India: Bloggers on art, morality, government and freedom of expression · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

In what looks like more than mild disagreement between the moral police and the artists, a student from a university in Baroda was arrested for displaying “obscene” works of art. The student, Chandramohan at Maharaja Sayajirao University was first assaulted by “goons” and then arrested. Chapati Mystery reminds us that Baroda is in a state that suffered the wrath of communal violence. Zigzackly has an extensive set of links, and has information on the protests through the country, even as news comes in that the student has been released on bail.
By now, you would have read, heard or seen the news of the arrest of a student, Chandra Mohan, and the suspension of the dean of Maharaja Sayajirao University's Fine Arts faculty in Baroda, Prof. Shivaji Panikker. (For those who haven't, please catch up through the press links below.)
More links to the protest in various cities in India.
Every time something like this happens, my first reaction is a mix of disbelief and laughter. It would be easy to brush off these things with an Obelix-like toc, toc, toc and a ‘These Hindutvavadis are crazy’, were it not for the fact that these events occur more and more frequently, and people suffer imprisonment, exile, suspension and years of legal battles as a consequence.
Falstaff comments on the political agenda of those who assaulted the artist.
The hooligans attacking the MSU Fine Arts faculty aren't, after all, motivated by any genuine moral outrage. They're motivated by a cynical calculation which tells them that attacking a group of artists in the name of tradition and culture will get them more support in the next elections.
They may, of course, be wrong about this. But assuming they're not, it frightens me to think that there are actually people out there who are MORE likely to vote for a party because its hoodlums attack students and act as if they're above the law.
A blog called the Fine Arts Faculty MSU has updates on the issue, including notes on taking the protest to international academic circles. People find various ways to protest, and India Uncut also raises a fascism alert.
The artist community obviously rises up, and organises an exhibition documenting erotica in Indian and Western art. It is a peaceful way of showing their protest. The pro-vice-chancellor of the university arrives and demands that the exhibition be terminated. The dean of the faculty, Dr Shivaji Panikkar, takes a stand and refuses to do so. He is suspended. As I type these words, he is in hiding, worried about what the ruffians could do to him.
Artconcerns.com has updates on the issue, with details on how the student was arrested without a warrant, and how political parties are involved.
Instead of a response to these demands the Vice-Chancellor wanted an unconditional apology from the staff and the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, for offending their sentiments tendered to the public. It was rejected by the staff/students body on the grounds that it would be tantamount to accepting that they have committed a wrong, whereas that was patently not the case.
Kafila, with biting sarcasm puts forward what it calls a “modest proposal to end all controversies on Freedom of Expression in India”. The arrest of the student is not an isolated event, and is linked to various cases of freedom of expression in India being seriously compromised because of threats to personal safety and professional security.
Actually, all that people need to do is to insist that only the self appointed guardians of public morality (of all stripes and shades) have the right to appear in any broadcast, exhibition, film or other forms of mediated communication. We need every channel to broadcast morally cleansed reality TV all the time. How else will this nation boldly venture where none other has gone before – into that heaven of bliss and freedom known as ennui for the billions.
Note – The thumbnail image is of the painting Mother India by MF Hussain, which is apparently nude, and has angered the right wing Hindutva forces in India.