MF Hussain, the renouned artist of Indian origin was recently issued a citizenship by the government of Qatar. Whether he accepts in or not, he is a man of Indian origin, no matter what his citizenship is. The furious and clueless government of India is trying its good luck in bringing back this gifted artist who created heckles by portraying Hindu deities in vulgar/nude forms, which Hindu right's wing claim to have hurt the feelings of the Hindu majority. Since then Mr.Hussain has been targeted by Sang parivar and other Hindu right's organizations, vandalising his shows and burning his portraits and has poised threat to his life. This forced Mr.Husain to flee India on a self imposed exile to the Middle East.
Best artistic works has come when the thoughts and talents were unquestioned; Hence I believe that Mr.Hussain's act is justified. Also, being vulgar or not is up to the perception of an individual. Above all that Hindus, whose ancestoral Gurus and Rishis have gifted a book for sex, Kamasutra and being the members of a religion which has withstood all atrocities, calamities and cultural and political revolutions, Hindus in the first place must not be so impulsive and vindictive in action. Our's is the only religion which has accepted Atheism and is one of the only religions that has never stipulated any rules to its members.
Recently, Mr.Hussain claimed that he loves India and he felt immense pain in leaving India and also he did show his willingness to accept the luring offer of Qatar where he can recklessly let his artistic ideas varnish the paint board. I do understand that ego and one's self expression especially when it comes to painting, can never be questioned and if questioned, it will never be acceptable. But if that is above the love towards your home land, then I would suggest that he may never return to India. India is the land of RAja Ravi varma, and Mr.hussain is just one of the talented artists of India, if not MR.Hussain there will be another hussain or varma and hence I do not hink Indian government should take this as a big issue and let its pride go under his foot!
In this context, many might argue about the fundamental rights of Indian citizens. I also agree that India has a constitution which has one of our fundamental rights as "Right of expression and speech", but not at the cost of hurting other's believes and faith. But I would lie to remind you all not to forget your duties while you access your fundamental rights. This is applicable to everyone. As Delhi/bomnbay high curt had recently ruled, even religion can be a subject of criticism, but in a healthy way. Knowing the reality, I guess these must be kept personal and public comments on beliefs and faith must be spared from public forums which can lead to undemocratic situations.
Well there might be a thousand people pointing at me accessing me of being narrow minded. So I stop this blog with just two questions:
If you can portray Hindu goddesses in nude forms, why cant/dont you portray an image for image less Prophet Muhammed of for that matter his wife (after all Arabs are more beautiful that Indians) ?? Why dont you portray Alla in a divine form (I am not asking you to portray in nude form)??? Why dont you respect every other religion the way you respect yours??
My questions here are with atmost respect to Islam. I am only questioning his mentality and not the religion. Pls do not get me wrong!!
Thumbs up!!
ReplyDeletei dont know why people are making such a big issue of the whole MF fiasco. The same people who say we dont have problem with what he does are up against his work. With due respect to all religions, arent Khajuraho and many other temples full of what MF has to tried to sketch.
ReplyDeleteand about the question, i feel that there is no base of painting prophets in islam lest it may lead to idol worship. God in a defined form seizes to be god !!
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ReplyDeleteFreedom to right to express and speech has a sub-clause which says "not to hurt the sentiments and beliefs of others" this is where he had gone wrong. His paintings has not hurt my sentiments and I guess no Hindu must be hurt by his work because as I have said, Hinduism has sex, atheism and every sphere of life in it. But religion and religious beliefs are often irrational no matter how educated the people are, often religious beliefs are carried on with irrational thinking and misunderstanding/ not understanding the concepts. I am sure you may not have dug into the works of hussain before making these comments. Portraying godess Lakshmi with Vinayaka in erotic position can never be forgiven nor can it be accepted as a fair art as these are mythological characters and not his creations and hence he must have understood the full mythology before making such a piece of art. Also in mythology Lakshmi and Vinayaka are not spouse!Regarding portrait of prophet Muhammad. He will not even make an attempt nor will the muslim community accept it as pictorial or engravings of prophet is prohibited my muslim law and Quran. An explanation attributing to Idol worship is menial. It holds no ground here because portraits are not merely a work with religious sentiments attached. And also Idol worship has several reasons for its existence in Indian society and it would be better understood if and only if you can read and understand Hindu mythology with unbiased and rational reading and thinking. In no books of Hinduism does it uphold idol worship, but the existence of temples are on the same grounds as that of a Mosque or a Church or a Gurudwara. And idols exist as meditation is the basic principle behind Hindu style of worship and it is always easier to meditate if you can imagine a form of god which can catch your attention and hence a million forms of god in Hinduism.
ReplyDeleteI do agree God is beyond what we all can imagine. But if your statement holds true, them Hinduism would not have existed even after 5000 years of its origin, unlike the Abrahamic religions; Christianity would not have become the largest religion in the world, nor would have Budhism crossed the Hymalayan barriers (I dint mean that this all happened because they have idol worship).
I am also sure that you are unaware of about the tuft between hussain and All India Ulema counsil against a piece of song. If a song can evoke protest, so can a painting!
My point is very clear:
1) An artist is an artist, his thoughts must not be questioned but his work must not irk social unrest not should it disturb the sentiments of people(at least of the country where he is residing).
2) People who felt his work objectionable, must have sought it out legally.
3) He was just another citizen of India and hence it really doesn matter if he is still an Indian or not!
4) Respect other religion and beliefs the way how you respect your religion and beliefs after all its all just BELIEFS not scientific truth, even the mere existence of god. So we all are people walking on a line or irrationality, so lets not argue whose beliefs are better or supreme!(I meant all these are stuff what I want to tell people like hussain)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Many-shades-of-grey/H1-Article1-515602.aspx
ReplyDeletei dont endorse all the views from this link however, you forgot to mention the tax part.. if or not you buy his explantion is upto you.. but its imp to present his explantions.. if you c the interview video he also gave example of ingver (IKEA)..
love roxy
Can u please change the fore or back ground color bcos i cant read ... and then comment :) hehe
ReplyDeleteThe problem is everything is relative, half of the people became furious bcos they heard the news from paper of friends and half of the people were supporting Hussain, bcos even they havent seen the picture themself.
ReplyDeleteWell some1 send me the pic in email and i was really amazed to see the pictures of God and Goddess in the most vulgar form, and at the same time depicting Islam related personalities in utmost covered form. Now i don't understand why some1 has to do this. Well i don't know Hussain's intension why he did that.
Few question why dont he come back and face cases against him and stay in India, and work here, for paintings you need canvas and paints and do they come in crores ??? that he need too much financial support from qatar like counteries.
Its ok , its his wish, he dont want to come back bcos he is not confident about the cases against him or may be he just want to work in peace in Middle east or where ever he wants.
However i am sure why this hue and cry by SO CALLED SECULAR media, let him stay there when he don't want to face cases and paint more such paintings in peace.
Someone mentioned a point about some paintaings outside temples, however ya agree, but the kama poses are made between Shiva and Parvate and not between laksmi and Ganesha, so just becasue u see soemthing dont comment .. there is deep philosphy there which u need to understand do your home work before u comment :) and that doesnt give any right to any1 to do whatever they want/hurt other community when other ppl are so sensitive themself ...