An Artist in Exile Tests India’s Democratic Ideals

MF Husain may be known to many Indians as a painter and an artist. But very few realize that he is currently living in Dubai for fear that his life may be in danger for doing what he is famous for. He was forced out of the country by some Hindu nationalist parties because he painted some Hindu Goddesses, sometimes portraying them nude.

Below is an exerpt of an article printed in the NY Times.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of expression has frequently, and by some accounts, increasingly, come under fire in India, as the country tries to balance the dictates of its secular democracy with the easily inflamed religious and ethnic passions of its multitudes.

The result is a strange anomaly in a nation known for its vibrant, freewheeling political culture. The government is compelled to ensure respect for India’s diversity and at the same time prevent one group from pouncing on another for a perceived offense.

The rise of an intense brand of identity politics, with India’s many communities mobilizing for political power, has intensified the problem. An accusation that a piece of art or writing is offensive is an easy way to whip up the sentiments of a particular caste, faith or tribe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a country with such a rich diversity, in terms of its religions, culture and even the languages that we speak, and for a country which aspires to be one of the superpowers in the world, we have lot of work to do. If history is any guide, it is these petty differences in religions, beliefs, and views that were exploited by the British which resulted in them ruling us for almost 150 years. Its been almost 60 years since we won independence from the British and we wrote our own constitution. which provides us with a fundamental right of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. It is high time that we stand up for these rights. Otherwise what is the difference between a secular India and some of the Islamic fundamentals who demonstrated against the publication of images of Prophet Muhammad in a Danish Newspaper.

Read the complete NY Times article on MF Husain