Discussion on Secular Humanism

Dr. Khalid Sohail

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

Screening of BEING OSAMA on International Migrants Day

Open Space
screened the documentary
Being Osama
on
International Migrants Day

Friday, 18th December, 2009
at
Open Space - Lucknow Office


It was on 18th December in 1774 when Jews were expelled from Prague, Bohemia, and Moravia.

Jointly made by a Jew and a Muslim and recipient of a number of international awards, Being Osama details the lives of six Montreal men, all with the first name Osama, in the wake of 9/11.

Screening of THE ROMANY TRAIL on International Human Rights Day

Open Space
drew attention to the plight of the Romani,
who have Indian origin,
by screening the documentary
The Romany Trail - Part I
on
International Human Rights Day
Thursday, 10th December, 2009
at
Open Space - Lucknow Office

The people popularly known as gypsies are shrouded in mystery : migratory tribes of Indian origin, with their own language and a lifestyle that has kept them apart from tha mainstream of most the societies in which they have settled. To the Romani people, music is a life force and a medium to tell of their history and suffering. They are the victims of ignorance and prejudice, who have suffered much, and their experiences are expressed in their music and dance across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The Romany Trail - Part One takes us on a search for the lost Romani tribes of Egypt, up to the Nile to the ancient town of Luxor in the shadw of the great Pharaoh's tomb. Along the way, from the markets of Cairo to the temple of Karnak, we meet dancing girls and acrobats, magicians, fortune-tellers and even mystics performing an exorcism. The programme culminates in the rythms of Flamenco, in the gypsy caves of the Alhambra, where some of Spain's foremost gypsy families celebrate their history.

A Week of Stories from Nazi Concentration Camps

Tadeusz Borowski (1922-1951)

Yogendra Krishna

Open Space
organised
"A Week of Stories from Nazi Concentration Camps"
from 7th to 12th December, 2009
at
Open Space - Lucknow Office,
during which
Yogendra Krishna's Hindi translations of
Tadeusz Borowski's Polish stories
from his collection
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen
(गैस चेंबर के लिए कृप्या इस तरफ़)
were read out.

Indo-Israel Relations

Open Space
organised
a lecture
by
Ms. Sharon Rappaport,
Second Secretary - Political Affairs,
Embassy of Israel, New Delhi
on
Indo-Israel Relations
on
Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009
at the
Department of Ancient Indian History & Archaeology,
University of Lucknow

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

Professor Yael Katzir's films (please click on the title to read about the film):

• Company Jasmine
• Shivah for my mother
• Praying in Her Own Voice
• Out for Love, Be Back Shortly
• Marie Balian: An Armenian Artist in Jerusalem