Protest Letters from alert Hindus to ABM AMRO
Senders have notified us about these protest letters.
Please send the mail to all these email addresses -
sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com, vangogh@sg.abnamro.com ,
PBAsianClients@sg.abnamro.com, asset.management.sg@sg.abnamro.com,
privatebankingnederland@nl.abnamro.com, info@abnamromarkets.nl,
abnamro.asset.management@nl.abnamro.com, wong_kan_seng@mha.gov.sg
> Protest Letter 1
From: A HJS Visitor (Name is kept confidential)
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
Date: May 1, 2007 8:13 PM EST
Subject: Hussain Paintings on Credit Card
Dear ABN Amro Officials,
I write this in disgust, hearing the news that you have decided to place the images of paintings by M F Hussain, and have also branded him as 'Picasso' of India, as reported by the Times of India:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/TOIonline/Indians_Overseas/A_credit_card_with_M_F_Hussains_art/articleshow/1981521.cms
Are you serious? Are you even aware of how insulting this particular painter has been to the respected and revered figures of Hindus? He has painted Gods and Godesses in very bad taste, including in naked postures, in sexual union, in decapitated shapes and so on? Please dont start the "freedom of artistic expression" arguement - since he has singled out only Hindu figures for such treatment, while he has painted figures of Islam, Christian and his own family well clothed and respectfully. So he has utilized this freedom only to treat Hindu figures selectively.
Also this person has been wanted in several cases by at least 3 different High Courts of India and has been since living abroad and has avoided coming to India.
Unfortunately, he is the painter you want to put "in every pocket" as your press statement said.
I had been a customer of ABN Amro Bank in Holland, and even had an ABN Amro card a couple of years back in India. As a consumer of yours, I write this e-mail to protest your selection of him. I do believe your act is only born out of innocent ignorance and not a deliberate insult. I earnestly request, pray and appeal, please dont promote and encourage this insult to Hindus, and remove his paintings. Why do you not care to put Raja Ravi Verma - the "Rambrandt of India" in every pocket, if I may suggest.
Thank you.
Similar protest letters have been sent by Shri. Yashvant Singh,
Vinay Joshi, Debasis Mishra .
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> Protest Letter 2
From: Gulab Singh
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
Date: May 1, 2007 9:19 PM EST
Subject: Hussain Paintings on Credit Card
A new credit card issued by Dutch bank ABN Amro is enticing art lovers by showcasing the art of M F Hussain.
Regarded as the "Picasso of India," the bank said on Monday that M F Hussain will feature on its platinum card that is available for local Singaporeans and expatriate Indians.
Suhail Chandra, head of consumer clients, said Singapore representatives explained to the artist that they wanted to put "Hussain in everyone's pocket and make sure we can get people to wake up to a Hussain image every time they use" the card.
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I strongly protest this anti-hindu trend of encouraging such stupid people like M F Hussain being sponsoring such credit cards. I am the holder of the ATM card of ABN Amro and I am closing my account within next 7 days time. You must think about continuing your advertisement with the anti-social element like M F Hussain.]
Hope you shall take this into consideration.
Thanking you.
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> Protest Letter 3
From: Uma
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 1, 2007 11:51 PM EST
Subject: Hussain Paintings on your Credit Card
Dear ABN AMRO Officials,
I came to know that you have decided to put Hussain's picture on your credit card. Are you serious? Do you know how Hussain in the name of ART has painted disgusting pictures of Hindu Gods? When he is that Artistic, why couldn't he draw naked pictures of people from Islam or Christianity? No, he drew them fully clothed and Hindu Gods naked. This is an insult to Hindu sentiments. I have atleat 25 friends who are Hindus and who are your customers. They are willing to close account with your bank for this reason. Please stop using Hussain's pictures. He is a coward who can't return to India as there are cases pending against him. He is not an artist. All he promotes is hateful and pronographic content in the name of Art.
Hope you will do the needful!
--
Regards,
Uma
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> Protest Letter 4
From: Ashish
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
Date: May 2, 2007 1:19 PM
Subject: Hussain Paintings on your Credit Card
Dear ABN AMRO Officials,
Are you sure that you can lure Non-resident indian customers by putting MF Hussain's painting on the credit card, i bet this can never be possible and there would surely be a negative impact. Fyi, iam a permanent resident in singapore, i will surely think twice before using ABN AMRO services in the future and will surely advice my friends/colleagues against this.
Please regard this as customer feedback and in the future pls do a proper research before showcasing paintings so that i doesn't hurts any community feelings.
Thanks & Regards,
Ashish
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> Protest Letter 5
From: Hetal Dave
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 2, 2007 9:39 AM
Subject: Credit card with M F Hussain's art
To ABN AMRO Bank,
I would like to strongly protest against this type of card as Mr.Hussain has hurt our sentiments by this paintings.
I have referred to the letter send to you by Hindi Jagruti Samiti and I support their cause.
I am a Hindu staying in Singapore and I request the bank to discourge people who hurt our sentiments by degrading our religion.
Thanks.
Hetal
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> Protest Letter 6
From: Vijayalakshmi G
Date: May 2, 2007 5:53 PM
Subject: 'Promotion' of M.F.Husain by ABN AMRO
To: sgconsumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
We are shocked to know that you are trying to promote the pervert of a painter,M.F.Husain, who has made it his vocation to caricature Hindu Gods and Godesses and make millions by painting them in an obscene manner and auctioninh them in the world market. To call the pervert 'the Piccaso of India' is a terrible insult to not only Piccaso, but also to all self-respecting Hindus and Indians in general, as he has painted even Mother India (Bharat Mata) in the nude! He has painted Mahatma Gandhi, without his head.
This man M.F.Husain is a fugitive from the law of the land. There are arrest warrants against him. Hundreds of FIRs have been filed with the police. The matter is in the law courts now and M.F.Husain is hiding in the UK. It is a crying shame that you have chosen this scoundrel to 'promote' your business prospects. Believe me, it will only be counter-productive for you. No self-respecting Hindu and Indian would have any business dealings with you if you go ahead with your plans to promote this man.
I therefore urge you to give up your self-destructive plan. Leave the perverted painter to his fate for his wicked actions. There are so many other uncontroversial artists in the world, who would be glad to help you. Do respect the sentiments of religious Hindus, who always have respect for people of other religions. Hope you will respond positively to our request.
With regards,
Dr.Vijayalakshmi,family and friends.
Chennai, Tamilnadu
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> Protest Letter 7
From: Magesh Chandramouli
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 2, 2007 5:29 PM
Subject: Protest ABN AMRO Bank for this insult to Hindu community.
Dear ABN AMRO Officials,
We strongly protest against this type of card and request/pray/suggest to immediately take actions against making of such cards with M.F.Hussain who is an anti Hindu and all his work depicts his hatred to Mother India and he has been insulting our hindu deities and mother India in most of his paintings.
Please stop this. I would suggest you can rather choose to put Shri. Vivekananda, Raja Shivaji, Shree Lokamanya Tilak or Dr. Radhakrishanan.
Thank you
Vaishali
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> Protest Letter 8
From: trichur balasubramaniam
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 2, 2007 12:49 PM
Subject: M.F.Hussain's painting on your Credit Cards - Complaint reg
Dear Sirs:
I am extremely pained to note that your credit cards carry a painting by MF Hussain. This painter has caused extreme hurt to the Hindu community all over the world by painting images of our Gods in a most insulting fashion. He has thus denigrated our Gods and as far as the Hindu community is concerned, he is a first-rate villain. You must, therefore, withdraw these cards. I am sure, you are aware that there are criminal cases filed and pending against this man. A Bank of your repute should not indulge in such acts which will cause much pain and anguish to a major community.
If you still persist with the cards, I suspect you may lose the valuable patronage of most of the Hindus.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
T.S. Balasubramaniam
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> Protest Letter 9
From: David Robertson
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 3, 2007 11:05 AM
Subject: M.F Hussain Paintings
Dear Officials
This is to protest the paintings of M.F Hussain as used on your credit card. I am not even an Hindu and I find this paintings obscene and in very bad taste. It is appalling that your bank should endorse these views.
Hussain has exceeded his limits in every way. My request to you would be to withdraw these images from your cards.
Kind Regards
David Robertson
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> Protest Letter 10
From: Rajat Bijur
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 3, 2007 10:44 AM
Subject: Hussain Paintings on Credit Card
Dear ABN Officials
I am writing with regards to the following link
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/TOIonline/Indians_Overseas/A_credit_card_with_M_F_Hussains_art/articleshow/1981521.cms
How can a bank that is purported to be sensitive to all communities and nationalities be so insensitive so as to publish the paintings of a criminal on its credit card? Have you even thought what this could lead to? Dont forget that you have branches in India.......!
A few months ago, a Danish newspaper published cartoons on Islam and the prophet and you must have seen the reaction to it. Did you think that Hindus will sit back and keep quiet when their gods are being denigrated?
I am not only a retail customer of ABN, but also a corporate customer of ABN in the Netherlands, since my organisation has heavy dealings with your bank. I intend to bring this to the notice of the concerned people within my company in order to bring all financial dealings and accounts with your bank to a close.
Hussain is a sex maniac painter who loved to ogle and paint at women who are 40-50 years younger to him. In plain English, its also called paedophilia. I am surprised that to boost your sales you are resorting to patting this criminal on the back.
I am very surprised and rather shocked at your support for MF Hussain. I have already spread word regarding this in my circles. As for me and my company, you can consider that banking relation a historical chapter. There are better European banks to bank with if I am opening accounts in the EU.
With this letter, I once again strongly protest the inclusion of these painting on your credit card and urge you to withdraw the same immediately.
Thanks
Yours truly
RAJAT BIJUR
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> Protest Letter 11
From: gopal mahajan
To: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com,
CC: pravakta@hindujagruti.org
Date: May 3, 2007 10:34 AM
Subject: Protest against M. F. Hussains Painting on your Credit Card
Dear ABN AMRO Officials,
It is evident that painter with narrow mindset can be termed as great painter or so.
M. F. Hussains painting have hurt sentiments of millions Hindus.
Any one associated with M. F. Hussain will not be tolerated by Hindus in any part of the world.
We try our best to protest it.
I request you not to associate H. F. Hussain and India.
"Jai Hind"
Gopal S. Mahajan
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> Protest Letter 12
From: "Reema"
To: service@nl.abnamro.com , mha_feedback@mha.gov.sg
CC: sg.consumerbank@sg.abnamro.com, vangogh@sg.abnamro.com ,
PBAsianClients@sg.abnamro.com, asset.management.sg@sg.abnamro.com,
privatebankingnederland@nl.abnamro.com, info@abnamromarkets.nl,
abnamro.asset.management@nl.abnamro.com, wong_kan_seng@mha.gov.sg
Subject: Concern: Husain on ABN Amro Card
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 12:04:15 -0400
Hello all,
I am a practicing Hindu woman of Indian origin. I read this (*) article on ABN's plan to issue platinum credit cards with Husain's painting on it. You know, in as much as I appreciate ABN's quest to do something different and cool for their platinum credit card branding, I think this is a disastrous idea. And I mean no ill respect to your Marketing folks in saying this.
I am sure you have to be aware of Husain's involvement in drawing Hindu deities, revered by a billion Hindus around the World, in extremely tasteless and compromising postures. In our understanding, Husain deliberately engaged in such acts in order to a) sell his paintings at huge premium (as you know, controversy makes one famous), and b) malign Hindu feelings at large.
To me and millions of other Hindus, Husain is no Picasso. He is simply a man who destiny chose to torment our religious beliefs time and again. ABN giving him business will only make us, practicing Hindus, think that it hardly cares about religious feelings of a billion potential consumers. I must tell you that you are not going to win the respect of Hindu community by soliciting Husain's services. Just as you would not win any points by hiring the journalists of Jyllands-Posten (of Mohammad Cartoon fame) to
paint for your cards.
I hereby urge you to reconsider your plans of using Husain's paintings on millions of your credit cards. It doesn't get you anything other than mistrust of Hindus, and mostly indifference from your Platinum card holders who hardly care to understand what Husain's receding intellect was thinking while wielding that brush.
Hopefully,
Reema.
(*) -
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/273227/1/.html
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> Protest Letter 13
From: Pallavi
Date: May 5, 2007 12:39 AM
Subject: Attention from a Hindu
Hello everyone,
I am really feeling cheated that the bank of so much repute can do this type of shameful act by promoting & encouraging a sex maniac who in the name of art keep on insulting womanhood & most important religion. If he is a artist and a nationalist then why he left India reason being simple as he has cases pending in different courts in India. He is a sadist & takes initiative in porn materials.
I suggest if you want to celebrate your Platinum jubilee then you better depict any important nationalist or leader who had done good for the country not a biased fellow who in the name of art hurting Hindu sentiments.
And one more thing I will add in this context that Mr. Suhail Chandra, head customer clients, ABN Amro that he is an Indian & Hindu can do such thing. I really feel pity for him. However, on behalf of all the Hindus I warn that stop hurting religious sentiments as this will not be benefited for your organization or any one doing such type of work.
Hope you will take the corrective measures & let us inform.
Regards
Pallavi
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> Protest Letter 14
From: Maanoj Rakhit
Dear Sir/Madam:
Please withdraw this Credit Card. He has painted Hindu gods and godesses in nude and showing them having sexual intercourse with animals. Our goddesses are our mother figures. If you are agreeable to honour someone who paints (1) Jesus (2) Mohammed (3) Jesus's mother, (4) Mohammed's mother and (5) YOUR OWN mother in nude and showing them in sexual intercourse with animals, then by all means, please go ahead and honor M F Hussain, or else, please refrain from doing it. If you don't act now then someone will paint your own mother in that position and then you will not be able to do anything about it, for you have today honored a social and communal criminal.
A new credit card issued by Dutch bank ABN AMRO is showcasing the art of M F Hussain. Bank said that "Picasso of India" M F Hussain will feature on its platinum card that is available for local Singaporeans and expatriate Indians.
Hussain has abused Hindu Gods and Goddesses showing them naked and in compromising positions. The Central Home Ministry has directed the Police Commissioners of Mumbai and Delhi to initiate action against the painter M F Hussain. Hussain is wanted in several cases by at least 3 different High Courts of India and has been since living abroad and has avoided coming to India.
For details refer to http://www.hindujagruti.org/activities/campaigns/national/mfhussain-campaign/
Sincerely,
Maanoj Rakhit
Yashodharman's "Arise Arjun - Awaken my Hindu Nation" series
www.yashodharman.org also .com, .net, .info
www.maanojrakhit.com also .org, .net, .info
http://maanojrakhit.blogspot.com
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> Protest Letter 15
From: Rajeev Paripurnan
Subject: Picasso Of India Ha ha
Dear ABN AMRO
I understand that you have put up MF Hussain as your mascot on your new Platinum Card for Singaporeans and Indian expats.
I fail to understand why a bank of great fidelity and impeccable record would want a blemish on someone who has abused the Hindu religion using the veil of artistic freedom.
Would you dare put the "Satanic Verses" cover on your card.
We request you to take his paintings off your cards in Singapore and everywhere else you plan to put it as he is a man who has hurt our religious sentiments.
Regards
Rajeev
Other Protestors notified us -
- Sarita Patel
- Praveen
- Milind Poshe
- Nishikant Patwardhan
- Onkar Vatharkar
- Bhupendra Raichura
- Radhacharan Patel
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