Fear, Penguin, 2007, shortlisted in the top five of the Vodafone Crossword Book Awards in the Non-Fiction Category.

Passengers: A Video Journey in Gujarat (52 minutes): The genocide in Gujarat is documented through the lives of a Hindu and a Muslim family. Filmed over a year and a half, it follows the echoes of violence, intense pain and betrayal. The politics of division is experienced through the two families that form the micro unit of the Indian society.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

A Retrospective of the Israeli Filmmaker Yael Katzir's films and Workshops by her

Professor Yael Katzir being felicitated by Professor B. Hanumaiah, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

Professor Yael Katzir speaking at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

Professor Yael Katzir

A view of the audience at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

Professor Yael Katzir


Professor Govind Ji Pandey of the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication introducing Professor Yael Katzir

The Vice Chancellor of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Professor B. Hanumaiah speaking at the workshop

Professor Yael Katzir at the University of Lucknow

The audience at the University of Lucknow

Professor Yael Katzir


Professor R. C. Tripathi, Head, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Lucknow, speaking at the workshop

Professor Yael Katzir at the City Montessori School, Lucknow




Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi, the organiser of the workshop and film retrospective and Professor Yael Katzir

Professor Yael Katzir at the City Montessori School, Lucknow

Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, founder and manager of the City Montessori School (left) speaking to Ms. Ruth Amit, Consul of Paraguay for Israel (centre) and Professor Yael Katzir (right)

Bagpipers giving welcome salute to Professor Yael Katzir at the City Montessori School, Lucknow



Professor Yael Katzir













Open Space
organised
A Retrospective of the Israeli Filmmaker Yael Katzir's films and Workshops by her
on

Monday, 9th November, 2009, 
in memory of the victims of Kristallnacht (1938),
at the
Department of Mass Communication & Journalism,
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

and

Wednesday, 11th November, 2009
in commemoration of the cease-fire agreement signed between Israel and Egypt on 11th November, 1973, 
at the
Department of Mass Communication & Journalism,
University of Lucknow, Lucknow

City Montessori School, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow