[Reader-list] Tintin in Bengal, or Musee Guimet Controversy

[Tapas Ray]

Naeem,

As you know, I was confused, too. Thanks for clearing it up.

It is absolutely astounding that the government in Dhaka is sending 
those priceless treasures to a museum with such a record, but we are 
used to scandalous behavior from governments in our part of the world. 
France is different, or should be. One gets the sense that the emerging 
supranational entity called "Europe" is eager to project itself to the 
rest of the world as being civilised and humane. If we "Third World 
nicks" are to believe this, France should rein in Guimet instead of 
helping it along in a criminally inept or plain criminal enterprise as 
you have described.

If the French want to see those artifacts - and I think that would be a 
good thing for Bangladesh - their government should take direct 
responsibility for the exhibits. It should catalog them properly, since 
the Dhaka museum people have clearly failed to do that, insure them 
adequately, and ensure their safe return after the display.

Tapas


Naeem Mohaiemen wrote:
> Tintin in Bengal, or Musee Guimet Controversy
> Naeem Mohaiemen
>
>