Dear Shukla, This is very shocking. I am copying this to the greenyouth community where someone has already posted an earlier news report on this (and other friends). I hope we can at least do a signature campaign condemning this kind of hate-campaign of the BJP and its victimizing students and academics in this manner.
Best, Arunima On 5/12/07, shukla sawant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Dear friends > > > > One has watched with anger and frustration as attacks on freedom of > expression by conservative pressure groups as well as government officials > have multiplied relentlessly in recent years. While the artist M.F Hussain > has been subjected to a sustained hate campaign for almost a decade because > of which he now lives in exile, instances of social censorship by > organizations established for the purpose of "regulating morals" have become > commonplace > > > > Yesterday the art historian Prof Shivaji Panikkar, acting Dean of > M.SUniversity Vadodara was > suspended for coming out in support of a student Chandramohan whose art > work had been deemed "obscene" by right wing hoodlums (VHP activists to > be precise) leading to the students arrest on Wednesday, 9th May 2007. > This arrest was made during the annual exhibition of the art department > where the student's work was on display. The student continues to remain in > prison with several trumped up charges slapped against him. > > > > This of course is just a part of a sustained campaign by extremists > elements to bowdlerize art and deny people their right to freedom of > expression. But what is even more worrying is their attempt to gain a > stranglehold over educational institutions through various tactics of > intimidation. > > > > I personally believe no opinion should be prevented from being expressed > through art. And no view (not even religion) should be exempt from being > criticized within the academic context of a University ... > > > > Do join the artists community on - Monday 14th May , 6.00pm at Rabindra > Bhavan Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, to express your solidarity for these > latest victims of moral policing. Do inform as many people as possible > about this gross act of moral policing. > > > > Best Wishes > > Shukla Sawant > > Associate Professor > > School of Arts and Aesthetics > > Jawaharlal Nehru University > > New Delhi > > > > (My apology for any cross postings) > > > > ------------------------------ > Hey its Office 2007. Click here Now.<http://g.msn.com/8HMAENIN/2734??PS=47575> -- G. Arunima Associate Professor Women's Studies Programme School of Social Sciences Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi 110067 Tel: 01126704178 (dir) 01126704166(off) Email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
