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An individual Hindu’s concern is not the collective concern of Hindu society

Delhi Art Gallery (DAG)’s, shocking justification for displaying Hindu-hater M F Hussain’s controversial art

Adding insult to injury, they say – “Expand your brain to understand art”

New Delhi – “The concern of one person objecting to M F Hussain’s offensive paintings cannot be considered the concern of the entire Hindu community,” argued advocate Makarand Adkar, representing the Delhi Art Gallery, before the Delhi High Court. A few months ago, the gallery hosted an exhibition that included objectionable paintings of Hindu Deities by M F Hussain. Advocate Amita Sachdeva had filed a petition against this exhibition and demanded criminal charges be filed against the gallery. The hearing was underway when the gallery’s advocate presented his arguments.

Advocate Adkar made the following claims,

1. The exhibition ran for 30 days and was visited by thousands. No one other than the petitioner (Adv Amita Sachdeva) raised objections. Her concern cannot be seen as that of the entire Hindu community. “Expand your brain to understand art.” (This kind of argument is made only because Hindus are tolerant. If a different religion were involved, would the person making this argument still have their brain intact ? – Editor)
2. Hussain had previously created nude depictions of Deities. Many complaints had been filed against him, but he never apologised. (Though he did not apologize, Hussain eventually had to flee the country and live in Qatar, where he died. That too is part of history – Editor) This is not the right way to engage with Sanatan Dharma. (Does the Delhi Art Gallery think it is appropriate to insult the sacred symbols of Sanatan Dharma ? – Editor) At this point, Justice Das asked whether any form of censorship applies within the boundaries of an art gallery.

3. Advocate Adkar replied that the law imposes self-censorship. One can make obscene art and keep it in a bag, but the problem arises when it is publicly displayed. “I am saying, leave my gods (Hindu Deities) alone. Can we assume that the person who hung the painting on the wall did not know the consequences ?”

Following this, Justice Das postponed the hearing to April 21.

What is the case about ?

On 4th December, 2024, an exhibition of M F Hussain’s paintings, including objectionable ones, was held at the Delhi Art Gallery in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Advocate Amita Sachdeva filed a complaint with the Police. Upon learning of the complaint, the gallery removed the offensive paintings and claimed they had never been displayed. Later, Sachdeva filed a petition in the Patiala House Court, which rejected the request to file criminal charges but ordered the seizure of the objectionable paintings. Now, an appeal has been filed in the Delhi High Court demanding criminal charges be registered.

Editorial Perspectives

Such arrogant and Hinduphobic art galleries must be banned. How do they even dare to insult Hindu Deities while living in a Hindu-majority country and then criticise Hindus for objecting ?

Hindus are tolerant and law-abiding, so they use legal means to protest. But if it had been Muslims and their religious sentiments were hurt, would this gallery still be standing ? The officials would’ve received threats of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda.

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