06-03-2006, 04:47 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Why we opposed Indian art exhibition
Friday June 2, 2006
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/...90,00.html
We protested against the Asia House gallery because we object to its
decision to exhibit paintings of Hindu goddesses engaged in acts of
bestiality (Letters, May 26 and 30). Meghnad Desai seems to think
such images can be found in Hindu temples, but, as we have written
to him, we dispute this and challenge him to produce evidence. More
seriously, he accuses us of raising this issue because of MF
Husain's religion. This is completely baseless; we are proud of our
interfaith work and have spoken on radio with Muslim leaders to
support their efforts to end attempts to demonise their community.
As to Desai accusing us of being an "import" from India: HHR was
founded and is based in Britain and led by the generation of Hindus
born and brought up here. So we are fully aware of, respect and
uphold British laws and traditions, which protect the rights of the
Hindu community to protest when attacked and defamed. We have
campaigned for years for these values and freedoms to be granted to
the Hindu communities which are persecuted in many parts of the
world. So while he shouts accusations of extremism and
fundamentalism, we are calling his bluff and challenge him to prove
these things in an open debate. As anyone can see from our website
and publications, we exist to highlight the abuses of the human
rights of Hindus going on in many parts of the world.
All our statements show we have always maintained we are not anti-
art. After all, where else can we find the range of expression we
find in Hindu literature, poetry, paintings, dance, music,
sculpture, drama, spiritual epics, architecture, costumes and
jewellery. But when we see Hindu imagery and symbolism adorning
toilet seats, bikinis, magazine covers etc, it becomes easier to see
why so many people in the media and politics are ignorant and
apathetic when it comes to highlighting the plight of Hindus in
countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and in parts of
India.
Ranbir Singh
Chairman, Hindu Human Rights<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Friday June 2, 2006
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/...90,00.html
We protested against the Asia House gallery because we object to its
decision to exhibit paintings of Hindu goddesses engaged in acts of
bestiality (Letters, May 26 and 30). Meghnad Desai seems to think
such images can be found in Hindu temples, but, as we have written
to him, we dispute this and challenge him to produce evidence. More
seriously, he accuses us of raising this issue because of MF
Husain's religion. This is completely baseless; we are proud of our
interfaith work and have spoken on radio with Muslim leaders to
support their efforts to end attempts to demonise their community.
As to Desai accusing us of being an "import" from India: HHR was
founded and is based in Britain and led by the generation of Hindus
born and brought up here. So we are fully aware of, respect and
uphold British laws and traditions, which protect the rights of the
Hindu community to protest when attacked and defamed. We have
campaigned for years for these values and freedoms to be granted to
the Hindu communities which are persecuted in many parts of the
world. So while he shouts accusations of extremism and
fundamentalism, we are calling his bluff and challenge him to prove
these things in an open debate. As anyone can see from our website
and publications, we exist to highlight the abuses of the human
rights of Hindus going on in many parts of the world.
All our statements show we have always maintained we are not anti-
art. After all, where else can we find the range of expression we
find in Hindu literature, poetry, paintings, dance, music,
sculpture, drama, spiritual epics, architecture, costumes and
jewellery. But when we see Hindu imagery and symbolism adorning
toilet seats, bikinis, magazine covers etc, it becomes easier to see
why so many people in the media and politics are ignorant and
apathetic when it comes to highlighting the plight of Hindus in
countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and in parts of
India.
Ranbir Singh
Chairman, Hindu Human Rights<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->