Wake up call for the art brigade

At a time when the art market in the country is booming and the art fraternity should have every reason to be happy with the soaring prices, I feel very sad to say that it’s the moral policing that is adversely affecting them (the art brigade). In fact, in Mumbai, it has gone beyond a joke. It’s extremely disturbing to see works of an artist like MF

Husain being withdrawn from exhibitions and even charity auctions. Even the recently held charity auction organised by an NGO saw the same happen.

While I didn’t see the work at the auction, I did take a look at it some ten days before the event when I was in London. I even met Husain then. I can confidently say that the painting in question was completely innocuous with no religious connotations whatsoever.

All the same, it is understandable why the work had to be removed at the last minute. For I could see the heightened security and element of threat and risk involved; the organisers had no option really.

It’s our government that needs to give up on this ‘military’ approach; freedom is very important for any kind of growth and artistic freedom is part of this broader concept of freedom. Even the Chandramohan controversy was a tragic one. I just wish we could put an end to all this.