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Poor MF Hussain cannot draw the Gods or saints of Islam for fear of his violent Muslim brethren who will declare a fatwa and perhaps murder him in no time at all. Perhaps that is why he devotes his artistic love to Hindu Gods.
But the extremism, so characteristic of Muslims, seems to have creeped into Hinduism too, a religion whose followers are proud of its tolerant and peaceful roots. Roots that have, unfortunately, decayed today.
Maqbool Fida Hussain routinely draws nude Hindu Goddesses and then routinely apologizes for drawing them and hurting Hindu sentiments. He drew Saraswati naked before and there was a lot of hullabaloo from many Hindu groups such as VHP, Bajrang Dal, BJP etc. That was long back.
Now he has drawn Bharatmata naked and put it up for auction. The timing could not have been better for the Hindu groups. The entire Islamic fraternity is raging over caricatures of Muhammad published first by a Danish newspaper. And of course it is now the turn of Hindu groups to stifle artistic freedom of expression.
Let’s start at the beginning: painting a God or Goddess nude is definitely heterodox and bound to hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindus. Nothing amiss. But is it not quite odd that of all the people in the world, the Hindus should get offended?
I mean, look at the temples whose architecture are filled with iconography that can be called softcore pornography. Vishnu has Brahma coming out of his navel, Brahma marries his daughter, Saraswati. Images of Radha and Krishna making love are appreciated as divine beauty.
Art of all professions sees no bounds in its expressions and emotions. Why should an artist be asked to consider the sentiments of six billion individuals who are fragile enough to get offended by a sneeze?
Now the historically free society of Hindus have imposed curbs on themselves. If Radha-Krishna making love is permissible, if Shiva can be worshipped as a lingam one of whose symbolic interpretation is of creation being depicted as a phallus, then what is wrong in nude art?
The Hindu groups have to realize that it is prudery that is imported from the West, and that muffling freedom of expression has no history in Hinduism.
The naked body is not something to be ashamed of, in fact it is the temple of the Divine in Hindu theology. It is the Abrahamic religions that preach distaste and hate towards the physical body and therefore require their monastic orders to cover their bodies from head to toe. It will do a lot of good if the Hindu groups realize their folly in following traditions alien to their own.
It is high time India, a supposed democracy, gave its Press and artists true freedom of expression without limits, where Hindu Gods and Goddesses along with Allah and Mohammed can be drawn in any manner imaginable.
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S Jain says: I am sorry, I meant naked pictures before.
Hi S Jain – that is just getting too personal and there are laws in any land to protect individuals from defamation. What you mean is not what is popularly accepted as freedom of expression.
Great post!
I totally agreed with you and do you notice the double standards of our goverment…….they did nothing. Those pictures show open bestiality and are perverse to the point of being grotesque. The illustrations would not only hurt the sentiments of Hindus but of every seeker of God following any faith. Bestiality in most if not all countries is a huge crime, only second to murder mainly for the extreme perverseness of the act itself. My latest post in my blog is on this exact issue and I would be glad if you check it out and give your input on the issue.
Here is the link to my post: Days in a wannabe punk’s life: TAGGED! : Of Cartoons and Paintings
I do not have a problem with showing the naked body nor do I have a problem with statues in temples where deities are copulating with each other….but dont you think bestiality is taking it a bit too far????
Megha
Hi Megha – you’ve written very well on the subject!
Sexual imagery itself, and of course bestial sex, is all taking things too far when it also includes the Divine. And of course, the point will be, if I’m sexually permissive, will I tolerate sex with animals? In art, I will, yes. Because I am for absolute freedom of expression in art.
But, it will be interesting to see how images of Jesus Christ or Allah having sex with animals will be received. And the Congress Govt.’s double standards is extremely evident.
[...] Not to mention the utter lacklustre response when MF Hussain draws Hindu Goddesses nude! He still roams free in a country where hurting religious sentiments is absolutely illegal. [...]
By your reply to S Jain, it seems to me your definition for Freedom of Expression lies only in defamation of others. If it is concerning thyself or relatives then its personal and vulgarity.
Also you said “bestial sex, is all taking things too far when it also includes the Divine.” Have you looked at the some of the temples closely? They are not just Naked Images, but full orgy with human as well as animals.
Hi Subhan – I said that personal defamation is illegal and rightly so, but fully support freedom of expression in absolute terms.
And I haven’t seen images of human-animal sex in temples, and would be amazed by them. Where have you seen these images?
I have seen pics on net of a temple (possibly khajaroa) way back. Will need to search and post you links if found.
Thank you for that Subhan! That is indeed a very interesting and amusing picture. It is funny to note that a lady (?) behind the horse hides her face in reprobation.
I just viewed some of these paintings on the web, Mr. Hussein is indeed a very talented artist. In my opinion, painting nude pictures such as Mr. Hussein has of nude Hindu Gods and Goddesses, while it may offend some, is perfectly valid. There are many such depictions on Hindu temples in various parts of India.
However, the depictions of bestiality are over the top. Depicting bestiality in general is immoral. When it involves Gods and Goddesses of any religion, it is sacrilege. Even though it may not be your own religion, freedom of expression does not extend to such levels of sacrilege of the beliefs of others.
I have signed the petition to sanction Mr. Hussein.
hmm…drawing the line is indeed a problem. But a more pertinent question is, must there be a line drawn in art? or should art be unbounded?
I Am really disapointed ,
He is not a true muslim , cause if he is a muslim, he should be very humble and
down to earth personality, If you see in Koraan it is mentioned in one of the
verses ,\\\\\\\”\\\\\\\” LA KUM DINO KUM VAL YADEEN\\\\\\\”
This means we should respect other religion.
MF hussein is a Satan he is a negative personality,
he is not at all good artist as well, cause his paintings are lifeless only rich
people buy his paintings out of Ego that they have MF hussenin paintings just to
show the status and feel proud that i can afford his paintings, these kind of
people do not have art sense,
If one really wants to know about real art they should be realised souls , in this
modern time one can easily take self realisation in Sahajayoga, and meditate
regularly , just 10 min a day, one can really can chek the diffrence, I think , No
point is getting angry on people like MF hussein, IF we really want to change the
world , one should meditate and This is possible only in Sahajayoga.
For MF hussein i should say he will pay for his deeds the AL mighty will punish
him.
it is horrible that hussain is freely painting this of arts. it is due to hindu’s relaxing attitude towards hindu religion
now a days sanatan sanstha is playing a vital role to diminish hussain. it is very good sign of integreting the spread and still hindu peoples. i m sure , if we all stand behind this type of holy and social sanstha’s the day is no longer when peoples like hussain will never dare to this type of evil action
Hi Suhas – I can agree that MF Hussain has indeed hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindus by painting this; though I cannot understand why the Hindus are so hurt. In my opinion, the Hindus are getting more pricky and sensitive.
However, considering that I’m in the minority, I appreciate the work of Sanatana Sanstha and would also urge people like yourself to voice your opinions and hurt to MF Hussain, so that at least he realizes the consequences of his actions.
syed khaja says: i am a muslim and i am against: painting any human beings or look alikes or any living creatures. if mf hussain as the name suggests is a muslim and has painted nude and distasteful paintings then i believe he commited atleast 3 sins.
1st sin: painted living creatures / human beings.
2nd sin: painted nude and distasteful pictures
3rd sin: if mf hussain has intentionally painted pictures to dipict hindu gods or goddesses to hurt the feelings of hindus – then he has again gone against the tenents of islam – islam does not allow any muslim to speak bad of any religion, faith or diety.
i believe if mf hussain is tried in an islamic country’s law/court the judge might order his hands be chopped or some other very severe punishment.
this is my personal opinion and i am not speaking for muslims or for islam.
Hi Syed – Although your first point says that you are against Art; thanks for your third ‘sin’ which empathizes with the feelings of numerous Hindus that have got hurt by this episode.
Richard C Patterson says: I think there is nothing wrong with showing the body of a woman or a Goddess in the nude if it is showing the act of rebirth and the love that comes before and after.
Richard, but that is exactly what the Hindus are very unsure of. Those that are hurt feel that the Muslim Hussain has deliberately chosen these themes to malign Hindus.
vel yogendra says: I’m an American born Hindu. I became a Hindu late in life, age fifty. I don’t see anything wrong with the Hindu Gods being naked. It was a picture of Lord Shiva, as the naked ascetic, that first attracted me to him (ok, I also liked the cobras). But I don’t think Hindu Gods should sell mundane products (like alcohol, computers, etc). It is ok for them to sell religious products (incense). That’s how I feal. Thanks
Arun Kumar says: So called champions of freedom of art dare they show their freedom by painting wives of mohammed prophet in nude and dare they show any christian saint in nude . they are all hypocrites taking advantage they really do not have talent, does he ( fida hussain) has the depth of ravi verma, he does not, he is no artist but a commercial man making millions by his insensitive scribblings called paintings. If he / they are really are artists let them make a artisitic statement in nude using any number of names of islam or christianity they will not because they only know how to make fun and money out by joking around about hinduism. Sorry to say even the media is blind to the feelings of hindus.
amar says: the nude picture of goddess is only issue for muslim and hindu.
as fida is muslim so he is tesing to hindus and it seems he hate with india and love with muslim country
MF Hussein has hurt the feelings of hindus and also allah. mThis is a muslim writing in support of my hindu brothers. If i were a hindu i would have killked him. I dont know why no hindu has killed him till now.
Syed Mustafa.
anon says: you lot really need to get a life. I come out of Hindusm a few years back, you lot are seriously blind and stupid. Your doing nothing but worshiping devils who have transformed themselves into idols and have fooled and corrupted people….how can you imagine what god looks like ?? dumbos…god cant b male…or human…or elephants or monekys or cows…get a life. you worship wot god has created, his creation – and not the creator. there is only ONE god . haaa as for the “naked” gods…o lord help u lot. o an the silly man that converted to hindusm, ur seriously wasting ur time becuase hindums doesn;t allow conversions….now what does that tell u….!!!
chhotu says: i need a number of organizations/people (who dont just blog, etc)that disagree with the opinion that drawing hindu gods and goddesses nude is offensive, etc. can anyone help me on this?? ive been working on it for HOURS
AAAAHHHHH
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I am sure you wouldn’t have any problem if someone starts selling the underwears with the pictures of your daughter/sister/mother on them too. Could you please then post such pictures? Or if someone got hold of such pictures, I hope you will respect the artistic freedom
A concerned Hindu!