Protest, M.F.Husain’s derogatory paintings of Hindu deities

It was in Nov 2005 that Sanatan Sanstha, a Mumbai-based organization chanced upon a book containing derogatory paintings of Hindu deities by the pervert of an artist M F Hussain. Since then, they and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti have been waging a relentless, peaceful protest campaign against the man both in India and abroad.

The blasphemous paintings of Hussain which include those of Goddess Saraswati, Sita, Durga, Hanumanji and Bharat Mata are fetching him huge sums of money at various auctions around the world. In short, he has become a rich man at our expense. It is noteworthy that he has not painted a single Muslim icon in the nude whereas he has portrayed our Hindu deities thus in a derogatory manner.

Inspite of the protest by Sanatan Sanstha, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and other Hindu organizations, there was a proposal to confer Hussain with the prestigious Roopdhar Award 2006. Luckily, Sanatan Sanstha alerted the public and several of us sent letters of protest to the President of India, the PMO, the Governor of Maharashtra and the Director of the Art Gallery, Mumbai. Fortunately the award function was called off at the last moment by the Governor of Mumbai, Sri S M. Krishna.

The auction of the obscene paintings or rather caricatures are however going on at various places abroad despite protests by Hindu organizations. Several cases have been filed against M F Hussain and legal action has been initiated against him. About 28000 people have signed the online protests at www.sanathan.org . Mass awakening of Hindus is essential to make this fight for justice fruitful.

Unfortunately, the present Government of India has shown a blatant pro-minority tilt and an anti-Hindu bias. While the Government sympathized with the protestors of the Danish cartoons and the Da Vinci Code and bent backwards to please the protesters, it has maintained a stoic silence when Hindus were justifiably aggrieved. So we have to fight for ourselves.

Below is a message sent forth by Sanatan Organization to all Hindus-

This month has seen several developments in the Protest Campaign against M. F. Husain’s obscene paintings. As pseudo secular media and auctioneers callously continue with their coverage of Husain’s obscene paintings, the fervour of Hindus worldwide to protest against the denigration and its supporters is increasing steadily. 

Some encouraging developments indicating the awakening among Hindus:

·         ­1-May: Hindu families in Maryland, USA in alliance with Sanatan Sanstha, start preparations for protests against the Indian Government’s inaction in denigration committed by Husain. Protests to be held on 2 June from 11 a.m. outside the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC (USA).

·         10-May: The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (a forum of Hindu organizations in India, working for Dharma) initiates a dialogue with Sotheby’s, London to protest against the inclusion of paintings by M. F. Husain in their auction on 23-May . Sotheby’s does not respond, despite repeated reminders to discuss with their legal and press departments as per their promise in March.

·         10-11 May: Hindus worldwide register vehement protests via demonstrations (led by Hindu Janjagruti Samiti) outside the venue, phone calls and emails against Saffron Art for abetting Husain’s denigration by including his paintings in their online auction. Husain’s paintings were among the top grossers at the auction.

·         15-May: Hindu Human Rights, UK, announces protests to be held outside the Asia House Gallery in London on 27 May from 3 p.m. for the gallery holding an exhibition of Husain’s paintings and distributing flyers with Husain’s obscene paintings of Durgadevi.

·         17-May: Hitachi, Europe issues a statement that they are not involved in Asia House Gallery’s exhibition of M. F. Husain’s paintings, after Hindus voiced protests, threatening Hitachi with banning their products for supposedly providing plasma screens for Husain’s paintings at the gallery.

Dear protestors,

Recently, the Indian Government showed sensitivity and took prompt action regarding the Christians’ protests against the movie, ‘The Da Vinci Code’. This is in stark contrast to the Government’s complete insensitivity to a much higher volume of protests against Husain’s denigration. No wonder that the auctioneers and the media continue to support M. F. Husain! It underlines the need for Hindus to become a united force to reckon with. Hence, let us:Take initiative to awaken our fellow Hindus wherever we are to the denigration perpetrated by M. F. Husain and urge them to register their protest at http://www.sanatan.org/hussaincampaign/sign.php as well as to participate actively in the protest campaign.

Persevere with our protesting via email, phone or where possible, join in person, against auctioneers like Sotheby’s in London, art galleries like the Asia House in London, and the Indian Embassy in Washington DC.

Continue protesting to the Indian Government authorities in India.

(Contact information for protesting is given below.)

On behalf of Sanatan Sanstha,

Dr. Manoj Solanki

www.sanatan.org

Contact information:

Sotheby’s, London:

Edward Gibbs
Director and Head of Department
Tel: 44 20 7293 5332
[email protected]

Sophia Barnes
Administrator
Tel: 020 7293 5331
Fax: 020 7293 5986
[email protected]

Sotheby’s International:            

Robin Dean

Director of Sothebys New York

Indian and Southeast Asian Dept

[email protected]

Asia House Gallery

63 New Cavendish Street

London W1

Tel : 020 7307 5454
Fax : 020 7307 5459
E-mail : [email protected]

President of India:

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rajpath, Raisina Hill
New Delhi

E-mail: [email protected]

Indian Police

Cyber Crime branch, Mumbai

[email protected]