Are artists the soft targets of political gimmicks???

Artists should be given a free hand in depicting their art without any interference from politicians. However, this is not the case. Off-late it has become a fashion as, whenever an artist depicts a painting of any Goddess or a Hindu or be it a Muslim religious figure, they have been given religious colours by the fanatics who try to politicize the whole situation for their own personal agenda. They not only do so, but they also incite religious feelings and make the people to get into fights on religious lines.

Few years back in Bombay, a world famous painter M.F. Hussain’s painting of Sita was asked to be removed from the art gallery by the Shiv Sena supporters. They construed that the painting was hurting the sentiments of the Hindus. Later, they also filed cases against Hussain in the court, which led him to leave the country and renounce the Indian citizenship and opt for the Delhi citizenship. Bearing all this he passed away recently, deeply hurt.

Few months back, there was another cartoonist in Bombay whose cartoons were considered as inflammatory, which led to his arrest by the government. Subsequently, he was released on bail after public outcry against the government’s decision.

Every artist, be a painter or an actor, have been the soft targets of the politicians. Take for instance the recent banning of Kamal Hassan’s movie ‘Vishwaroopam’, due to political enmity between Kamal Hasssan and C.M. Jaya Lalita. However, the movie was released after few cuts although there were no objectionable scenes.

This was another political interference in the life of an artist, who even threatened to leave the country if the artists are targeted in this matter. The artists all over India are depressed lot, fearing that the art will be sacrificed at the altar of politics. The artists too should be careful in not hurting the sentiments of the people; allowing the politicians to capitalize on such blunders.

- Luella Fernandes