[Reader-list] Absence of Husain at Art Summit

[Murali V]

The director of any film would want to depict his creativity in an
unshackled manner, but his/hers creativity sometimes goes to the
scissors of the censor board.

Regards,
V Murali

On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 4:15 PM, Rakesh Iyer<rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Murali ji
>
> Let me answer some of the questions you and Mr. Rajen have asked or raised:
>
> 1) First of all, it's perfectly legitimate according to me, at a personal
> level, if any God or Prophet is painted nude, whether it be Christ,
> Mohammed, Ram, Shiva, Durga or anybody else. The reason for my argument is
> simple. When you stop or restrict someone from making a painting, it's a
> restriction on the freedom of a person from painting something. And more
> importantly, assuming the nude painting is made, it's not a restriction or
> infringement on the freedom of someone who has been depicted in the
> painting, as far as Gods or Prophets are concerned.
>
> This is important to note, because in case of say someone's mother or wife
> being painted nude, it could be a kind of restriction or infringement
> because it may depict someone in a certain manner. This is also why MMS
> clippings of heroines or girls is strictly abhorred.
>
> 2) The way a person takes such issues is for him/her to decide. The Gods are
> not subjected to unfreedom. And as far as the person is concerned, if the
> person feels that such a painting is not right form of depiction of his/her
> beloved Lord, he/she has a right to protest (though that does not mean
> indulging in violence, which I believe all of us will agree on). Similarly,
> the person has the freedom of seeing or not seeing such paintings, and
> therefore that right has also not been usurped upon.
>
> Therefore, again this means that people have the right to depict Gods in the
> way they wish to. And those who don't like it equally have a right to
> protest. But that shouldn't mean indulging in violence. So the protests
> against Danish cartoons, as also that against Hussain's paintings are ok,
> (and even those against paintings made in MSU) are fine, with me, as long as
> no violence takes place. In all the three cases, it has taken place leading
> to beating up of the student to burning of embassies, which should not be
> tolerated in a civilized society.
>
> So, therefore if someone feels he/she is offended by such paintings, either
> ignore them or protest against them subject to conditionality of
> non-violence, and thereby ensure you don't usurp the freedom of others.
>
> Is that so difficult to accept?
>
> Regards
>
> Rakesh
>