Bhadrapad Shuddha Trutiya
By Staff Reporter
Bangalore (Karnataka): HJS had held a press conference on the 21st of August 2008 regarding Adarsh Ganeshotsav and the local media gave coverage on different days. During the effort to collect the press reports, Shri. Aravind Baliga, Member HJS chanced upon a news report in the The Deccan Chronicle, mentioning an art exhibition organized by ART MANTRAM, Bangalore a non Profit Organization involved in promoting Contemporary Indian Art and RoopShri Art Gallery, Udaipur.
The Theme was Glimpses-Husain to today indicating how the Indian Art has developed over the Years since Hussain. Works of senior artists like Aparna Caur, F.N Souza Jatin Das, J.Swaminathan Suhas Roy and others were to be Show cased at the city’s Premier Five Star Hotel-ITC Hotel, The Windsor. The Show had started on the 21st and was to end on the 25th. The show was open only up to 7 P.M.
Emergency Action
Since it was already 4 P.M he immediately informed Sou Purnima Prabhu about the display. On advice of Shri. Shivaji Vatkar of HJS Mumbai, Shri. Baliga called up the High Grounds Police Station informing them, as to how MF Hussain has hurt the religious sentiments of billions of Hindus by depicting Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and Bharat Matha in nude.He also requested them to take action to stop the display of his art immediately.
The Police officer then requested Shri. Baliga to come to the station and explain in detail. Shri. Chandresh, HJS volunteer from Mysore joined Shri. Baliga at the Police Station. On the way to the Police Station, Shri. Baliga called Dharmabhimanis and requested them to call up the organizers and police asking them to stop the display. Among them were:
- Shri. Venkatesh, Secretary of Basavanagudi Traders Association ( He had volunteered to file Writ against M.F.Hussain after seeing the Kannada Sapthahik Sanatan Prabhath Special Issue two years back).
- Sou Vijayalakshmi of Heritage Foundation. (She had started the Tirupathi campaign Single Handedly in Bangalore).
- Dr. Chidananda Murthy renowned Historian and Sahiti. (He is fighting against the Muslim aggression in Hampi since the last several years. He was also honored on the Dias during the Bangalore Dharma Sabha.)
- Advocate Satishchandra- High Court advocate (He has filed writ in the Bangalore High Court on behalf of HJS against the Hubli Police for denying Permission for Dharma Jagruthi Sabha).
- Shri. Santosh, Pradhan Karyadarshi, BJP State unit (he had spontaneously helped in organizing the Love Guru signature campaign, at the BJP State level delegates meeting on the 19th August 2008.
Dodging Tactics of Police
When Shri. Chandresh and Shri. Baliga Met the Head Constable (H.C) at the Station to lodge the complaint letter he refused to receive it telling that the Inspector Shri. Lokesh is at the Windsor Hotel and no such exhibition is there at the Hotel. On repeated insistence by Shri. Chandresh, the H.C. gave the inspector’s Mobile number. But the inspector told that the Hussain painting was removed and there was no need to lodge any complaint. Only on insistence by Shri. Chandresh, he reluctantly agreed and gave instructions to the H.C. to give an acknowledgement.
At the Hotel there was tight security and the members introduced themselves to the Sub Inspector Shri. Prakash. Initially he indicated that he could allow only one person inside. But when the members told them the HJS activities and its system of fighting Unrighteousness he readily agreed and took them to view the exhibition and also showed the place from where the exhibit was removed.
As the members started to explain to the organizers the reasons for their opposition a lady visitor started to talk in high tone asking as to no one has the right to oppose Freedom Of Expression. When Shri. Baliga asked as to the identity of the lady, the Police officer immediately took charge and told that only the organizers should reply and there should be no cross talk.
When the organizer Mrs. Sanghamitra Singh of Roopsi Art Gallery asked as to why HJS has to oppose the innocent art of Hussain, Shri. Baliga put a counter Question as to what merits are there for the Art to be shown in spite of having full knowledge of his Acts.
When she tried to explain about freedom of Expression, Shri. Baliga countered as to whether they are ready to display Art or Jewellery from collections of Dawood Ibrahim? MF Hussain is no different from Dawood Ibrahim, as just like Dawood Ibrahim, Hussain has also run away from the country fearing the Police and Court actions. He also told that 1250 complaints have been filed by HJS against Hussain for intentionally depicting Hindu Gods, Goddesses and BharathMatha in nude and vulgar forms.
This reply seemed to be a bolt from the blue, and immediately Shri. Siddhartha Kumar Singh arranged to give a letter confirming withdrawal of the art Piece. The Police Officer also patiently listened to the discussion and nodded his head in approval.
Appreciation of HJS Style
Later Shri. Singh told that he had also critisied Hussain for the naked art of Bharath Matha and had questioned as why Hussain did not get any other subject for his art. He added that the price of Hussain art has crashed and nobody likes to keep them in recent days. Only abroad there is some demand he added.
Shri. Singh’s entire family is devout Jains and they have built Jain Temple in Kolkatta. They appreciated the HJS members for their approach and indicated that they would also like to join the Samithi and involve in the cause of upholding Righteousness and Protecting the Nation.
