Brown University exhibiting paintings drawn by anti-Hindu painter M. F. Husain!

February 2, 2010

Magh Krushna Chaturthi, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

Brown University, a member of the prestigious Ivy League, will hold an exhibition of pictures drawn by Anti-Hindu and Anti-Indian painter M F Husain.  M. F. Husain's paintings are offensive to a vast majority of the 1 billion strong Hindu population due to his very vulgar and denigrating depiction of the Sanatan Hindu Dharma (Hinduism) concepts.

Actually, due to Husain's deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus and creating communal disharmony, several arrest warrants and court orders have been issued for Mr. Husain by Indian Courts. Some of these orders are even backed by the Supreme Court of India. (Please note that M. F. Husain has fled India to evade arrest)

Please send your peaceful protest emails to the concerned authorities at Brown University so that it should remove the pictures of Anti-Hindu painter M F Husain in forthcoming exhibition. Also, please encourage other Hindus to protest against this exhibition.

Protest by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and e-mail communication with Brown University

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Regd. No. 1540/I-634,12112002

Website: www.hindujagruti.org

Shri. S.G.Vatkar - Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mumbai Region, India

Subject: Protest to stop exhibition of M. F. Husain's paintings at Brown University

Dear sirs,

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is an NGO engaged in Nation building, educating people about Dharma & Dharmacharan, awakening & uniting Hindus throughout world. The objective of the Samiti is to create awareness about Hindu issues, to educate about Hindu Dharma, to achieve broader social interests instead of their narrow-minded power centric goals, to stop denigration of Hindu Dharma (Righteousness) and to protect the Nation. For further details please visit our website: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Recently we came across the press release about the exhibit, M.F. Husain: Early Masterpieces, 1950s-1970s, which opens at Brown University on February 5.

Cogut Center Hosts Exhibition of M.F. Husain’s Early Masterpieces

Why is every mantra chanted with 'svaha' while offering oblation in sacrificial fires?

Chariot of the Sun God

In summary, M. F. Husain's painting does not depict the radiance and form that the Sun Deity's chariot represents, but in contrast, is depicted in dark hues and distorted. Now, can you imagine the consequences of displaying a work on Islam that contradicts the principles laid out in the Kuran! Hindus are very tolerant and have lived in harmony with other religious groups for millennia. We respect the freedom of artistic expression and encourage resolving conflicts through discussion. But as the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had said, in light of the violent protests over the Islamic Prophet's denigration by Danish cartoonists, "We must stress that rights carry with them an inherent responsibility, and should not be used to degrade, humiliate or insult any group or individual." Hence, Hinduism also expects that artists are cognizant of their social responsibility and not denigrate the divine and create communal discord. Given Mr. Husain's deliberate targeting of Hindu Holy symbols for depicting in perverse ways, Hindus would strongly protest this exhibition glorifying his works.

Further we would like to bring to your notice that MF Hussein has hurt the Religious and National sentiments of crores of Hindus and Indians because of his blasphemous painting of Hindu deities and naked Bharat Mata.

More than 1,250 police complaints have been lodged against him and lot of court cases are going on against him throughout India. He has been accused of outraging religious sentiments, promoting enmity between different religious groups, selling obscene material and disturbing National integrity, thereby committing offences under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. He has also been accused of committing offenses under section 2 of the prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.

Further please note that the Mumbai Police Special Branch is investigating the matter and appropriate action would be taken against M. F. Hussein in due course. The proposed Roopdhar award 2006, Raja Ravi Varma Award, auction of his Rs 6 crores painting by Khushi Foundation at the Turf Club and others have been cancelled and his paintings from various exhibitions are being removed due to large number of protests throughout India.

We request you to immediately stop the exhibition of this painter with immoral and criminal back ground organized by you. You are requested not hold exhibition hurting religious sentiments of Hindus.

In case you do not co operate we may have to take further action against you for promoting such a criminal who has denigrated our motherland and our deities.

Please acknowledge receipt. Please inform us the action being taken in the matter and oblige.

Yours Truly,

S.G.Vatkar,

(For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mumbai region )

Reply from: Brown University executive (Year of India)

Dear S. G. Vatkar,

Thank you for your recent email of concern about the exhibition, M.F. Husain: Early Masterpieces, 1950s-70s, which is being hosted by the Cogut Center for the Humanities and the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University.

Through a variety of academic offerings, lectures and events, the University seeks to provide opportunities for learning, exploration, discussion, and debate on a full range of issues and topics, including those that may inspire controversy.  It is University policy to support a wide range of perspectives and ideologies without regard to the content of the message or argument of any particular speaker or program. Through the Year of India programming, we hope to provide an array of opportunities for the broader community to develop greater understanding of India's people, culture, economy, traditions, politics and expanding role in world affairs.

Maqbool Fida Husain is among the most widely recognized figures in Indian art. The Year of India organizers believe the exhibit will contribute to the broader goals of the year long event series. The exhibition is consistent with the University's academic and intellectual mission and with its core values of free inquiry and free expression.

I do appreciate your thoughtfulness and courtesy in writing the University, and I anticipate that the concerns you raise will be addressed during the year-long campus conversation about the nation of India in the twenty-first century.

Sincerely,

Marisa A. Quinn

Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations

Box 1920

Brown University

Providence, RI  02912

(401) 863-2453 (office)

(401) 863-1650 (fax)

Marisa_Quinn@brown.edu

Reply from: Shri. S.G.Vatkar

Dear Marisa A. Quinn

Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations

Box 1920

Brown University

Providence, RI  02912

(401) 863-2453 (office)

(401) 863-1650 (fax)

Marisa_Quinn@brown.edu

Thank you for your prompt reply. Regret to state that  you have not taken the issue seriously and right perspective.

You have totally misunderstood our worldwide recognised Hindu organisation. It is unfortunate that your university still  want to provide an opportunity to conduct a debate on Mr. Hussain who is actually a criminal ?? Have you ever heared about any criminal on whom 1200 cases have been registered against him in the whole country and who is absconding for last three years ?? Is there a single criminal in America like Mr. Hussain ?? For gods sake do not say you want to conduct a debate on Mr. Hussain. It is like conducting a debate on Bin Laden whether he is issue for America or not . The world knows he is a terrorist .What you want to prove by showcasing paintings of Mr. Hussain ??He is a criminal as per the Indian Laws.

Do you want to conduct debate on Denmark cartoonist who has drawn Mohammad Paigambar's cartoon ? Will Muslim community tolerate your act?  If he is right or wrong ?? No way .. The same way Mr. Hussain is not a issue for debate and his glorification. He is a criminal & he should be punished but he left the country by the fear of going into prison. It is really disturbing us & Hindus all over the world that you are defending such a criminal. If you really understand the greatness of Hindu Culture & the sentiments of Hindus all over the world then I would insist you to rethink on showcasing Mr. Husain's work .Please refer our website www.hindujagruti.org for successful campaigns against M.F.Husain.

If brown university really want to develop greater understanding of India's people, culture, economy, traditions, politics and expanding role in world affairs then Mr. Hussain & his fanatic work is not the right approach. For your information we are  providing you some details about Indian Culture on our website www.hindujagruti.org In view of above we request you to stop the the exhibition, debate and glorification of M.F.Husain. Waiting for your positive response at the earliest.

Regards,

Shivaji Vatkar,

Co-ordinator,

For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.

Protests by devout Hindus and email communication with Brown University (Within hours of publishing this protest drive, several Hindus around the world have started writing to Brown University.)

Letter by Shri. Jaime Dattola

Subject: Concerns regarding M. F. Husain's paintings at Brown University

Namaste.

Recently I came across the press release about the exhibit, M.F. Husain: Early Masterpieces, 1950s-1970s, which opens at Brown University on February 5.

Cogut Center Hosts Exhibition of M.F. Husain’s Early Masterpieces

Although it was very nice to hear that a series of events to advance understanding of India's people, culture, economy, and politics, and their growing impact around the world will take place, I was quite surprised to see this exhibition as a representation of that.

Mr. M. F. Husain's paintings are offensive to a vast majority of the 1 billion strong Hindu population due to his very vulgar and denigrating depiction of the Sanatan Hindu Dharma (Hinduism) concepts and principles, e.g., the Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc. Actually, due to Husain's deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus and creating communal disharmony, several arrest warrants and court orders have been issued for Mr. Husain by Indian Courts. Some of these orders are even backed by the Supreme Court of India. Please note that M. F. Husain has fled India to evade arrest.

In your press release it is mentioned that M. F. Husain's paintings and prints are associated with his cultural roots - steeped in Indian visual culture, as well as social and religious traditions. M  F. Husain's paintings/prints do not represent the predominantly Hindu, spiritual culture of India, but denigrate it, as is evident from the offense he has caused to the worldwide Hindu and spiritual community. And, just to cite an example of the level of denigration in M. F. Husain's paintings like e.g.  "The Charriot of The Sun God” (A featured painting for your exhibit), please take a look at the below links with the Spiritual Science behind "The Sun Deity”, "The Charriot of the Sun God” and a Saint's comments as well:

Why is every mantra chanted with 'svaha' while offering oblation in sacrificial fires?

Chariot of the Sun God

In summary, M. F. Husain's painting does not depict the radiance and form that the Sun Deity's chariot represents, but in contrast, is depicted in dark hues and distorted. Now, can you imagine the consequences of displaying a work on Islam that contradicts the principles laid out in the Kuran! Hindus are very tolerant and have lived in harmony with other religious groups for millennia. We respect the freedom of artistic expression and encourage resolving conflicts through discussion. But as the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had said, in light of the violent protests over the Islamic Prophet's denigration by Danish cartoonists, "We must stress that rights carry with them an inherent responsibility, and should not be used to degrade, humiliate or insult any group or individual." Hence, Hinduism also expects that artists are cognizant of their social responsibility and not denigrate the divine and create communal discord. Given Mr. Husain's deliberate targeting of Hindu Holy symbols for depicting in perverse ways, Hindus would strongly protest this exhibition glorifying his works.

I urge you to reconsider using M. F. Husain's works as representative of Indian culture and displaying any of his paintings with spiritual connotations or those that make a reference to Hindu Scriptures/ concepts/ symbols, as it would truly hurt sentiments of Hindus worldwide.

Looking forward to your understanding.

Yours Sincerely,

Jaime Dattola,

A concerned Hindu

Reply from: Brown University executive (Year of India)

Dear Jaime Dattola,

Thank you for your recent email of concern about the exhibition, M.F. Husain: Early Masterpieces, 1950s-70s, which is being hosted by the Cogut Center for the Humanities and the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University.

Through a variety of academic offerings, lectures and events, the University seeks to provide opportunities for learning, exploration, discussion, and debate on a full range of issues and topics, including those that may inspire controversy.  It is University policy to support a wide range of perspectives and ideologies without regard to the content of the message or argument of any particular speaker or program. Through the Year of India programming, we hope to provide an array of opportunities for the broader community to develop greater understanding of India's people, culture, economy, traditions, politics and expanding role in world affairs. 

Maqbool Fida Husain is among the most widely recognized figures in Indian art. The Year of India organizers believe the exhibit will contribute to the broader goals of the year long event series. The exhibition is consistent with the University's academic and intellectual mission and with its core values of free inquiry and free expression.

I do appreciate your thoughtfulness and courtesy in writing the University, and I anticipate that the concerns you raise will be addressed during the year-long campus conversation about the nation of India in the twenty-first century.

Sincerely,

Marisa A. Quinn

Vice President for Public Affairs and University Relations

Box 1920

Brown University

Providence, RI  02912

(401) 863-2453 (office)

(401) 863-1650 (fax)

Marisa_Quinn@brown.edu