Comments on: MF Husain: Resolving the Controversy http://folks.co.in/2010/01/mf-husain-resolving-the-controversy/ An Online Apolitical Magazine Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:02:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dipanjan Basu http://folks.co.in/2010/01/mf-husain-resolving-the-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 Dipanjan Basu Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:44:11 +0000 http://folks.co.in/?p=1838#comment-1141 Dear Dr. Katagade, I respect your opinion and agree with the fact that we, as human beings and perhaps particularly as Indians, should be tolerant. I take great pride in doing that and have been doing so thus far. However, I have started thinking a little bit differently of late. I reside in the United States and, whereas it has helped me immensely in this society (in work and in social gathering) by declaring myself Indian because Americans appreciate our spiritual heritage, culture and our "brains", they do see us as an extremely "passive" nation who do not even know how to defend themselves. That hurts! Look what is going on with our protests to Australia or Pakistan. It is so passive! It may be "diplomatic" (I do believe that diplomacy has an important role to play) but I am not sure that it is working. At the end of the day, we, the Indians, suffer and no one else cares about us. Thus, I believe we should be more aggressive than we fundamentally are. That, however, does not mean we have to break laws or civil liberties or good human values. There is a room for controlled aggression within the bounds of civility. That is what I suggested. An eye for an eye would be if Hindu artists draw paintings related to Islam that is offensive in reply to Mr. Hussain's act. I am not advocating that. At the same time, I do not believe that we should just let Mr. Hussain go without paying adequate price for his unacceptable act. In my opinion, simply saying a "sorry" and going on with life is not acceptable. Mr. Hussain must show genuine regards for Indian society he wants to be called an Indian. This is, again, my opinion. Best Regards, Dipanjan Basu Dear Dr. Katagade,

I respect your opinion and agree with the fact that we, as human beings and perhaps particularly as Indians, should be tolerant. I take great pride in doing that and have been doing so thus far. However, I have started thinking a little bit differently of late. I reside in the United States and, whereas it has helped me immensely in this society (in work and in social gathering) by declaring myself Indian because Americans appreciate our spiritual heritage, culture and our “brains”, they do see us as an extremely “passive” nation who do not even know how to defend themselves. That hurts!

Look what is going on with our protests to Australia or Pakistan. It is so passive! It may be “diplomatic” (I do believe that diplomacy has an important role to play) but I am not sure that it is working. At the end of the day, we, the Indians, suffer and no one else cares about us. Thus, I believe we should be more aggressive than we fundamentally are. That, however, does not mean we have to break laws or civil liberties or good human values. There is a room for controlled aggression within the bounds of civility. That is what I suggested. An eye for an eye would be if Hindu artists draw paintings related to Islam that is offensive in reply to Mr. Hussain’s act. I am not advocating that. At the same time, I do not believe that we should just let Mr. Hussain go without paying adequate price for his unacceptable act. In my opinion, simply saying a “sorry” and going on with life is not acceptable. Mr. Hussain must show genuine regards for Indian society he wants to be called an Indian. This is, again, my opinion.

Best Regards,

Dipanjan Basu

]]> By: Dr. Vidyut Katagade http://folks.co.in/2010/01/mf-husain-resolving-the-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-1051 Dr. Vidyut Katagade Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:45:28 +0000 http://folks.co.in/?p=1838#comment-1051 Respected Shri Basu, You are welcome to have and promote your views on what you think CULTURE, RELIGION and ESTHETICS should amount to. But we as human beings have come further than those who think (and often ACT) with 'A HAND FOR A HAND and AN EYE FOR AN EYE form of justice. I would request you NOT to go on that RETROGRADE PATH if you feel an iota of pride for what being tolerant is all about. At least IT IS NOT A CHOICE of the WEAK in my humble opinion. Abusing the opponent with epithet involving his mother or sister doesn't present anyone on a MORALLY STRONGER/ HIGHER ground. I would go NO further to turn your individual opinion in favour of my point of view. -vidyut Respected Shri Basu,
You are welcome to have and promote your views on what you think CULTURE, RELIGION and ESTHETICS should amount to. But we as human beings have come further than those who think (and often ACT) with ‘A HAND FOR A HAND and AN EYE FOR AN EYE form of justice. I would request you NOT to go on that RETROGRADE PATH if you feel an iota of pride for what being tolerant is all about. At least IT IS NOT A CHOICE of the WEAK in my humble opinion.
Abusing the opponent with epithet involving his mother or sister doesn’t present anyone on a MORALLY STRONGER/ HIGHER ground.
I would go NO further to turn your individual opinion in favour of my point of view.

-vidyut

]]> By: Dipanjan Basu http://folks.co.in/2010/01/mf-husain-resolving-the-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 Dipanjan Basu Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:44:51 +0000 http://folks.co.in/?p=1838#comment-1029 "Indians aren’t fanatics like Islamists." --- very true. And, "Indians" include Muslims as well. However, I believe the controversy on Hussain is a Hindu propaganda and rightly so because nudity, although an inherent part of ancient Indian (Hindu) culture (perhaps??), was depicted rather naturally in the sculptures and not ostentatiously as was done by Hussain. It just shows lack of proper "culture" on the part of Hussain to have drawn nude pictures of Hindu Goddess. If some one draws a nude picture of Prophet Muhammad, then I am not sure that Hussain would be able to accept it as an "artist's work". Finally, I differ on the final conclusions of the author. We Indians (that includes Muslims, I believe) are too passive to the extent foreigners see that as our weakness. We have portrayed Gandhi as our father and have downgraded the contributions of the likes of Bhagat Singh and Netaji in our freedom struggle. This is simply wrong! Whereas we are peace loving, rather spiritual minded and quite forgiving, there should be a clear line drawn between what is acceptable and what is not. A simple apology for Hussain is just not acceptable. He must "act" sorry and carry the integrated "Indian" ethos without hurting any particular religion. “Indians aren’t fanatics like Islamists.” — very true. And, “Indians” include Muslims as well. However, I believe the controversy on Hussain is a Hindu propaganda and rightly so because nudity, although an inherent part of ancient Indian (Hindu) culture (perhaps??), was depicted rather naturally in the sculptures and not ostentatiously as was done by Hussain. It just shows lack of proper “culture” on the part of Hussain to have drawn nude pictures of Hindu Goddess. If some one draws a nude picture of Prophet Muhammad, then I am not sure that Hussain would be able to accept it as an “artist’s work”.

Finally, I differ on the final conclusions of the author. We Indians (that includes Muslims, I believe) are too passive to the extent foreigners see that as our weakness. We have portrayed Gandhi as our father and have downgraded the contributions of the likes of Bhagat Singh and Netaji in our freedom struggle. This is simply wrong! Whereas we are peace loving, rather spiritual minded and quite forgiving, there should be a clear line drawn between what is acceptable and what is not. A simple apology for Hussain is just not acceptable. He must “act” sorry and carry the integrated “Indian” ethos without hurting any particular religion.

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