Study in Avadhi harmony for Japanese visitors

Lucknow: Walking past a sweets shop owned by a Hindu placed right next to an Avadhi food outlet may be nothing special for natives but for this group of Japanese students and teachers from

University of Tokyo

, it was the symbol of Lucknow’s famous communal harmony.

In the city for a special study tour on Sunday, the Japanese delegation had its tryst with the city’s famous Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb against the backdrop of Mahmudabad house that played a significant role in the Lucknow Pact, exactly 100 years ago. For the next six days, the delegation will be moving around the city and Kakori, witnessing the city’s history and culture through its many historic educational institutions.

Leading the 13-member group, unique in its composition with Japanese, Arabic, Persian and also Urdu speaking native Japanese members, Kazuo Morimoto said, “Even with the diversity, people here live in such conformity that is unique to Lucknow. Where else can you find someone like Raja of Mahmudabad reciting in Persian a verse from 19th century Persian poet Hafiz,” he added.

For most members it was their first visit to Lucknow and India, meeting with members of Shoulder to Shoulder, a citizen driven initiative for communal harmony, was an eye-opener on how even with diverse issues, social media is being used for community good. There are problems but the way technology is being used to bring people together is a great concept. Students need to see that and learn how communication and such dialogue is bridging gaps,” said Miyamoto Takashi.

Paving way for a people to people contact sans any inhibitions, Ali Khan Mahmudabad while addressing the small gathering said, “There is no better dialogue for harmony than education and educational institutions celebrating uniqueness of our city.”