From: "Goanet News" <[email protected]>
VIDEO: José Pereira vs. Sanatan Saunstha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uHkFqo2VGc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ncM67jAlcg
CONTROVERSY: THE JOSE PEREIRA PAINTINGS
Below is a statement
from Dr Delio Mendonca
of the Alto Porvorim-
based Xavier Centre of
Historical Research
following the controversy
over an exhibition of
paintings there.
The XCHR regrets to announce the temporary withdrawal of
three paintings from its latest art exhibition, 'Epiphanies
of the Hindu Gods' by the eminent Sanskrit scholar and
wide-ranging intellectual giant, Dr. Jose Pereira.
...from the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and its members, ...have filed a police
complaint against Dr. Pereira's paintings, and
indulged in a non-stop campaign of telephone
threats and warnings to the point of disrupting
normal communications for the XCHR. The anonymous
telephone calls have included many threats of
violence, including a threat of decapitation of the
80-yr-old artist, who incidentally suffers from
Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Pereira's 'Epiphanies of the Hindu Gods' are based
entirely on original Sanskrit scriptures, and their imagery
is derived entirely from the most characteristic iconography
of ancient India.
He has compiled a small encyclopedia of references to
classical Indian sculpture and painting that back up every
aspect of every painting in this exhibition, which have been
rendered in the same artistic spirit in which Dr. Pereira
paints nude images of Christ (also on display in the same
gallery). Contrary to the claim that these images are against
Indian culture, they actually embody the highest cultural
ideals of our great civilization.
...it strongly condemns the threats and disrespect shown to this great
Goan scholar.
...a systemic failure in its capacity to honour, appreciate and stand by its
greatest
artists and intellectuals.
SANATAN website coverage on the issue:
http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/9860.html
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
***I have been admiring Dr.Prof.José Pereira from my childhood, when I saw
him in a library working from morning to the evening. We children were
running to see him going on a cycle, simple, modest, humble, saying: "Vaghak
pollevunk ayleat-xe distat...".
Yes, he is really a genius: artist, painter, indologist, theologian, sholar,
polyglot,
literate, man of culture, expert in sanskrit and hindu scriptures. He can
repeat the verses in sanskrit. He can repeat the Latin texts of Francisco
Suarez (1548-1617). How can he be anti-Hindu, when he wrote about "Hindu
Theology"? He knows the poet Jayadeva and his poem Gita Govinda thoroughly
well. There is a scene of bathing and stealing of clothes of girls. It is a
beautiful scene: drama of love.
It is poem, therefore it has its poetic license. We have something similar
in the biblical book of Song of Songs.
It is love, symbolizing God's love for his people.
The lady who was the spokeswoman of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti was polite and
sincere, when she said: "I am not learned...but I have read the scriptures".
How much does she know about Hindu Scriptures? Does she know better than
Professor José Pereira? Our Catholic indologists who have dedicated their
lives to the study of Hindu Scriptures and Hindu gods and goddesses, will
certainly know much better. In the poems of Vijayadeva there are several
episodes.
I am writing now because I was shocked to read about the turmoil caused by
Hindu fundamentalists. I do not think that my Friend José Pereira will be
able to
recover from such a shock of deserving decapitation after a life of devoted
study of Hindu Scriptures.
Let better sense prevail.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo
