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October 23, 1998
ELECTIONS '98
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How Readers responded to Ashwin Mahesh's earlier columns
Date sent: Fri, 09 Oct 1998 18:22:51 -0500
India and Pakistan, instead of solving their perennial problems are washing their dirty linen at international fora. And these are the two countries that once shared a civilisation on the banks of the Indus. It's unfortunate that people don't learn from history. It looks like both the countries will enter a period of darkness like the Holy Roman Empire did during the middle of the last millennium. By transferring the blame to another country, irrespective of ground realities, the Indian society is slowly drawing itself away from mainstream problems, as it happened when Harshavardhana ruled in northern India. Again, this was in the last millennium. In my eyes, history seems to be repeating itself. Hopefully, there will be no Mahmuds of Ghazni to take advantage. India's economic might is often compared to that of China. Both civilisations had their day in the sun but India seems to have lost the edge fairly early. China made headway long ago because it was fundamentally strong. The Chinese evolved the examination system to elect people to high office. Imagine our Laloos and Mulayams sitting in an exam hall trying to answer questions honestly. The feudal system blew into India from Europe, while the powerful Tang, Sung and Kin dynasties fuelled the growth of the Chinese. History has taught us that the internal strength that India lacked was responsible for prostrating itself before various foreign powers. The reason I'm citing the case of our northern neighbour is that despite a population of 1.2 billion, about 95 per cent of the country's population has access to basic sanitation facilities; only about 17 per cent of India's population enjoys such privileges. What can be done to solve the problem in India? Where do we start? The country needs about 545 able administrators who are also willing to represent the government. That's not a lot. I personally feel I have the determination to make a change. But it is irritating that I lack the authority to do so. I am sure there are easily 544 more people thinking along the same lines. I have read many articles on Rediff about correcting the Indian system. If we do not act, then our descendants will be facing the same problems, for years to come. Ramsundar Lakshminarayanan
Date sent: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 17:00:07 -0400
It is indeed an eloquent testimony to the lack of visionary leadership in the subcontinent. But then we get the leaders we deserve. Clearly, the caste wars in India are extracting a price: The majority of the electorate is too preoccupied with day-to-day economic and social concerns to worry about the long or medium-term picture. Various caste subgroups exercise their power by electing yet another representative of a splinter group. Most of these representatives are also representatives of the people: Most of us are petty and uneducated and hence unable -- or selfishly unwilling -- to see through the tricks played by the politicians for the past 50 years. The solution is education, provided by unselfish non-governmental organisations. Perhaps the slow liberalisation of the economy will create enough wealth to ensure that more people can get quality education. One also hopes that, by some stroke of luck, people on both sides of the border will recognise that it is a slow dance of death we are engaged in. Perhaps, both governments will have the sanity and confidence to negotiate. The people of both countries should begin exchanges at all levels so that a climate of trust and understanding is created. Intellectuals on both sides too should be involved in a serious dialogue. How about Rediff taking up this effort? Thanks for letting me vent. K Shashi Kant
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 15:38:21 -0700
By these arguments the author seems to be trashing a vast body of ancient art, depicting nudes of all hues. These are jumbled thought that the writer, rather outrageously, tries to palm off as scientific outlook.
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 23:44:41 EDT
In any vibrant democracy, the law guards against the abuse of rights in the name of freedom of expression. Without these safeguards, no true expression can be protected. This eliminates the need of fatwas if someone dares to hurt religious feelings in the name of free expression or art. It must be taken into account that Husain's crime is more serious than Rushdie's because Rushdie, being of same religion, could be adequately punished by being ostracised and boycotted. Not Husain though. Husain has deliberately annoyed millions of people in the garb of freedom of expression, knowing there are no safeguards in a developing democracy and the defence will come from the perverts in the victim society itself. Rasik Sanghvi
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 17:17:06 -0700
A well-thought-out analysis. This kind of article was long due, if only to show the shallowness of Husain's defenders.
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 22:02:45 -0300
It's good to read some sensible writing by Ashwin after a long time -- actually for the first time.
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 18:20:37 -0700
With regards to Mahesh's article, I would like to make a few points: There is no doubt that the nude painting of Saraswati by M F Husain is offensive to Hindus. But to say it is not a piece of art is a different matter. If that were the case, Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ, the Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie and Jesus Christ Superstar wouldn't be rated as pieces of art. Art cannot wait for or take into consideration the approval of the general populace. It is a form of expression of the human spirit and is in its best form when it is unrestrained. Since when was it decided that a vote would decide that a painting is a piece of art or not? How about deciding the artistic validity of the Khajuraho sculptures through a vote? How about deciding the validity of Vincent Van Gogh's Irises as a piece of art through a vote. Let us not make the mistake of so many societies that have throttled their finest thinkers and philosophers. I do not imply that Husain is one of India's greatest artists. The point is, should a mob decide what art is? There is a point that could do with some explaining. Mahesh confesses that he does not understand what art is and the tenor of his tone suggests that he couldn't care less. So, what gives him the right to say that the painting is not a work of art? Hitler's oratory should be preserved in its entirety for all eternity. Societies that don't learn the lessons of history are condemned to relive them. Hitler was clearly a mistake. Let it also not be forgotten that it was an overwhelming democratic mandate that brought him to power. Let all men to come learn the true power and scope of the word. Is it anybody's case that ridding the world of all its copies of Mein Kampf will reduce the chance of another Hitler sprouting? And since when did the society have the right to decide that reading Hitler's speeches was bad for me? That decision is mine and solely mine. No man or government shall usurp that right. Chandrasekhar Annamaneni
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 10:35:08 -0600
I am glad someone out there cares to think logically! Srinivas
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 10:40:35 -0700
I wonder whether columnists sometime write such nonsense as you did because they mean it or because they just have to write something provocative every week. Anyway, I will not get into an analysis of your reasons to write this column, but get to the point itself. Firstly, poets and artists tend to see the world in a slightly different way than the "80 per cent" you are so obsessed with. I don't know whether democracy or rather mobocracy should have any place in the area of art and literature. In your analysis of the raison d'etre for the controversial painting, you forget that painting a nude is not for the perverse pleasure of exposing human form, but to present a certain perspective. If we, who cannot understand art, try to define and restrict it to our commonplace and uninformed 'sensibilities', we will not only be hurting art but also hurting ourselves by stopping new ideas from developing. That's all about artistic licence. Now about Hinduism. For brevity, I will recommend you to Nirad Choudhuri's Hinduism so that you get a sense of the place of sexuality in our religion. Most of the RSS-VHP goons and their sympathisers, I am sure, have never bothered to reflect upon the faith they so vigorously protect. As far as the claim that since other religions would have thought of it as an insult, we should do so too, well, I really do not know whether such comments do justice to our faith at all. What I really find surprising is the fact that one should think a nude image is "insulting" to a god. The anthropomorphic deities of the Hindu pantheon are supposed to possess the same anatomy as ourselves. Many idols are sculpted naked and clothed thereafter. Do you find insulting the image of Kali, who is often in the nude? Finally, a hymn regularly sung in praise of Saraswati during Saraswati puja goes like this: "...Kuchajuga shobhito mukuta haare...". The word kuchajuga incidentally refers to the breasts. Don't you find that insulting to our divine mother? If not, why not? If you do, do you plan to ban that rhyme from future pujas? Rajesh Chakrabarti
Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 14:20:38 -0400
After reading the articles of Saisuresh and Ashwin Mahesh, I have something to say -- as an Indian as well as an artist. Art in any form is unique in its very creation. That speciality of which I'm talking can be understood completely only by its creator, not by anybody else, however perceptive he or she be. What we perceive is also as unique as we are, and we never can perceive the real theme the artist wants to convey. Nudity can never be outrageous in its very form but, it is in the theme or portrayal it is outrageous. Nude portraits can be sensual as well be provocative -- but mostly depends on the artist's theme and, of course, what we perceive as an individual. So to know really about Husain's nude paintings, one should ask the artist what he wanted to portray. Was he successful in expressing his theme or not? Without doing this, we cannot argue on this issue beyond merely expressing our own views. The theme Husain wanted to portray and his success in portrayal really matters before we decide the good and bad of the matter. Ravi |
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