New York: Hindu hater M. F. Husain’s painting were auctioned at Gallery houses of Christies and Sotheby’s in New York, USA on 21st March at Christie’s and 22 at Sotheby’s. Also, it was learned that Pratham, a charitable organisation would be the beneficiary of the proceeds from Husain’s painting, "Woman with Veena" which was auctioned at Christie’s for $132,000. There was also an untitled painting by Husain, which showed a half naked sage in meditative pose, surrounded by naked and half naked women.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti in USA had made efforts to contact Hindu activists from NY in February 2007, to see if a protest can be organized outside the art galleries. However, she did not receive a response from any of the activists, except one. He had participated in the protests organized last year outside Christie’s in NY. However, this time, he was pessimistic about the effect of such protests and said he would get in touch with Pratham and other media contacts that he knows about this issue.
A week before the auction, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti sent letters of protest to Christie’s, Sotheby’s and to Pratham. However, she did not receive a response from any of them.
Around the same time, Mr. Dinesh Pai, a Hindu student at the Rutgers University in NJ had come across Hindujagruti.org website and contacted them expressing his appreciation for the work that they are doing. Hence, one Hindu in NJ, USA, phoned Mr. Dinesh Pai to make him aware of Husain’s paintings being auctioned in NY in the next week. He said he could not go for the protests personally, but gave contacts of 8 to 10 active Hindus in the NJ and NY area. It included members of VHP, Hindus of Caribbean Society, the HindiUSA.org, followers of Dayanand Sarswati, journalists, etc.
An effort was made by two Hindus to phone each one of them. An appeal for protest was drafted and sent to them. They in turn forwarded the email to thousands of other members in their contact. On becoming aware of this matter, many Hindu members in NJ and NY area emailed and called Christie’s and Sotheby’s, voicing their protest. A few of the Hindus were also ready to take leave from work and go to protest in front of Christie’s.
Upon talking to activist Pandita Indraniji of the Carribbean Hindus Society, she immediately was ready to contact the Mayor of NY on this issue. She was feeling bad that she could not go for the protest in person due to her illness and felt that she needs to do much more for our Dharma. She is at this point, trying to put together a delegation to meet with the Mayor of NY to get him to provide equal respect for Hindus’ sacred sentiments on the grounds of the Mayor of NY a few years ago stopping a particularly denigrating exhibition of Mother Mary and Catholic symbols. She is continuing to send awareness letters about this issue to various Hindu groups even now, and is keeping us updated of her efforts.
(Congratulations to the Indraniji as well as Hindus for the protest. Such Hindus are the real strength of the Hindu Dharma. – Editor.)
Related HJS Campaign
>M. F. Hussain Campaign
