Many people have asked me why I visit religious places of all religions, and participate in festivals of all religions, when I proclaim to be an atheist. Is this not hypocrisy ? So let me explain.
I am an atheist, who believes all religions are superstions, the truth being in science, which, unlike religion, never claims to be final, but is constantly developing.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=http://justicekatju.blogspot.com/2016/07/religion-and-science-are-diametrically.html&ved=2ahUKEwjR0uSNhfGRAxXCRmwGHSCsLOYQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw117JxoFijDNBAz-PgHC9fN
https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-promote-a-scientific-understanding-of-religion/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHnIfwDHr-s
https://www.hastakshepnews.com/2024/08/on-religion-justice-markandey-katjus.html
At the same time I am a strong supporter of religious freedom, and participate in religious festivals of all religions, because I respect my culture.
I celebrate Diwali and Holi, and keep one day roza during Ramzan, and call upon all people to do so.
https://www.hastakshepnews.com/2023/07/Why%20does%20Justice%20Markandey%20Katju%20observe%20a%20fast%20on%20the%20last%20Friday%20ofevery%20Ramzan.html
https://scroll.in/article/739804/why-i-appealed-to-non-muslims-to-observe-roza-for-a-day
I went to the Ganga aarti in Har ki Pauri in Haridwar, and I went to the dargah of the sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia on his urs in Delhi, with my friend Salman Khursheed, senior advocate, Supreme Court, and former Union Minister
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I observed a one day roza and participated in an iftaar during Ramzan in a meeting organized at my behest by my friend Shaista Ali at her residence in Saratoga, California, USA of people of all faiths, just as I participated in a meeting on Holi of people of all faiths organised by Shaista at my behest in California
https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-my-appeal-to-non-muslims-for-ramzan/
https://indicanews.com/the-essence-of-ramadan/
https://www.facebook.com/justicekatju/posts/holi-in-californiain-2015-when-i-was-in-california-at-my-request-an-iftaar-was-h/1545414265499114/
And I have founded an organisation called Ibaadatkhana to promote inter-faith harmony
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://countercurrents.org/2019/12/justice-markandey-katju-launches-ibaadatkhana-movement-to-promote-peace-in-south-asia/&ved=2ahUKEwjC8r_miPGRAxUJwzgGHae5FVcQFnoECEcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0Bztfk-pkM2ka750MeJD69
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://indicanews.com/the-historical-importance-of-the-ibaadatkhana-movement/&ved=2ahUKEwjTwIyeifGRAxXgyzgGHQi1GVMQFnoECEYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0n4OToLb3Ic9GlUyjBYImm
If some people will say that I contradict myself, I reply in the words of the great American poet in his poem ‘Song of Myself’ :
” Do I contradict myself ? Well then I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes ”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Myself
