Jyeshtha Shuddha Panchami
By Staff Reporter
Bangalore: The economic times of 7th June 2008 had reported that Bid and Hammer, (part of Dhada group of companies) auctioneers of fine art planned to hold an auction of various paintings including Jamini Roy, F.N Souza and M.F Hussain. HJS member, Shri Aravinda Baliga immediately collected information about the auctioneers through their website. He contacted the M.D, Shri Maher Dadha of the telephone and conveyed his deep anguish regarding plans to include Hussain’s art in the auction and sought his appointment to explain.
Later in the afternoon Sou. Poornima Prabhu convener HJS Bangalore Shri Aravinda Baliga, Shri Ramesh Babu, Treasurer Abalashram, Shri Venketesh, Secretary Basavanagudi traders association, Shri T N Ramakrishna, Rashtra Gaurava Samraksahna parishat met Shri Maher Dadha MD and Shri Ankush Dadha Executive director of Bid & Hammer at their office.
Shri Maher Dadha told that he was a religious person and had also built a few Jain temples. He did not intend to hurt the feelings of anyone. The Hussain art piece had nothing to do with the denigration and hence there was no need to object.
Sou. Purnima Prabhu after handing over the request letter explained how Hussain through his paintings had intentionally hurt the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus. He had drawn only Hindu Deities in nude while depicting his mother and Mother Theresa etc. in normal attire. If his intentions were honorable he would not have run away from the country when HJS filed 1250 police cases and courts asked him to appear for hearing. HJS has successfully stopped display and sale of Hussain paintings by Khushi foundation, Tao art gallery etc.It was also instrumental in stopping the Roopadhara award to be given to Hussain by Maharashtra governor S.M Krishna, Raja Ravi Verma award proposed to be given by Kerala government she added.
Shri Ramakrishna told that it is a disgrace that our country which got independence due to the sacrifice of Revolutionary freedom fighters has people like Hussain who have drawn Bharat Mata in nude and going scot free. Any one supporting Hussain is anti national and anti Hindu he told.
When Shri Ankush Dadha told that by withdrawing the auction the company would get a bad reputation Shri Venkatesh replied that as Hindus our first step is to request for withdrawal of auction. This is unlike Muslims who take law into their hands. He narrated an incident where thousands of Muslims ransacked the office of local news paper Deccan Herald for running a story with caption ‘Mohammed the idiot’, where the name Mohammed was just a character in the story and had no link with prophet Mohammed.
When Shri Ramesh Babu summed up by telling that the demand is for total withdrawal of Hussain’s art and nothing less Shri Maher Dadha agreed and promised to give the letter after consultation with members in the auction panel. He also took special note of the question raised in the request letter as to whether he is ready to display or auction the pictures of Prophet Mohamed drawn by Danish artist in the name of freedom of expression.
When Shri Aravinda Baliga showed the May issue of English Sanatan Prabath indicating the demerits a person will have if he is associated with denigration (Article on love Guru), he arranged to issue the letter of withdrawal immediately, by telephonically confirming with other members.
He also told that he will be meeting M.F Hussain shortly and he would convey our message to him. Considering the articles on Dharma Rakshan he also volunteered to sponsor Sanatan Prabath for his well wishers and appreciated the cause taken up by HJS.
