“nudism” in Dr. Pereira’s paintings and Laxman’s ‘Last supper’ Carton
In which century are we living? (Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"Luke 23:24) ( Avidnyatam vijanatam, vidnyatam avijanatam- Kathopanishada – “those who think that they no nothing , understand everything but those who claim to know everything know nothing) What is superior?. The creative impulse of the artist who has no axe to grind with any religions of human origin OR the label of religion which is stuck on his forehead? Is it the religious denomination of the artist which has started bothering some of the critics, the agitators, the fascist forces, the self styled censors? ARTIST AS A *'CHRISTIAN'* Crystallized and personified innocence-the wise man among the Goans-his name in this mortal existence-Jose Pereira, religious label -Roman Catholic is hated because ‘nudism in his paintings’. ARTIST AS A *'HINDU'* Another giant of an artist -who took the brush from the classes to the common masses-R.K.Laxman, a Hindu in his mortal existence is taken to the task for reinvention of ‘Last supper’. I thought after viewing the cartoon that Lord Jesus would have approved it. The central message of the cartoon is universal message of Christianity and true Roman Catholicism. It all depends on what one reads from the cartoon-there are layers of meaning and interpretation but it is a modern masterpiece. HE would have said after noticing criticism of Laxman-‘ God What if a controversial, non conformist Goan painter Francis Newton Desouza or our own Mario Miranda were to draw that cartoon?. Perhaps a different yardstick would have been used… So what we have now are two unwanted controversies…do these make any real, logical, objective sense, especially to those who are well read in history of religions and art ? 'HINDU ART ' BY A 'CHRISTIAN 'ARTIST Take opposition to Josebab’s paintings. I did not find anything objectionable because I am a serious student of Indian philosophy, art, architecture, vedic and non vedic Hinduism. I had given two public lectures in Marathi at Margao on Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra ( the first ever in history of Goa) in front of a sizeable middle class Goan audience without any controversy. These were organized by Sanskrit Pracharini Sabha, Margao devoted to promotion of world’s oldest and richest language. If nudism in Josebab’s paintings is opposed because it injures the Hindu sentiments and is considered vulgar by those who claim to be the self styled guardians of Hinduism, then by the same yardstick all the aniconic temples of Lord Siva/ Rudra/Mahadeva which have installed the Lingams, his sculptures depicting him as mahayogi (urdhva-retas-one who could reverse the flow of sacred semen) and the whole cult of Matrika or nude mother goddess worship could also attract a ban/opposition. What about plain erotic verses in Kalidas’s Ritusamhar and in Jaideva’s Gitagovindam?. And closer to the headquarters of the radical Hindus-Marathi scholar R.C.Dhere’s classical Marathi monograph –Lajjagauri (the nude goddess)?. Would the constitution of India permit free artistic expressions or promote revisionism? Would the radical Hindu forces also demand ban on procession of Naga sadhus and elaborate description given by Marathi novelist Go.Ni.Dandekar of their strange rituals? Would the radical Hindu forces demand a total ban on sub-continent’s tantric traditions? Having born in an orthodox Hindu Brahmin family, after having studied Sanskrit and original works on Hinduism, I discovered by the time I became a graduate, that my Hinduism is not just a religion, a label or a denomination to me-it is a complex, religious, assimilative, liberal cultural ecosystem. It has no single leader, no single sacred text, neither a founder and it doesn’t get dogmatic about its’ texts. It anticipates the rise of new prophets and religions and is prepared to coexist with them. It says –“ekam satyam vipra bahudha vadanti’ (the wise people say the same thing in different manner). Unfortunately it drifted terribly after the Buddhist resurgence and Islamic onslaught from its’ noble upanishadic roots. Josebab’s paintings is a tribute to all encompassing spirit of Hinduism. He is a very humble man. His artistic consciousness had launched him in a time machine and that’s what he experienced as if in a tantric trance. A composite reading of all his work pertaining to Indian cultural ethos would convince anyone born as a Hindu that his paintings is a service, an artistic interpretation and not a defamation. Josebab’s nude paintings would attract a massive response at Benares, Vrindavan, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Bhubaneshwar, Tanjore, Baroda, Gauhatti if exhibited there… There is something basically very wrong in the way Josebab’s paintings have been attacked…probably the paintings, or the exhibition is not the real target, the Jesuit managed XCHR is, could be, it is for CID, IB to investigate…after all Porvorim is a new assembly constituency where systematic and calculated polarization of voters on religious lines may be engineered as elections approach. We need to watch further developments critically in that area and elsewhere in next 20 months. HYPOCRICY-THY NAME IS GOA-2010 It is my considered observation that materialistic and hedonist Goa is hiding its’ mountain of vices behind façade of religious rituals ( check the debate on illegal roadside shrines) but there is a famine of spirituality and compassion….there is more alcohol in Goa’s blood than milk….and those who shout against nudism in paintings are prepared to shut their eyes to the stripped, naked hills, valleys, raped beaches, bleeding mines, tortured rivers-which is acceptable nudity?. The nudity in paintings or the post raped nudity of our Goan motherland?. What about worshipped nudism in Goa? The radical Hindu forces need to view the ornamented bottom strip of Goa’s Gajalaxmi monolithic panels and raise objections for the ‘vulgar’ scenes of coupling. The tribalistic temples at Taide, Sanguem and Zarme, Sattari also have erotic scenes which may selectively offend the hypersensitives. SELECTIVE HYPERSENSITIVITIES It is difficult to believe that we’re in A.D. 2010!. I wish instead of selectively targeting Josebabs and Laxmans, the hypersensitives could pay more attention to the explosion of violence and vulgarity on TV, Indian cinema, Porn on Internet, the booming commercial sex trade, shameless promotion of over the counter anti pregnancy pills, and the double standards and hypocricy of the Indians in a country which still has world’s largest number of the poor and illiterates. I am ashamed to admit that as an educated, well earning Indian citizen, I have wasted 52 years of my life and have not been able to make any difference in the sad plight of the children whom I watch playing naked, women trying to hide their shame with torn clothes, the beggars in market, terminally sick senior citizens and helpless widows thrown on street and thousands of Goan tribals still living in misery… the list of woes is endless. To divert attention from this mess it is convenient to use arguments of religious sensitivities. It gets a good press. Except Herald and Lokmat I have not noticed strong editorial comments, so far. WAKE UP GOA, WAKE UP! I would like to see all the voices of sanity and reason ( including the honorable members of Padmashri, Padmavibhushana club of Goa), Konkani, Marathi and English writers, artists, journalists and intellectuals of Goa standing in unison in true spirit of India’s civilization ethos and democracy in unflinching defense of the artistic, creative and intellectual, spiritual freedom of Josebabs and Laxmans. However in my personal opinion, the yardstick applied to M.F.Hussein can not be applied to them. I have also seen his controversial paintings. Under artistic freedom Hussein engaged in a lot of mental masturbation. He doesn’t understand anything about any religion. For cheap publicity he went overboard. Josebab and Laxman belong to a different category. They are not cheap publicity seekers. Their work has to be understood holistically. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * UK STOCKS EXHAUSTED! After a community-supported launch at Croydon, Selma Carvalho's *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* is available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. Ask a friend to pick up a copy. Details of the book http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
