HJS Protests Husain and Tyeb at Saffronart’s auction

Mumbai : Saffronart.com had arranged on 6th and 7th June 2007 an online auction Modern Indian Art Auction of paintings of various painters including M.F. Hussain and Tyeb Mehta. It may be recalled that last year when Saffronart.com had organised auction of paintings of M.F. Husain, the  Hindu Janajaruti Samiti then had protested  against the gallery for arranging auction of M.F. Husain’s paintings on 10 and 11 May 2006 and a police complaint was lodged. At that time the gallery had assured us that they would not hold exhibition of disputed and accused painter again. However the gallery in spite of their previous assurance arranged the exhibition of paintings of M.F. Husain . The Samiti has protested and condemned this act of  Saffronart gallery. Also hundreds of Hindus have sent protest letters to them through online campaign launched on www.hindujagruti.org
 
Further the auction contains painting of Kali Mata drawn by Tyeb Mehta.which is nude and shown as symbol of violence, hence hurting religious feelings of crores of Hindus.The Samiti has also condemned this act of the art gallery. A copy of the protest letter has been forwarded to Mumbai police also.

See letter below.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti 
email : [email protected]  website : www.hindujagruti.org

Date : 7th June 2007

Saffron Art Pvt. Ltd.
Industry Manor, 3rd Floor
Prabhadevi
Mumbai 400 025
India,

Sub: Protest against Online auction by Saffron Art gallery.

This refers to news item on moneycontrol.com and www.hindujagruti.org . It is unfortunate that your art gallery has arranged on 6th and 7th June 2007 an online auction of paintings of various painters including M.F.Hussain and Tyeb Mehta.

Please note that  Hindu Janajaruti Samiti had protested on 10 and 11 May 2006 against your gallery for arranging auction of M.F.Hussain’s paintings and a police complaint was lodged. At that time your gallery had assured us that you would not hold exhibition of disputed and accused painter. However your gallery is arranging the exhibition as stated above. Hence we hereby protest and condemn the act of saffronart gallery. Also hundreds of Hindus have sent protest letters to you through online campaign launched on www.hindujagruti.org 

Further please note that you arranged auction of a painting of Kali Mata drawn by Tyeb Mehta. This painting is nude and shown as symbol of violence etc., hence hurting religious feelings of crores of Hindus. This is an offence under section 295A of our constitution.

Please note that in spite of your promise of not holding the exhibition of M.F. Hussain’s paintings and other such paintings hurting religious feelings, you are purposely holding such exhibitions and hurting our feelings.

In view of above you are requested not to hold such exhibitions of paintings and reply us accordingly at the earliest.

Regards,

Shivaji Vatkar (Mobile No. 09322 533 595)
Madhav Deshpande. (Mobile No.  932432 5932)
For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti 

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• Defamations by Paintings
• Why we should stop defamation?
• MF Hussain’s Hypocrisy