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Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Husain Exhibition - Awaaz South Asia Watch Press Release
Posted by: Awaaz / 5/30/2006 03:03:00 PMRE-OPEN THE MF HUSAIN EXHIBITION
STAND FIRMLY AGAINST FUNDAMENTALIST INTIMIDATION
DEFEND FREEDOM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
Tuesday 30 May 2006
Awaaz – South Asia Watch urges Asia House, London to re-open the exhibition of the work of renowned Indian artist, MF Husain. Awaaz condemns the forced closure of the exhibition following violence, harassment and intimidation by fundamentalists claiming to represent the views of British Hindus. The fundamentalists who vandalised the paintings reflect the authoritarian ideologies and tactics of militant Hindu Right groups in India.
In India, organisations such as the extremely violent Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other organizations linked to the fascist-inspired Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) [1], have repeatedly attacked MF Husain and other artists, filmmakers, intellectuals and cultural practitioners. In 1998, Hindu Right groups attacked and ransacked Husain’s Bombay home, one of several such attacks on the artist and his work. Hindu Right groups have regularly attempted to undermine the freedom of thought and expression enshrined in the Indian constitution and reflected in the vibrancy of Indian culture.
In Hindu traditions there is an extensive history of wide and diverse representations of the sacred deities, including nude, erotic and other depictions. Hinduism has never possessed a concept of censorship or blasphemy of the kind that authoritarian groups wish to promote. A key reason the exhibition is being attacked is because MF Husain is a Muslim. Groups involved have used religious claims to mask a political agenda that owes to the Hindu Right, an agenda which has caused considerable violence and misery in India since the 1980s.
Hindu Right groups in Britain have previously used tactics of intimidation to attempt to prevent films on the 2002 Gujarat carnage being shown in London. Contrary to any Hindu tradition, they have also appointed themselves to police in an authoritarian way the representation of Hindu deities and icons in the UK.
The Hindu Forum of Britain and Hindu Human Rights accuse Asia House of not ‘consulting’ with them before putting up the exhibition. But they are not democratically-elected representatives of Hindu populations or opinion in the UK and represent little beyond their limited and chauvinistic political agendas. The Hindu Forum of Britain has actively supported or defended the RSS’s UK projects as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The Hindu Forum of Britain has attempted to present these as ordinary religious organizations, whereas they are in fact political organizations of the Hindu Right.
We urge Asia House not to give in to the bullying and intimidation tactics of Hindu fundamentalists and to reinstate the exhibition of works by one of the subcontinent’s most acclaimed artists. Asia House must reject the intolerance, narrow-mindedness and political interests of the Hindu Right. By re-opening the exhibition, Asia House will genuinely honour the rich and diverse traditions of expression arising from Hinduism and from India.
[ENDS]
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The RSS was created in the 1920s as a semi-paramilitary movement and its origins were inspired by Italian Fascism and German Nazism. The assassin of M.K. Gandhi was a former RSS member. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is the RSS’s religious front and has been repeatedly indicted for acts of violence and hatred in India over several decades. The ideology of the RSS and its vast network of organizations is Hindutva, an intolerant worldview of Hindu supremacy, anti-minority hatred and an exclusive ‘Hindu nation’. The RSS and VHP have an extensive network of branches in the UK, organised through the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and the VHP UK. The National Hindu Students Forum, which has opposed the exhibition, is also very closely associated with the HSS.
For further Information contact: Awaaz Secretariat on: (+44) 020 8843 2333 or email contact@awaazsaw.org
Awaaz - South Asia watch is a UK based South Asian secular network committed to challenging all forms of religious hatred and intolerance. Awaaz - South Asia Watch is a project of The Monitoring Group.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Reinstate Indian art exhibition
Posted by: Awaaz / 5/29/2006 12:50:00 PMTuesday May 30, 2006
The Guardian
As scholars of south Asia and its rich traditions of artistic, social, religious and political expression, we condemn the forced closure of the exhibition of works by renowned Indian artist MF Husain at Asia House in London, following harassment by groups claiming to represent Hindus (Letters, May 26). Groups such as Hindu Human Rights and the Hindu Forum of Britain are wielding the same tactics used by organisations in India. These groups are known for repeatedly attacking the works of artists and intellectuals, undermining India's constitutional right to freedom of thought and expression.
The Hindu Forum of Britain and Hindu Human Rights accuse Asia House of not "consulting" with them before putting on the exhibition. Consultation should not be a requirement for artistic expression.
These are unelected groups, not known for consulting democratically with the community before putting pressure on others in the name of Hinduism. Their actions would not be sanctioned by most Hindus. Hindu traditions have an extensive history of diverse representations of deities, include nude and erotic images of gods and goddesses. Hinduism has never possessed a concept of censorship of the kind that these authoritarian groups wish to promote. We urge Asia House to reopen this exhibition - by doing so it will honour the rich and diverse traditions of expression arising from Hinduism and from India.
(A full list of signatures is also available at http://tinyurl.com/jtttc)
Dr Chetan Bhatt, Goldsmiths College, University of London
Professor Rajeswari Sunderrajan, University of Oxford
Dr Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge
Professor David Hardiman, University of Warwick
Dr Eivind Kahrs, University of Cambridge
Dr Sudeshna Guha, University of Cambridge
Dr Manali Desai, University of Reading
Dr Francesca Orsini, University of Cambridge
Dr Rashmi Varma, University of Warwick
Dr Amrita Dhillon, University of Warwick
Professor Benita Parry, University of Warwick
Dr Suman Gupta, Ferguson Centre for African and Asian Studies, Open University
Dr John Smith, University of Cambridge
Dr Subir Sinha, SOAS, University of London
Dr Subha Mukherji, University of Cambridge
Dr Pablo Mukherjee, University of Warwick
Dr Ananya Kabir, University of Leeds
Baidik Bhattacharya, University of Oxford
Stuti Khanna, University of Oxford
Dr Uttara Natarajan, Goldsmiths College, University of London
Dr Dwijen Rangnekar, University of Warwick
Nikita Sud, University of Oxford
Dev Saif Gangjee, London School of Economics
Dr Kaveri Gill, University of Cambridge
Manmay Zafar, University of Oxford
Michael Collins, University of Oxford
Nazneed Ahmad, University of Oxford
Dr Janet Wilson, University of Northampton
Weimin Tang, University of Oxford
Aishwary Kumar, University of Cambridge
Srijana Das, University of Cambridge
Srila Roy, University of Warwick
Professor Shirin Rai, University of Warwick
Dr Susan Daruvala, University of Cambridge
Dr Alison Donnell, Nottingham Trent University
Dr Parita Mukta, University of Warwick
Dr Phiroze Vasunia, University of Reading
Dr Sunil Amrith, Birkbeck College
Professor Barbara Harriss-White, University of Oxford
Mallarika Sinha Roy, University of Oxford
Dr Bishnupriya Gupta, University of Warwick
Swagato Sarkar, University of Oxford
Dr Pratiksha Baxi. JNU, New Delhi
Prof Suvir Kaul, University of Pennsylvania
Dr Malavika Kasturi, U of Toronto
Bikram Jeet Batra, Independent scholar, New Delhi
Dr Uma Chakravarti, University of Delhi
Dr Mukulika Banerjee, University College London
Prabha Kotiswaran, Harvard Law School
Dr Gargi Bhattacharya, Birmingham University
Nauman Khalid, Manchester Metropolitan University
Professor Keya Ganguly, University of Minnesota
Dr Kanishka Goonewardena, University of Toronto
Sunday, May 28, 2006
More on Husain show cancellation
Posted by: Awaaz / 5/28/2006 05:47:00 PM1. The Telegraph (Calcutta)
Friday, May 26, 2006
Hindu anger halts Husain UK show
London, May 25 (PTI): Bowing to pressure from the Hindu Forum of Britain,
the Asia House here has abruptly cancelled a painting exhibition of M.F.
Husain on ?security? grounds.
The forum had alleged that Husain?s paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses
had ?outraged community members around the world?.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Indian high commissioner Kamalesh Sharma
on May 10 and was to continue till August 5. However, after calls for its
withdrawal by the forum and a threat of a demonstration before the venue by
Hindu human rights campaigners on Saturday, the Asia House sent an e-mail
saying it has cancelled the exhibition.
Economist Lord Meghnad Desai said last night that it was ?an outrageous
attack on artistic freedom in the British context?.
While Husain?s exhibition was cancelled, one of his paintings, titled Blue
Girl and sketched in 1964, fetched £120,000 at a Sotheby?s auction here on
Tuesday.
In the same auction, an untitled nude oil on canvas by India?s Francis
Newton Souza went for £310,400. Another ? Amsterdam, a landscape, 1961 ?
went for £624,000 ? the second highest price for Souza?s work at any
auction.
2. Asians in Media
Exhibition cancelled after paintings get destroyed
25th May, 2006 http://www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/events/1333
The London based venue Asia House has cancelled an art exhibition by the
famous Indian painter MF Husain after two paintings were destroyed and
"threats" were made by irate Hindu vandals.
The exhibition opened on 10th May and was due to end in August. It was
inaugurated by the British High Commissioner of India Kamalesh Sharma.
Although Asia House admitted the exhibition was indefinitely closed, it has
not yet released a statement. AIM has learnt from sources close to gallery
that the drastic move was made after two paintings were destroyed by vandals
and threats were made. The venue can no longer guarantee the security of its
staff or items on display.
A protest group called Hindu Human Rights has objected to the exhibition
saying the gallery and its sponsors "continue to abuse Hindus and Hinduism".
It said in its press release: "The lack of consultation with the very large
Hindu community here in the UK shows at best a blissful ignorance at the
feelings and sentiments of Hindus or worse a wilful disregard."
A protest was planned on Saturday 27th May. The campaign has been backed by
the group Hindu Forum of Britain. Its spokesperson Ramesh Kallidai said the
exhibition caused "distress and hurt amongst Hindus".
The controversy revolves around nude paintings Hindu godesses created by MF
Husain.
It was Asia House's first solo exhibition of India's most renowned artist
showing rarely seen works from a private collection. Maqbool Fida Husain's
career and success mirrors closely the meteoric rise of contemporary Indian
art on the international stage.
The exhibition featured a selection of his paintings from the fifties to the
seventies representing the pinnacle of his public recognition. Organisers
stated: "Drawing upon well known artistic conventions, myths and history,
Husain is able to connect with the widest audience."
Subjects in the exhibition include dancers, musicians, and his famous
powerful, heroic horses.
HHR stated that the exhibition had been closed because the security of the
venue was at risk of being compromised. It has now called off its protest.
Asia House is a pan Asian organisation in Britain, promoting a greater
understanding of the rich and varied Asian cultures and economies. A lively
programme of approximately 100 events annually covers Asian economics,
politics, visual and performing arts, literature, food, film and fashion.
3. Hindu Forum asks Asia House to withdraw M F Hussain Exhibition
http://www.hfb.org.uk/
The Hindu Forum of Britain has asked Asia House to withdraw an exhibition of
the work of the controversial Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain, whose
offensive paintings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses in sexual poses have caused
outrage over the years amongst Hindus around the world.
The HFB is also backing the efforts of the Hindu Human Rights group who are
organising protests against the Exhibition. The Exhibition depicting Hindu
deities in the nude is already causing considerable offence to many of the
UK?s 700,000 based Hindus .
MF Husain is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year he was forced to
apologise for a painting in which he represented India as a nude goddess and
following complaints withdrew it from a charity auction to raise money for
the victims of the South Asia earthquake. In 1996, three of his paintings
depicting Hindu goddesses in the nude began attracting the ire of Hindu
groups in India. Complaints against the paintings of Saraswati, Draupadi and
Sita have been investigated before but have not resulted in criminal
charges.
Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said:
?Asia House claims to be the premier pan Asian organisation in Britain, to
promote greater understanding of the rich and varied Asian cultures and
economies but instead, by displaying these works, they are causing distress
and hurt amongst Hindus across Britain and the world. As well as supporting
the protests organised by the Hindu Human Rights group, we plan to make
representations to Asia House to urge them to withdraw this exhibition.?
Hindu groups have also felt dismayed that the High Commissioner of India
chose to inaugurate the exhibition despite the history of hurt and offence
felt by the worldwide Indian community.
The Hindu Forum of Britain urges Hindus in Britain to join the protest
organised by Hindu Human Rights in response to Asia House?s decision to
display offensive images at Asia House Gallery, 63 New Cavendish Street,
London W1 at 3pm on Saturday 27 May 2006.
Closure threat to artistic freedom / Meghnad Desai's letter
Posted by: Awaaz / 5/28/2006 05:47:00 PM
Meghnad Desai
Friday May 26, 2006
The Guardian
On Monday Asia House announced that an exhibition of paintings by the
internationally renowned Indian painter MF Husain which was scheduled to
run from May 10 till August 5 was to be closed for "security reasons".
While no British newspaper reported this event, the immediate reason for
this was an agitation by the Hindu Human Rights Group which mounted a
protest about the event as it charged Husain with "showing obscene images
of Hindu goddesses". Husain is a Muslim painter who has been painting on
Indian themes for decades.
Hindu goddesses can be seen in a variety of poses which many may find
erotic in the temples of Khajuraho and Tirupati and many others. Hindu
society and religion are remarkably relaxed and tolerant about sexual
practices of human beings as well as of their gods and goddesses. What we
are witnessing is the import into the UK of a group which under the guise
of Hindu human rights is practising censorship for which there is no
sanction in Hindu religion. It is the duty of all citizens to stop this
evil before it spreads too far into our body politic. In my view the
objection to Husain is not the so-called obscenity of his paintings. It is
because he is a Muslim and hence the desire of some Hindu groups to deny
his artistic freedom to take Hindu gods and goddesses as his theme. The
Hindu Human Rights Group in its press release is demanding an apology from
Asia House to the Hindu community for this exhibition.This is an outrageous
attack on artistic freedom in the British context. Would the media have
ignored such an event had the protesters been Muslims and not Hindus?
Meghnad Desai House of Lords
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