[Reader-list] Absence of Husain at Art Summit

[Inder Salim]

Dear all

please click to see

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pllHvmNB5GI/Sn7kVWsGT2I/AAAAAAAAAPE/lF_BbjckUgg/s1600-h/sraswati+with+text1.jpg

image in solidarity with MF Hussain

with love
inder salim


On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 2:36 PM, ashok kumari<sahmat8 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> we are submitting a memo to the home minister on Husain not being included
> in the Art Summit. Please send your endorsement as soon as possible.
>
> Minister of Home Affairs
> Government of India
> North Block
> New Delhi
>
> Dear Shri Chidambaram,
>
> We - artists, gallerists and critics, are approaching you on behalf of the
> artists community on the long standing issue of attempts by Hindu right-wing
> groups to effectively impose a ban on exhibiting any work by our greatest
> living artist, 94 year old MF Husain, through threats of assault and
> violence. These groups, including the BJP, Bajrang Dal, Sri Ram Sena, the
> VHP, and the Shiv Sena have led a concerted communal campaign against Husain
> accusing him of blasphemy since 1996. This campaign has taken a violent form
> on many occasions and has also led to cases being filed against the artist
> in courts across India, and has led to Husain's self-imposed exile.
>
> In a landmark judgement dismissing three such cases in the Delhi High Court
> in 2007, Justice Sanjay Kishen Kaul defended the right of freedom of
> expression under the Constitution of India. The Union Ministry of Culture,
> during the previous Art Summit held in 2008 had categorically stated “Shri
> M. F. Husain is one of the most prominent artist of the country and the
> absence of his works at the India Art Summit will not reflect the true art
> scenario of India.”
>
> We are very disturbed by reports that the upcoming International India Art
> Summit taking place at Pragati Maidan from August 19-24th has asked
> participating galleries for the second year running to not display the work
> of Husain citing fear of attacks. We enclose a report from the Telegraph
> which quotes them as saying that the Home Ministry has offered no assurance
> of security.
>
> We find it shocking that the work of the most famous artist cannot be shown
> in the country of his birth, even though he is not a criminal, nor is his
> work proscribed or banned. The Art Summit is being attended by luminaries
> from around the world, and it is a sad state of affairs that we, who
> justifiably pride ourselves as a great democracy, cannot resist threats from
> these groups who we see as no less than other terrorists who threaten our
> daily lives.
>
> We request a meeting with you to apprise you of the art community's anguish
> and concern.
>
> Yours Sincerely,
>
> Vivan Sundaram, Ram Rahman, Parthiv Shah, Shireen Gandhi, Dadiba Pundole,
> Geetha Mehra, Gayatri Sinha, Arun Vadhera, Renu Modi, Ashish Anand, Devika
> Daulet Singh, Geeta Kapur, Peter Nagy
>
> ________________________________
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