Saturday, January 30, 2010

Homage to Mahatma Gandhi



Open Space screened at its Lucknow office Sir Richard Attenborough's eponymous biographical epic Gandhi (1982) on Saturday, 30th January, 2010, the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi, as a tribute to the apostle of peace, at a time when the world faces terrorism, war and violence like it never did before. The screening was also aimed to remind the people of what he said and to promote non-violence:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always."

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Discussion on Secular Humanism



Open Space - Lucknow organised a discussion on Secular Humanism on Saturday, 23rd January, 2010 at the Academy of Mass Communication, during which excerpts from Dr. Khalid Sohail's From Islam to Secular Humanism: A Philosophical Journey, 2001, were read out and discussed. Some of Dr. Sohail's poems were also read out on the occassion:

My story
Is the story of an ordinary child
Who wanted to do extraordinary things in life

My story
Is the story of an ambitious teenager
Who had low socio-economic status
But high ideals

My story
Is the story of a caring adult
Who witnessed human suffering all around him
But dreamt of becoming a healer

My story
Is the story of a third world citizen
Who was brought up in ignorance and prejudice
But wanted to learn knowledge and wisdom
And raise people's social consciousness

My story
Is the story of a Muslim
Born in an unjust and violent world
Hoping to become part of creating
A just and peaceful world as a Humanist

My story
Is the story of a 20th century man
Living when humanity is at a crossroads
And has to decide sooner rather than later
To evolve or to die

Monday, January 18, 2010

Screening of WAR & PEACE "जंग और अमन" का प्रदर्शन



Open Space - Lucknow
screened Anand Patwardhan's
War & Peace, 2002 (130 minutes)
on
Wednesday, 20th January, 2010
at
Open Space - Lucknow Office
as its first event of 2010, declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Rapprochement of Cultures