The acts of cultural vandalism by VHP, RSS, SHIV SENA, Talibans and by so called Patriotic/Nationalist people – is responsible for the destruction of the giant Bamiyan Buddhas, the demolition of Babari Mosque, the killing of Graham Steins and the exile of Taslima Nasrin.
Such vandalism have devastating effect on culture and the artistic expressions. This is the same hatred that has burnt countless libraries, films, music tapes, books, and paintings.
By any chance such fanatics come to power they become dictators and they have jailed filmmakers, musicians, painters, and sculptors all over the world.
The art community is committing biggest mistake by keeping silent in India.
[Note: all vandals and goons are extension of political parties, they have goonda wings, well trained for committing crimes, destroying public properties, raping and killing people whenever they are ordered by their bosses. We have seen them in action in 1984 and in 2002.]
The Times Of India report-
AHMEDABAD: Vishwa Hindu Parishad members vandalized an art gallery in Ahmedabad on Friday for exhibiting Pakistani artists’ paintings. The attack, VHP later said, was to protest against killing of Indian jawans by Pakistani forces at the border in Kashmir.
About 15 VHP members stormed ‘The Gallery’ at Amdavad ni Gufa around 4.15 pm and damaged 30 paintings after pulling the frames off the walls. The exhibition had paintings of 11 artists from Pakistan and six from India. Police reached the spot after the vandals had left but the organizers were reluctant to file a complaint till late evening.
There were no signs that the police wished to be pro-active in the case which was captured live by some local channels. Manoj Ninama, deputy commissioner of police, told TOI that they have not got any names of the vandals.
Ravindra Maradia, curator of International Creative Art Centre, who had brought the show ‘An Art Affair’ from Mumbai to Ahmedabad for a week, said “what has happened, has happened”. He said that the paintings were worth nearly Rs 10 lakh.
General secretary of VHP Ranchod Bharwad said, “On one hand Pakistani soldiers are killing our jawans and spewing venom against India. Why should we allow Pakistani artists to display and sell their art here?”
One of the foremost painters of Pakistan, often called the ‘MF Hussain of Pakistan’, Mansoor Rahi’s works were on display. He told TOI over phone, “We are sad but this wouldn’t deter the artists from either country who will continue to share our works.”
Irfan Gul Dahri, another acclaimed painter whose works were vandalized, said, “Such incidents have happened before and will continue. I am sure like me, every other painter who participated in this exhibition will continue to have such cultural interactions and exchanges, no matter what. These are minor challenges.”
Hillele 