Guest guest Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 Court backs artist over naked goddess From The Times [London, U.K.] May 9, 2008 Rhys Blakely [This group has been following the Husain issue over the last couple of years. Do a search for " Husain " through the message archive to see earlier postings, which present a variety of opinions on the topic.] Criminal charges levelled against India's leading living artist for an allegedly obscene depiction of a Hindu goddess have been quashed in a ruling that says religious extremism risks pushing the country into a " pre-Renaissance era " . Maqbool Fida Husain, 92, a Muslim who has been dubbed " the Picasso of India " , was served with seven private criminal complaints by Hindu groups for the painting Bharat Mata (Mother India), a work representing the nation as a nude woman. The Delhi High Court judged that the picture, for which Mr. Husain has apologised, carried no religious content and could not be construed as offensive. " A painter has his own perspective of looking at things, and it cannot be the basis of initiating criminal proceedings, " Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. Akhil Sibal, Mr. Husain's lawyer, told The Times that the ruling was an important step, " ensuring artistic freedoms are not made victims at the hands of extremists " . Claiming that the court's decision also represented a landmark defeat for an increasingly vocal and saffron-tinged moral police in India, Mr. Sibal added that the complaints against Mr. Husain were the result of an " organised, well- orchestrated and well-funded campaign to gain political millage against a painter who happens to be a Muslim " . Mr. Husain has lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2006 after his work, which has taken cues from Hindu sources since at least the 1970s, suddenly became a lightening rod for highly-charged religious sentiments. In December a show of his paintings in Delhi was stormed by a mob that claimed to be linked to the right-wing Hindu Shiv Sena party, a group that was implicated in the Muslim- Hindu riots that claimed hundreds of lives in Bombay in 1993. Two years ago, a Husain exhibition in London was called off because of security concerns. The controversy surrounding the painter again hit one of the centres of the international art world last month when demonstrators threatened to disrupt a sale of his work at Christie's in New York. The protest, against the auction of canvases that allegedly depicted Hindu deities in a " derogatory and vulgar " fashion, did little to diminish the enthusiasm of collectors. Husain's Battle of Ganga and Jamuna, based on the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, sold for 808,000 pounds, a record for any Indian contemporary painting. Justice Kaul said: " It is most unfortunate that India's new puritanism is being carried out in the name of cultural purity and that a host of ignorant people are vandalising art and pushing us towards a pre-Renaissance era " . He added: " A painter at 90 deserves to be in his home painting his canvass. " Mr. Husain's detractors vowed to continue their opposition to the painter. A spokesman for the Hindu-nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad party said that the artist's work " will never receive social acceptance " in India. It remains unclear whether Mr. Husain, who has been threatened by several extremist groups, will now return to his home country. Jatin Das, a leading Delhi-based artist who met Mr. Husain recently in Dubai, said: " One could not mistake the urge in his eyes to come back and visit his land, his birthplace from where he is banished by people who have no clue what art is all about. " http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertain ment/visual_arts/article3897163.ece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 My only nitpick about this report is that it seems people are under representing the other people who do the same kind of paintings. Either the reporters want to make Hindus seem more bigoted than they are as a general group, or they are not reporting the painters who are not Muslim who more or less do the same thing. But my paranoia and conspiracy theories aside, fair is fair. If they are allowing other people to paint naked goddess pictures (which I think there are some who do, Hindus included), then they should let everyone do it. Fair does not always mean nice, but fair is still fair. Hopefully the court makes the same judgment for everyone involved. I would be disappointed if there was a case of reverse discrimination going on. Jai Ma! Sincerely, Christina ---- msbauju <msbauju wrote: > Court backs artist over naked goddess > From The Times [London, U.K.] > May 9, 2008 > Rhys Blakely > > [This group has been following the Husain issue > over the last couple of years. Do a search for > " Husain " through the message archive to see > earlier postings, which present a variety of > opinions on the topic.] > > Criminal charges levelled against India's leading living artist > for an allegedly obscene depiction of a Hindu goddess have > been quashed in a ruling that says religious extremism risks > pushing the country into a " pre-Renaissance era " . > > Maqbool Fida Husain, 92, a Muslim who has been dubbed > " the Picasso of India " , was served with seven private > criminal complaints by Hindu groups for the painting Bharat > Mata (Mother India), a work representing the nation as a > nude woman. The Delhi High Court judged that the picture, > for which Mr. Husain has apologised, carried no religious > content and could not be construed as offensive. > > " A painter has his own perspective of looking at things, and > it cannot be the basis of initiating criminal proceedings, " > Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. > > Akhil Sibal, Mr. Husain's lawyer, told The Times that the > ruling was an important step, " ensuring artistic freedoms are > not made victims at the hands of extremists " . > > Claiming that the court's decision also represented a > landmark defeat for an increasingly vocal and saffron-tinged > moral police in India, Mr. Sibal added that the complaints > against Mr. Husain were the result of an " organised, well- > orchestrated and well-funded campaign to gain political > millage against a painter who happens to be a Muslim " . > > Mr. Husain has lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai since > 2006 after his work, which has taken cues from Hindu > sources since at least the 1970s, suddenly became a > lightening rod for highly-charged religious sentiments. > > In December a show of his paintings in Delhi was stormed > by a mob that claimed to be linked to the right-wing Hindu > Shiv Sena party, a group that was implicated in the Muslim- > Hindu riots that claimed hundreds of lives in Bombay in > 1993. Two years ago, a Husain exhibition in London was > called off because of security concerns. > > The controversy surrounding the painter again hit one of the > centres of the international art world last month when > demonstrators threatened to disrupt a sale of his work at > Christie's in New York. The protest, against the auction of > canvases that allegedly depicted Hindu deities in a > " derogatory and vulgar " fashion, did little to diminish the > enthusiasm of collectors. Husain's Battle of Ganga and > Jamuna, based on the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, sold > for 808,000 pounds, a record for any Indian contemporary > painting. > > Justice Kaul said: " It is most unfortunate that India's new > puritanism is being carried out in the name of cultural purity > and that a host of ignorant people are vandalising art and > pushing us towards a pre-Renaissance era " . > > He added: " A painter at 90 deserves to be in his home > painting his canvass. " > > Mr. Husain's detractors vowed to continue their opposition > to the painter. A spokesman for the Hindu-nationalist > Vishwa Hindu Parishad party said that the artist's work " will > never receive social acceptance " in India. > > It remains unclear whether Mr. Husain, who has been > threatened by several extremist groups, will now return to > his home country. Jatin Das, a leading Delhi-based artist > who met Mr. Husain recently in Dubai, said: " One could not > mistake the urge in his eyes to come back and visit his land, > his birthplace from where he is banished by people who > have no clue what art is all about. " > > http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertain > ment/visual_arts/article3897163.ece > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 yes yes very nice. As long as it serves west's agenda all rights will be upheld. But when it does not, they do not mind even smothering to death an innocent 21 year old refugee running from a forced marriage with a 60 year old man as his 4th wife IN FRONT OF 200+ people BY THE POLICE. Thats the European human rights standard. So nothing really. And Please do not forget that the ruling is from Landanistan. msbauju <msbauju wrote: Court backs artist over naked goddess From The Times [London, U.K.] May 9, 2008 Rhys Blakely [This group has been following the Husain issue over the last couple of years. Do a search for " Husain " through the message archive to see earlier postings, which present a variety of opinions on the topic.] Criminal charges levelled against India's leading living artist for an allegedly obscene depiction of a Hindu goddess have been quashed in a ruling that says religious extremism risks pushing the country into a " pre-Renaissance era " . Maqbool Fida Husain, 92, a Muslim who has been dubbed " the Picasso of India " , was served with seven private criminal complaints by Hindu groups for the painting Bharat Mata (Mother India), a work representing the nation as a nude woman. The Delhi High Court judged that the picture, for which Mr. Husain has apologised, carried no religious content and could not be construed as offensive. " A painter has his own perspective of looking at things, and it cannot be the basis of initiating criminal proceedings, " Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. Akhil Sibal, Mr. Husain's lawyer, told The Times that the ruling was an important step, " ensuring artistic freedoms are not made victims at the hands of extremists " . Claiming that the court's decision also represented a landmark defeat for an increasingly vocal and saffron-tinged moral police in India, Mr. Sibal added that the complaints against Mr. Husain were the result of an " organised, well- orchestrated and well-funded campaign to gain political millage against a painter who happens to be a Muslim " . Mr. Husain has lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 2006 after his work, which has taken cues from Hindu sources since at least the 1970s, suddenly became a lightening rod for highly-charged religious sentiments. In December a show of his paintings in Delhi was stormed by a mob that claimed to be linked to the right-wing Hindu Shiv Sena party, a group that was implicated in the Muslim- Hindu riots that claimed hundreds of lives in Bombay in 1993. Two years ago, a Husain exhibition in London was called off because of security concerns. The controversy surrounding the painter again hit one of the centres of the international art world last month when demonstrators threatened to disrupt a sale of his work at Christie's in New York. The protest, against the auction of canvases that allegedly depicted Hindu deities in a " derogatory and vulgar " fashion, did little to diminish the enthusiasm of collectors. Husain's Battle of Ganga and Jamuna, based on the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, sold for 808,000 pounds, a record for any Indian contemporary painting. Justice Kaul said: " It is most unfortunate that India's new puritanism is being carried out in the name of cultural purity and that a host of ignorant people are vandalising art and pushing us towards a pre-Renaissance era " . He added: " A painter at 90 deserves to be in his home painting his canvass. " Mr. Husain's detractors vowed to continue their opposition to the painter. A spokesman for the Hindu-nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad party said that the artist's work " will never receive social acceptance " in India. It remains unclear whether Mr. Husain, who has been threatened by several extremist groups, will now return to his home country. Jatin Das, a leading Delhi-based artist who met Mr. Husain recently in Dubai, said: " One could not mistake the urge in his eyes to come back and visit his land, his birthplace from where he is banished by people who have no clue what art is all about. " http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertain ment/visual_arts/article3897163.ece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 Well there is a difference between Art and sacrilege. What hussain drew is nothing but sacrilege. He wouldnt dare draw nudes of Islamic characters. If he is really not biased why not draw Muhammed fornicating with his daughter or one of his umpteen wives. On Sun, May 18, 2008 at 5:43 AM, sankara menon <kochu1tz wrote: > yes yes very nice. As long as it serves west's agenda all rights will be > upheld. But when it does not, they do not mind even smothering to death an > innocent 21 year old refugee running from a forced marriage with a 60 year > old man as his 4th wife IN FRONT OF 200+ people BY THE POLICE. Thats the > European human rights standard. > So nothing really. > And Please do not forget that the ruling is from Landanistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 tauba!! Tauba!! what sacrilage!!! Dear Jha!! I will issue a fatwa against you. Beware!! Please also look up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rada_(fiqh)#Al-Azhar_fatwa_controversy Aditya Kumar Jha <aditya.kr.jha wrote: Well there is a difference between Art and sacrilege. What hussain drew is nothing but sacrilege. He wouldnt dare draw nudes of Islamic characters. If he is really not biased why not draw Muhammed fornicating with his daughter or one of his umpteen wives. On Sun, May 18, 2008 at 5:43 AM, sankara menon <kochu1tz wrote: > yes yes very nice. As long as it serves west's agenda all rights will be > upheld. But when it does not, they do not mind even smothering to death an > innocent 21 year old refugee running from a forced marriage with a 60 year > old man as his 4th wife IN FRONT OF 200+ people BY THE POLICE. Thats the > European human rights standard. > So nothing really. > And Please do not forget that the ruling is from Landanistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 I suppose I spoke too soon on the matter. While the general principles of my previous e-mail still remain intact, if this artist would not draw nude art from his own religion, then I suppose I stand corrected on my stance (even if I still adhere to my principles). I think my only concern is that some people out there would turn a blind eye to the Hindus who do the same, but would get on a Muslim's case because of their religion. All religions have their share of prejudiced people, and I do not hold it beyond Hindus to be the same way. That is all. Then again, my knowledge of what goes on in that area of India is very limited (the same can be said for a lot of places in India). But I will agree with kochu on one point he made, which was a point I attempted to address with my first post. I think that as long as the court would allow the same for Hindus when painting Christian or Muslim art, then it is fine. Whether or not such a court exists, I have no place to judge as I am not a local. Jai Ma! Sincerely, Christina P.S.: This will be my last post for a week and a half. I will be out of town and will not have much internet access. Play nice while I am away! :-D Above all, be good to yourself. Jai Ma! ---- Aditya Kumar Jha <aditya.kr.jha wrote: > Well there is a difference between Art and sacrilege. What hussain drew is nothing but sacrilege. He wouldnt dare draw nudes of Islamic characters. If he is really not biased why not draw Muhammed fornicating with his daughter or one of his umpteen wives. > > On Sun, May 18, 2008 at 5:43 AM, sankara menon <kochu1tz wrote: > > > yes yes very nice. As long as it serves west's agenda all rights will be > > upheld. But when it does not, they do not mind even smothering to death an > > innocent 21 year old refugee running from a forced marriage with a 60 year > > old man as his 4th wife IN FRONT OF 200+ people BY THE POLICE. Thats the > > European human rights standard. > > So nothing really. > > And Please do not forget that the ruling is from Landanistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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