IS THERE SOMETHING LIKE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM?

Even as the media-generated debate on the “national shame” over Maqbool Firdaus Husain’s acquisition of Qatar nationality and the artistic freedom is on, there were two incidents, both violent, one in Karnataka and the other in Andhra Pradesh. They may be a coincidence, but the stark contrast in the attitude of defenders of artistic freedom cannot be overlooked.

A national daily carried on its front page a report quoting eminent artists that it (self-imposed exile of Husain) was a “national shame”. The artists implied that those who were responsible for driving away Husain out of the country were not punished. Interestingly, on the same day, the same daily carried another report from Khammam on the protest by Muslims against the publication of a book “Crescent over the world – is a boon or the silent holocaust”. Hundreds of Muslim youth staged violent demonstrations stating that the contents of the book hurt their beliefs and sentiments. The book is reported to have contained articles from Satanic Verses and Taslima Nasreen’s Lajja.

Responding to the incident, chief minister ordered the arrest of the author of the book. He informed the state Assembly that soon after it came to the notice of the government, books were seized, the author arrested and a case was booked.
The second incident was in Shimoga and Hassan two days later. Muslim organizations protested against the publication of an article written by Taslima Nasreen in a local daily on burqa. The protestors used petrol bombs and when the situation went out of control, Police had to open fire killing two persons. Mediamen were also attacked. According to the protestors, the article was against the religious sentiments of the minority community.

What happened the world over when a Danish daily published cartoons caricaturing the Prophet is part of history. Indian was no exception. There was a massive rally in Mumbai in protest against the cartoons which many rallyists might not have seen. A minister in UP government announced a reward for those who could get the head of the Danish cartoonist. After all, he was only following the model of Khomeini of Iran for issuing fatwa against Salman Rushdie.

Now, the question is this. Are there two sets of artistic and literary freedom, one for the majority community and the second for the minority community? Do the religious sensibilities and sentiments also differ between the communities?
Many Islamic scholars have opined that Burqa is not a must for all Muslim women. When fanatics objected to the photo identity card for Muslim women, Election Commission ruled out the objection. France has imposed a ban on veil in public places. What was the objection for the Muslim organizations in Karnataka? Does Taslima not have literary freedom to express her views on certain practices of a community? Where are the defenders of freedom of expression?

We are talking about the exile of Husain? But what was the fate of Rushdie? He had to be in hiding for years to escape from the “executioners” of Khomeini. How did we treat Taslima who sought asylum in India? She was hounded out of West Bengal and she had to be in hiding for sometime. Was it not a shame?

Coming to artistic freedom, is it an absolute freedom? Is there absolute freedom in any democratic society? The defenders of absolute artistic freedom cite two points. This is the land of Kama sutra, so nothing can be obscene. Second, when our temples have nude figures, nudity is part of our cultural tradition. So, what is wrong with Husain’s nudity and why should it offend the sentiments of Hindus when Husain paints gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon in nude? First of all, those Husain backers should know that the temple sculptors were faceless people. Do we know the names of those sculptors who sculpted nude figures? They did not do it for money or fame or to assert their freedom. Temples were not mere centres of worship. They were symbols depicting all facets of life including all art forms. So, nudity was no taboo. If Husain could construct temples out of pure devotion, he could have paintings like we have in Ajanta or Tanjore embracing all aspects of life including nudity. But he can’t be selective.

What the defenders of Husain should also understand is that if someone writes a modern version of Kama sutra today, he can be booked under the law for pornography. That is what the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry did when it issued notices to television channels under the Cable Television Act which prohibits obscenity, on the Sachh ka Saamna episode. The ministry asked the channel to ensure that the “Indian ethos” is kept in mind. Even the producers of Big Boss-3 were reprimanded for showing content which was against good taste and decency. But the Ministry overlooks “Indian ethos” when it comes to Husain.

A school book in one of the North eastern states had the picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer mug in another. The book was immediately banned and case was registered against the publisher. But any action against Husain for offending the sensibilities of a community is violation of his artistic freedom! Husain did a series of paintings of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. Had he painted her nude as he did in the case of Bharat Mata, what would have been the reaction of Congressmen and our secularists? Would they have accepted it as an art form? Will he do one on Sonia from Qatar? He knows discretion is better than valour. Hindu sentiments can always be trifled with. What did Hindus do when Yarlagadda Laxmi Prasad rubbished Draupati in his book? It was in fact recommended for Sahitya Academy Award.

That is how we celebrate artistic and literary freedom.