Prime-time hyperbole would have you believe that a threatening, passionate crowd of women have gathered outside the Delhi Art Gallery to protest against the exhibition, The Naked and the Nude.
Prime-time hyperbole would have you believe that a threatening, passionate crowd of women have gathered outside the Delhi Art Gallery to protest against the exhibition, The Naked and the Nude.
But talk to most of the protesters from Durga Vahini or Matri Shakti – women’s wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) – and a different picture emerges.
“Do you know they are showing pictures of what happened with the Delhi gang rape victim,” says one of the protesters from Durga Vahini. Another unsuspecting demonstrator looks confused when you ask her what exactly is it that she is protesting against. Your average next-door aunty has, in fact, not even seen the works inside the gallery.
“They are showcasing paintings that depict rape and putting them up for sale for people to take back home and decorate their drawing rooms,” says another protester with all the righteous indignation she can muster. Others admit sheepishly that they have joined the protest because they were “asked” to do so to make a crowd. (VHP managed to get only about 30 women despite its efforts). It doesn’t stop these women, however, from raising their voices in unison: “Naari shakti ka apmaan, nahin chalega, nahin chalega.”
It’s little wonder that they think the exhibition is “propagating” rape. From the time the exhibition was opened to public on February 2, VHP has been systematically spamming, calling on the nation — mostly media houses one would presume — to see the urgent need to stop the gallery from showcasing paintings that portray “women as a mere commodity”. It escapes the rabble-rousers that the paintings, by some of the finest artists like Jamini Roy, FN Souza and MF Hussain, are a celebration of the body in Indian modern art. But that’s not what’s troubling. Nuance has never been VHP’s forte.
The more disturbing development is the kind of media attention fringe elements are able to garner. And the question to ask is if the VHP would have invested their energies to misinform people had there been no TV cameras watching or no newspapers reporting.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}