Protesting Husain’s felicitation
by Maharashtra Governor on 2 February 2006

M. F. Husain, the internationally reputed painter is going to be felicitated with the prestigious Roopdhar 2006 honour by the Bombay Art Society, at the hands of Hon. Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. S.M. Krishna on 2 February 2006.

Husain has perpetrated repeated denigration of Hindu deities, despite the Hindus bringing the denigration to his notice and protesting against it on several occasions. There are many reasons why felicitation of Husain at the hands of the honourable Governor is blatant insensitivity towards Hindu sentiment :

  • Respect for religious sentiments by all is a basic constitutional right of every citizen of India. Husain has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus repeatedly, despite being made aware of it on various occasions. Through the signature protest campaign on Sanatan Sanstha’s website itself, several letters have been written to Husain, the Hon. Chief Secretary and Hon. Governor of Maharashtra, Goa, and many other states of India, and to the Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. President of India.

  • Several protestors have submitted memorandums and to date, filed over 180 police complaints, demanding strict legal action against Husain for hurting their religious sentiments through his paintings.

  • When the religious sentiments of Muslims were allegedly hurt, the Indian government has shown high sensitivity by taking prompt proactive action like banning 'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie even before it was released in India, banning the book by Taslima Nasreen, banning the hinduunity.org site, etc. The same privilege is not extended to the majority Hindu citizens. We demand that the government similarly protect the constitutional right of Hindus, by taking prompt and severe action against Husain and his derogatory paintings.

  • The Hon. Indian President’s replies, to written complaints to him against Husain’s paintings, mention that the President has taken cognisance of the letters and has forwarded them to the Home Ministry for appropriate action. In that case, the scheduled “Roopdhar” felicitation of Husain by the Governor in his official capacity amounts to adding insult to injury.

Sanatan Sanstha, along with many Hindu organisations and thousands of Hindus, has been agitating through peaceful and legitimate means for the past two and a half months against Husain’s denigration of Hindu deities. We are trying to put an end to this denigration by approaching the Indian Police, administration and government, to no avail.

Dear reader,
Your active participation in protesting this felicitation is an opportunity to make the sentiment of seekers and Hindus in particular, heard and felt. We appeal to you to inundate the Governor and the Chairman of the Bombay Art Society with emails, to make them aware of Husain’s callous paintings, and to compel them to stop his felicitation. (While doing so, kindly take care to avoid spamming.)

Governor of Maharashtra:
Address: Rajbhavan, Mumbai
Telephone: 23632660 / 23670878
Email: rajbhavan@maharashtra.gov.in

Mr. Vijay Raut, Chairman, Bombay Art Society:
Telephone: 9820504340

Bombay Art Society:
Telephone: (022) 220444058

We request you to inform your friends and acquaintances, who you feel ought to know about this protest, and write to all the authorities that you feel will make a difference.

On behalf of Sanatan Sanstha,
Bhavna Shinde
www.sanatan.org