Romancing in Ram Manohar Lohia Park

Lucknow Winters 2015

Cathedral Church Hazratganj Lucknow on Christmas - 2015

Images from Lucknow Mahotsava - 1 st November 2014

Foolish Indian media and Charlie Hebdo attacks

Zee News came in complete support of Charlie Hebdo and denounced the cowardly satanic attack on its offices. But other Indian media kept harping on religious sensitivity and how there should be limits when it comes to criticizing faith or religion. Its mind boggling how the news channels or their panellists seem to justify such terrorist attacks on this premise that this satirical magazine hurt religious sentiments of Muslims. Even if you agree that they hurt religious sentiments, is such butchering of unarmed people justified. That mere drawing a satirical cartoon or depicting the Prophet could enrage people so much that they are ready to kill, and here our Indian media justifying it.We Hindus never expect people of other faiths to follow our ways or worship our gods why Jehadists or extremists should think that people of different faiths would respect their religion like them. Isn't it extremely stupid to make plans to go and kill cartoonists in far of European country just because they drew a harmless cartoon. Also if we go deep Muslim fundamentalists and extremists have never respected other People religion. The biggest example is The Bamiyan Buddhas which Taliban destroyed. So you don't have the faintest respect  for other people's religion and faith and are quick to destroy their Heritage but expect others to respect your own religion.

So I feel infuriated when such silly discussion take place. No reason is big enough to justify killing innocent people. No religion will teach you to slaughter other human beings. Forgiveness,love and compassion is the basis of all faiths and religion. If you are really pious and religious you would be far removed from such emotions of anger and hatred.

Charlie Hebdo shooting and our right to point out Hypocrisy that creeps in our Religion or Society

In India we have two laws that protect citizen's sensitivity regarding their religion section 295 (A) and 153 (A) .But still we had PK a Bollywood Blockbuster that criticized our religious beliefs and superstition, also the many Holy men who are businessmen in guise. Despite India being a Hindu nation there were just few minor incidents of vandalism or protests against the movie. Isn't this more about education or upbringing the way you protest, don't think any religion permits such violence against people.

Also we kids are taught evolution, how men developed from apes, how different animals and life forms developed. So we know early on God didn't created men or earth etc.. etc. and they are just interesting mythological stories part of our culture. Yes I love my Hindu religion, its festivals its so many gods and our moderate inclusive culture which had mixed with Sufism so well forming what we call Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb."Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (Hindustani: गंगा जमुनी तहज़ीब, گنگا جمنی تهزیب, Ganges-Yamuna Culture) A euphemism for the mutually participatory co-existence of Hindu and Muslim culture of Northern India."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganga-Jamuni_tehzeeb

Talking of Lucknow itself we have such a inclusive culture people love each other living in harmony celebrating each other's festival. If you come during Christmas you will see people from all religions coming to Cathedral Church to take part in festivities and fair and see decorations and even lighting candles and praying. City Montessori School and College which has so many branches in Lucknow teaches its students to be world citizens and preaches no religion teaches its followers to harm others.Muhammad Iqbal's lines 'Mazhab Nahi Sikhata, Aapas Mein Bair Rakhna, Hindi Hain Hum, Watan Hai, Hindosta Hamara' mean ' Religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves; We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan.' 

So we can criticize or draw satire on hypocrisy in our religion. Charlie Hebdo never demeaned Islam and was never against Muslims.PK criticized Hinduism and we learned from it, Charlie Hebdo also criticized Pope and Christianity.Interestingly Pervez Musharraf once said people who are fuming in anger and have there mind shut to reason can't see things in their true perspective.

One of my colleague said religion was made to scare people into doing good deeds so they may not end up in Hell. These terrorists who kill innocents or spread meaningless violence and propaganda must be far removed from pious religious beliefs for they do no act of goodness, instead taking back their society to medieval times of slavery not letting them progress.