The Hindu : New Delhi News : Husain’s exhibition re-opens

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Monday, Dec 24, 2007
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New Delhi

Husain’s exhibition re-opens

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: After remaining closed for a day on Saturday following alleged threats by representatives of some Hindu fundamentalist outfits, India International Centre here re-opened for viewing of M. F. Husain’s exhibition “India in the Era of Mughals” again on Sunday.

Re-opened amid tight security, the exhibition features a display of 20 graphical prints of Husain’s paintings which are a tribute to the history of Indian cinema inspired by K. Asif’s legendary film Mughal-e-Azam.

The exhibition that opened on December 17 is the first major exhibition of Husain’s works in Delhi in a long time.

Husain’s portrayal of Hindu Goddesses had invited the wrath of Sangh Parivar and the IIC and exhibition curator Dolly Narang had suspended the show for a day on Saturday following calls and letters on Friday from Hindu organisations in Yavatmal, Nasik and Pune, threatening the organiser to either discontinue the exhibition or face dire consequences.

Taking stock of the situation, the police were also informed about the threat.

However after a meeting of the IIC Board of Directors and Ms. Narang on Saturday afternoon, it was decided to go ahead with the exhibition on Sunday. The police were also informed about the threat.

No case registered

According to IIC Secretary Commodore K. N. Venugopal, the management did not apprehend trouble and the exhibition will continue as scheduled till Friday. The police said no case has been registered as yet. “Some policemen are deployed around the venue as a precautionary measure,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) I. B. Rani.

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