Why are we angry with M F Husain?

I was reading news in theĀ  TOI about how M F Husain is no longer an Indian the other day and saw the four hundred odd comments left by regular Indians who needed to express their opinion. Surprisingly for me, the overwhelming sentiment seems to be an outrage against the painter for depicting Hindu goddesses in the nude, and most are happy to be rid of him. The TOI blogger Ramesh Khazanchi has written a scathing article on how the Freedom of Expression is not unqualified and how Husain will learnĀ  in his new home how precious it is – of course, forgetting in the process that it was India which drove him away.

I myself have to ask the question: “So what if he painted nude goddesses?” I mean what exactly are people protesting? Suppose Husain had painted the nude goddesses and kept them in his room – never displaying them to anyone. Would they have objected then? If so, then what they’re saying is that a person has no right to even think about naked goddesses since a painting is a mere expression of one’s thought.

Husain's Paintings are not being forced on anyone, so what's the big do?
Husain's Paintings are not being forced on anyone, so what's the big do?

But of course, Husain displayed his paintings, and again I have to ask: “So what?” It’s not as if they were forced on people, not as if they were projected onto buildings, not as if they were advertised on TV. In fact, everyone who saw the paintings chose to see them. The question crosses my mind, what kind of insane person goes to view pictures that he or she knows will offend them? And worse, what kind of person chooses to view pictures and then complains about it?

So perhaps people are objecting to the fact that others saw the pictures since one presumes they never saw the paintings themselves (they being so offensive and all). If so, they’re essentially claiming that adults don’t have the strength of mind to know what’s good for them and that someone has to ensure they’re kept in check…Not so different from people like our beloved Pramod Muthalik who feel the need to “protect” India’s culture and force their version of it down people’s throats, saying they don’t know what’s good for them.

In my opinion, people are too quick to put limits on free speech using phrases such as “Freedom of expression is not absolute” or “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can say what you want.” Well, I’m afraid it does! A mature society realizes that words themselves don’t harm anyone and more importantly, one can choose what one wants to see and hear. So if you read or hear something which offends you, you have no one to blame but yourself.

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30 thoughts on “Why are we angry with M F Husain?”

  1. Good post, clearly stated. The bar for limiting expression should be very high, imho. Feelings should not come into it. Yelling fire in a crowded room is unsafe and should not be allowed. Other than that kind of thing, I say, if you don't like it, don't look at it!

    Reply

  2. Fortunately we have good courts that are tough of issues like this. It seems as if the general public however is becoming more and more intolerant. And not just in India too. Everywhere from the UK to Australia, to the US.

    But I have faith that things will become better over time – the eternal optimist! Well, apart from believing we'll do something on climate change that is :D

    Reply

  3. Good post, clearly stated. The bar for limiting expression should be very high, imho. Feelings should not come into it. Yelling fire in a crowded room is unsafe and should not be allowed. Other than that kind of thing, I say, if you don't like it, don't look at it!

    Reply

  4. Fortunately we have good courts that are tough of issues like this. It seems as if the general public however is becoming more and more intolerant. And not just in India too. Everywhere from the UK to Australia, to the US.

    But I have faith that things will become better over time – the eternal optimist! Well, apart from believing we'll do something on climate change that is :D

    Reply

  5. i do not agree , can i ask MF HUSSIAN ,will he draw nude painting of prophet , will he ? i think not , bythe way ,those painting were displayed in public because they were on sale . so my point here is that why do these artist think that they work in isolation ,cant MF HUSSIAN ,do a little reasoning and not draw those paintings ,he could have been spared from harrasment. Offending one religion is not good and should be avoided . I feel that in India ,it is alright to abuse kill the memebers of majority community but of the majority community retaliates then it is the fault of that majority community only , no one sees why the retaliation took place in the first place

    Reply

    • In reply to abhijeet

      Are you saying you actually admire violent persons who want to harm people who draw things of mohammed? You want to make others sink to their level of barbarism? There’s nothing to admire. Husain didn’t pain nude pictures of mohamed for the same reason that one doesn’t go and talk to a rabid dog. There’s nothing noble about the dog, and rabid dogs should be killed – not respected.

      In a free country, why should I care about how others feel about my work? If people want to buy my paintings, let them. If they don’t like my paintings, let them not buy them.

      If you want to take revenge on M S Hussain, then reply in the same way he offended you. Write an article, draw more paintings (!), sing a dirty song about him or whatever, BUT – don’t threaten him with violence.

      Only animals use violence and those who threaten him with it are little more than animals…

      Reply

  6. Bhagwad,

    This article is completely insane.. do you have even basic common sense?

    Does painting such obscene pictures on other religious gods, a freedom of expression?

    i had much respect for you (even if our views differed a lot), and after reading this, i could not believe, you are so insensitive and insane..

    Reply

      • In reply to bhagwad

        i said earlier.. you are insane..

        its a common sense, that one should not offend others.. its common sense, that one should use swear words at others.. its common sense, one should not ridicule others.. its common sense, that one should not abuse others..

        As such its common sense, that one should not paint the gods of other religions, in obscene, obscure way.

        Let that pervert draw anything, in any posture.. but why should he name, this is sita.. this hanuman etc.. and when he could have chosen ordinary figures, why he draws pictures of gods for his pervert expression..

        Freedom of expression, doesnt mean, freedom of offending others..

        Reply

      • In reply to senthil

        You called Bhagwad insane. According to my creed, this is a swear word, abuse and ridicule all put together. And I am offended. You could have chosen anyone – why did you choose this blog?

        Now leave the blogosphere forever. Fair?

        Reply

      • In reply to bhagwad

        A person can be called a jerk for swearing at others. But he/she can’t be punished for it.

        Freedom of expression, doesnt mean, freedom of offending others..

        Yes it does. Or more accurately, no one has the right to not be offended

        Reply

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