Goan artist not to withdraw controversial Ganesh paintings

A Goan artist who courted controversy with his sketches of Lord Ganesh has said that he will go ahead with the exhibition, scheduled to open tomorrow, despite
threats from some right-wing organisations.

"I am going ahead with the exhibition. I am Ganesh bhakt [worshipper] and whatever sketches I have drawn are inspired by Lord himself. I took eight to 10 hours to draw one sketch, and cannot bow down to the pressures of any organisations," Subodh Kerkar, an installation artist who has been at the receiving end for allegedly drawing Lord Ganesh in an indecent manner, said here today.

"My drawings are my prayers. Radical groups do not have the power of attorney over Lord Ganesh," Kerkar told reporters after lodging a police complaint against the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for allegedly threatening to chop off his fingers, and against Daily Sanatan Prabhat for publishing an article against him that incited communal feelings.

The painter, however, had to curtail his exhibition from 12 days to two owing to the protests. Hindu hardliners had objected to Kerkar's sketches and his scheduled exhibition from August 20.

The HJS had contended that the sketches offended Hindu religious sentiments and
lodged a police complaint against the painter.