With reference to the following Visual Illustrations at
http://tinyurl.com/mbnxuh
I must commend Vidhyadhar Gadgil for attempting to expose the true face of the "Hindu Janajagruti Samiti" through his column 'Folk, Religion and Hindutva' (Herald 4 Sep). This group made the headlines recently for opposing the Ganesha paintings of Dr Subodh Kerkar, even though there is absolutely nothing in the Artist's paintings that can even remotely be considered as vulgar or provocative.
It goes without saying that Hinduism has a long standing tradition of depicting its Gods and Goddesses in liberal fashions. Artists, sculptors and Artisans have, over the years, painstakingly created thousand of paintings, sculptures and other images of Gods in various shapes, styles, figures and forms. Through such needless protests and agitations, the HJS is proving to be a group that is making a mockery of the liberal principles of Hinduism.
To understand and know the true face of this orthodox Hindu group, one only has to take a peek at the matter that has been published on their own website (http: www.hindujagruti.org ). While surfing through this website sometime back, I came across several visual illustrations which would surely come under the purview of hate speech punishable under the Indian laws.
In these illustrations, fellow Indian citizens, particularly Christians, Muslims and many of our National leaders including our honorable PM and members of the Nehru Gandhi family have been shown in extremely poor light. While Muslims have consistently been depicted either as Jihaadis, terrorists or supporters of Osama Bin Laden; Christians have been portrayed as Evildoers and Hindus who do not subscribe to their version of Hinduism have been branded as heretics who will suffer perishing fates. What is even more alarming is that Court Judges who have passed liberal Judgments have not been spared either. These groups are thus showing neither respect for fellow citizens nor fear for the laws of the land and are slowly threatening to become a law unto themselves.
It appears that these illustrations, titled "Samarth" are being regularly published in the "Sanatan Prabhat", a local daily of the Sanatan Saunstha that is circulated in Goa and Maharashtra, two places where this group operates. The "Hindu Janajagruti Samiti" incidentally happens to be an offshoot of the Sanatan Saunstha.
The Chief Minister and the Home Minister must be directed to take action against these groups. These groups have defamed our National leaders, Christians, Muslims and even Hindus who do not subscribe to their hard-line philosophies. They may even be liable for contempt of Court proceedings for making a mockery of the Judiciary through their publications.
One fails to understand why the Government is treating this group with kid gloves, especially since its own leaders like Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have been shown in extremely humbling and embarrassing postures. These visual illustrations are deliberate attempts to insult, wound and provoke the feelings of entire communities and those responsible for the same need to be dealt with sternly and severely.
In the face of such provocative illustrations, will the Government act against these groups? The true "Secular test" of the present Government lies therein!
regards
Sandeep Heble
Goa
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