The Hindu : New Delhi News : Husain works vandalised

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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New Delhi

Husain works vandalised

Devesh K. Pandey

Miscreants smash printed works, furniture at venue

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

The scene after miscreants went on the rampage at an exhibition of works by M.F. Husain in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: Activists claming to be members of a little known outfit called the “Shri Ram Sena” vandalised an exhibition showcasing the printed works of noted painter M.F. Husain at Vithal Bhai Patel House here on Sunday. The exhibition was organised by SAHMAT as a symbolic protest against exclusion of the artist’s works at the India Art Summit at Pragati Maidan.

It all happened around 3.30 p.m. when two SAHMAT members were viewing a film by Husain on television at the venue. “I saw some 10 people coming towards the pandal. Taking them to be visitors and thinking that they might need help, I just got up from the chair. Suddenly they began lifting chairs and throwing them around,” said Anil Chandra, who has been associated with SAHMAT for about two decades.

9 frames damaged

Mr. Chandra said the men smashed the frames of the prints and photographs of Husain’s works and overturned the television set. In all, nine frames were damaged. “Personnel of a television channel who accompanied them to the pandal recorded the entire act. The attackers can be identified from the footage,” he said, adding that they raised anti-Husain slogans and threw pamphlets issuing threats.

Another SAHMAT member, Santosh Sharma, said: “They did not attack us. Before help could arrive, they ran away like cowards.”

Stating that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) had been informed about the exhibition on August 20, Ram Rahman of SAHMAT said no security was provided. “The exhibition will be remounted on Monday and we dare them to attack again,” said Mr. Rahman. Another SAHMAT member blamed the attack on communal forces that wanted to divide the country.

SAHMAT had organised the three-day “Husain Art Summit” as a mark of protest against exclusion of Husain’s works from the India Art Summit, supported by the Union Culture Ministry, at Pragati Maidan.

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