The breast-beating over a blasphemous artist

Chaitra Shuddha Dwitiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

By Shachi Rairikar

Since M.F. Hussein has accepted the citizenship of Qatar, the lobbyists are out again making sure not to miss this opportunity to promote their anti-Hindu agenda. Much is being said about the "Freedom of Expression" or the lack of it in India and the blame is being put on the Hindu right.

The same hue and cry did not arise when Taslima Nasreen was not only denied Indian citizenship but also asked to leave the country. Hundreds of thousand Bangladeshi Muslims are illegally residing all over India and have become a pain to our law and order situation. However our secular politicians have been illegally legalising their residential status and providing them ration cards to increase their vote bank. Some secular politicians have openly recommended legalising all the illegal Bangladeshi residents. And our secular media has been supporting the influx of these illegal residents claiming that they provide cheap labour and domestic help (as if we don’t have our own unemployed poor). But we could not provide refuge to one Taslima Nasreen because she had while using her freedom of expression offended the Muslim minority. No cry about freedom of expression came from even the fourth column.

The same freedom of expression was used by a Danish cartoonist to make cartoons of Prophet Mohamed and there were violent protests all over India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had then conveyed great concern to the Denmark government and condemned the publication of cartoons that hurt the sentiments of the Muslim population. No voices were heard in support of the cartoonist or his freedom of expression.

When M.F. Hussein abused his freedom of expression to represent Hindu deities in vulgar fashion, the secular polity, intelligentsia and media expected the Hindu majority to look at this pervert action as artistic expression. After, widespread protests, Hussein could have settled the issue by tendering apology to the Hindus but he did not do so. Instead to make matters worse, in a television interview when Hussein was asked why he had painted Mahatma Gandhi in a dhoti and Hitler naked he had replied that Hitler is worthy of hate and deserves to be portrayed so. When he was asked whether he applied the same logic to the lewd portrayal of Hindu deities, he declined to answer saying that the matter was sub-judice. Any expert on law or even a lay man will know that a simple answer that he did not see Hitler and the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in the same light would not have invited the court’s fury or have gone against him in the case proceedings. But Hussein chose to allow the prevalent common sentiment – that he had deliberately shown insult to the revered Hindu figures – consolidate. It is interesting to note that Hussein has painted Prophet’s daughter Fatima, Mother Teresa, his own mother and daughter, fully clothed and with grace.

They say once bitten, twice shy. But this probably does not apply to an obstinate mind which is bent upon proving his point, however inadequate it might be. Long after the obscene depiction of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Hussein undertook another offending act by depicting Bharat Mata in the nude. Only the likes of the so-called social activist Nafisa Ali could see it as "a female form in all its purity". For the rest of the masses it was an insult of the greatest kind to our motherland.

After widespread protests, number of court cases and a non-bailable arrest warrant, Hussein was forced into self-exile. Hussein left the country stating that "matters are so legally complicated that I have been advised not to return home".

The same UPA government which had asked the Danish government to refrain from publishing stuff that hurt the religious sentiments is now trying to get Hussein back into the country. No words of condemnation for Hussein, no concern for the hurt sentiments of the Hindus. Instead, the home minister is welcoming him home and is promising him complete security. Shashi Tharoor and few others are advocating honouring Hussein with Bharat Ratna "for his dedication and courage to the cultural renaissance of his beloved country". Does denigrating Hindu deities and icons amount to cultural renaissance? It appears that the government is party to this malicious anti-Hindu agenda.

Hussein, in his arrogance, deliberately chose to ignore the sentiments of the majority of Indians. He inflicted wound and even after knowing that the people were hurt, he never cared to make an effort to heal the pain. Now, when he feels deep pain in heart that India rejected him, why should Indians care for him? As you sow, so you reap. Only the secularists with their pre-defined agendas, loyalties (?) and motivations (?) can mourn for the loss of Hussein. For the majority it is hard to find a reason to sympathise with him. The most common reaction to Hussein’s exit is "Good riddance to bad rubbish".

Hussein chose freedom of expression over his country and his people. He chose to give up his motherland to enjoy complete freedom. Hussein says that he is happy in Qatar, enjoys complete freedom and no one controls his freedom of expression there. So be it but it would be interesting to see the outcome if he utilises his new found freedom to depict any of the Quranic figures or the Qatar royalty with the same offensive artistic expression which he had used for the Hindu deities.
 
Source: Organiser.org

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