Mumbai: A delegation of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti today met the organizers of the Art Exhibition held at Mumbai’s ‘Articulate Gallery ‘ where a painting of Lord Hanuman, by an artist Dilip Sharma from Rajasthan, was on display. The said painting depicted Lord Hanuman, worshipped and revered by millions of Hindus, in an indecent manner. The delegation brought the wrong doing to the notice of the organisers following which the manager of the art gallery immediately issued an order to remove the painting from among the exhibits. Many HJS website visitors have protested against it.
The exhibition by Shri. Sharma at the said Art Gallery in the Fort area, behind Khadi Gramodyog building on Prescott Road, will be on until 14 April. When the delegation approached the Gallery to meet and apprise Mr. Sharma, they were informed by the staff that he was unavailable. Shri. Shivaji Vatkar the Mumbai spokesperson then put forth the objective of the delegation and explained how the artist had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by denigrating the Hindu deity through his painting. Following this, the staff contacted the artist on phone, however he refused to speak to the delegation. Shri Vatkar then showed print outs of angry international protests lodged on the HJS’ website in response to the denigrated paintings by Shri. Sharma. The staff then got in touch with Shri. Amol Mathure, secretary of the owner of the Art Gallery, Industrialist Shri. Yash Birla. Shri Mathure expressed regrets over the incident to Shri. Vatkar and ordered the immediate removal of the painting from the exhibits.
Mumbai Mirror issues apology!
While giving publicity to the art exhibition, the English daily ‘ Mumbai Mirror ’ in their issue of 7 April had also given coverage to the painting in question. The ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’ and HJS’ website published news on the link against. Later on 9 April the ‘Mumbai Mirror’ published an apology on page 31 for giving publicity to the painting denigrating Lord Hanuman.
Apology by Mumbai Mirror
From: “Editor Mirror”
To: “SG Vatkar” <vatkarsg at gmail dot com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 3:54 PM
Subject: Re:
Dear Mr Vatkar,
We appreciate your concern with regards our article dated 7th April (A Raver from Rajasthan). We have tendered our unreserved apology on page 31 of Mumbai Mirror dated 9th April. We reiterate that the error was aboslutely unintentional and will ensure that such things are not repeated in future.
Best regards,
Editorial team
Mumbai Mirror
Read detailed communication in support file below.
See derogatory Image and read comments of public here –
‘Mumbai Mirror’ insults Lord Hanuman!
Related HJS Campaign
> Defamations: Abuse on Hinduism
