Ba, Beti aur Bahu

Dear Dr. Gopalakrishnan:

Well, thank you.

I suggest you post any article in the following submission link http://www.chowk.com/show_contribution_guidelines.cgi.

However, since I have read this piece, perhaps you could work on something else. Giving feedback here does not make sense. Do write to me at editors@chowk.com.

Regards,
Farzana

Dear Farzana,
You are an intrepid, no-nonsense and analytical writer, giving new insights. It is a pleasure to keep reading you.

I have a problem. The Chowk editor`s email is shrouded in mystery. Everything bounces back. I have an article for you. So I am trying to squeeze it in here. It is amoral I know. Hope you won`t seriously mind. Thanks.

Dr.V.S.Gopalakrishnan

Muslim Triumvirate rules India’s Art Republic

By V.S.Gopalakrishnan

Secular India today has an enviable record. Despite a few aberrations, the country has shown a remarkable level of synthesis by integrating the minorities in its fold. The top two heads of the country are not Hindus that constitute eighty five percent of the population. Indeed, the President of India is Dr.Abdul Kalam, an enlightened scientist of Muslim birth and the Prime Minister is Dr.Manmohan Singh, a Sikh economist of high repute.

Are we not familiar with the historical first Triumvirate of Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus and the second Triumvirate of Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus, which presided over the destiny of Rome just before the Christian era? The present-day Indian art scene is being ruled by a veritable triumvirate of three Muslim painters, and that is an extraordinary situation indeed. This triumvirate commands a price of more than a million dollars for each of the paintings produced by them in the international market.

Leading the pack of three is M.F.Husain who lives in Mumbai (Bombay) and is more than ninety years old. Even at this old age he is prolific and indefatigable. He began his artistic life as a painter of movie hoardings but in due course his talent took him to dizzying heights. Endowed with a penchant for controversy and public relations, he has remained in the limelight continuously. His fame is only waxing although the quality of his output is steadily depreciating.

Next in fame to Husain is artist S.H.Raza, now more than eighty years old and who has been living in Paris over several decades. He along with Husain was a founder of the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay in 1950s. Raza has been decorated with several awards. He makes an annual pilgrimage to Mumbai in December every year to escape the Parisian winter.

The third one in the triumvirate is Tyeb Mehta, a quiet, self-denying and shy painter who is eighty and who lives in Mumbai. He cannot hide his amazement that his work fetches more than a million dollars. He benefits little since it is his old collectors who are making the huge profits.

What is also unique is the fact that they have not observed one whit the strict Islamic taboo of eschewing art. Indeed, in India most Islamic households do not display paintings. Calligraphic art display is what at best you would get. In fact, painter M.F.Husain has done several unthinkable things. He has shown strong obsession to portray Hindu gods and goddesses. And that too quite often in the nude, not without its attendant controversy! Raza’s early works show realism but of late he has gone into the Hindu theme of the power of bindu (central dot) and of concentric circles. The colourful concentric circles created by him are striking but you hear comments that any college kid can do that. Tyeb Mehta’s is the most simplistic work with just two or three flat colours neatly dividing the canvas along with some disfigured-looking form in the center. It is the long years of arduous work rather than innate quality of the finished product that would seem to command astronomical prices for his paintings.

This is not to suggest that there have not been painters of great merit apart from the three mentioned. F.N.Souza who settled down in New York and who unfortunately is no more has made a big impression in the art world. Artists like V.S.Gaitonde, N.S.Bendre, K.K. Hebbar et al have made a significant contribution in the Indian art-world.

The opening of India’s economy to the world and the entry of Sotheby’s and Christie’s into India, are in fact the primary reasons that have propelled the ruling triumvirate’s prices to astronomical heights. The New York Christie’s auction in last September of Tyeb Mehta’s painting titled Mahisasura ( a hindu demon-buffalo) fetched nearly 1.6 million US dollars. At a recent Sotheby’s sale,a Tyeb Mehta painting (Falling Figure with Bird) sold for 1.24 million US dollars and a painting by Raza called Tapovan sold for 1.47 million US dollars.

While there is understandable euphoria in Indian art circles about these developments, it has to be reckoned that the buyers at the international auctions have been generally rich expat Indians. To an extent they are not enlightened about the art world and would consider art purchase even at such astronomical prices only as sound investment policy. The international auctions have also been plagued by last-minute withdrawals of many paintings from sale due to questions raised about veracity and provenance.

But amidst all this, the art scenario in secular and democratic India has clearly shown to the world that Indian art is coming into some international recognition led by a triumvirate of three Muslim painters.

(The writer is a former member of the Indian Administrative Service. He is also a painter, art critic and Chairman of Artists`` Centre, kala Ghoda, Mumbai)

Re: # 92,bjkumar:
Thanks for your kind observations.
I liked ``sheer sambhar for the soul!``.
Best of life to you!

#91 by Inquirer

Thank you for your highly moving interact. I am almost reduced to tears – but real men don’t cry! Would these have been tears of joy or remorse or some other deep-rooted feeling – who can tell!

We as humans – and especially the humans of the South Asian variety were created from a very different mould – we defy all simple prototypes.

And perhaps all the so-far-discovered laws of nature, too!

Your interact is so good, I could savor its delicacy forever! It has the music of the soul, it plays the strings of the heart, and it makes one happy as seldom before. It tastes sweeter than jalebi and is softer than a rasgullah, yet it has the reviving power of the best of rasams – it is sheer sambhar for the soul!

In the spirit of the panchsheel so delicately designed in your interact, perhaps it is my solemn duty to extend those very words of friendship that I spoke to our (still smarting and wounded (hopefully not mortally)) dear Harimau – to the rest of the crowds here who are perhaps similarly wounded!

Therefore, all of you chowkies – starting with Ras sahib, sorry!

All chowkies are now exempted. No sharp words from me to you for a while. (Note: nothing is forever!)

I unabashedly apologize for any of those wayward words that I may have inflicted on you – and especially to those of you who are not accustomed to such words.

(If, by any chance, you begin to miss those very words – feel free to beat up on Inquie here!!!)

I whole-heartedly agree that we should all try to see each other’s point of view – especially through a glass which allows the light to traverse BOTH ways. Unfortunately, that’s where the problem appears to be rooted. This deficiency appears to apply uniformly to many intoactors, most wrioters, and perhaps all the olditors!

I agree that the Hindi language should not be force-fed like medicine to our South Indian friends – it should perhaps be offered in a way so those very friends can gently sip it like sweet wine – ultimately becoming intoxicated – and then permanently addicted! (Perhaps Bollywood is already involved in such devious secret scheme.s)

Also, I think life BEGINS at fifty!

Re: # 90, bjkumar:
I am so happy that you responded to me and offered to make up for your tit-for-tat policy with Harimau. This the first of its kind that I have seen at Chowk. I hope that you are a young Indian from whom we of older generation have much expectation. The spontaneity of your writing style makes me say so.

Let none of us forget that we, the South Asians are one and our success and redemption lies in trying to see each other`s point of view and cooperate to take India to the respectable peaks that were scaled by Gautam Buddha. Nehru has written in his autobiography that India will either count great deal in the world or hardly count at all. Right now the effort of post independence generation has made it to count a great deal - starting with Nehru`s leadership that laid the groundwork for Independent and Substantive India. Pretty soon, your generation would have the baton. I will hazard a guess regarding your statement about how the North-South understanding could happen. It will happen if the North stops the active, politicized support of Hindi on the Southerners. Then, I believe we will see the entente generated by the mutual benefit that can accrue from economic cooperation.

I have confidence that our ancient heritage will express through you as well as it did through mine. This heritage is not the leftover of Chandra Gupta Maurya and Akbar-Aurangzeb but rather Buddha and Bimbsar-Ashok.

#89 by Inquirer

Okay Inquie, have it your way! (Psst: It’s all chowk’s fault! Explain to me the simple question – if that Kashmiri article was not good enough to put up eight months ago – what makes it suddenly so eligible? Like a hungry woman sans suitors who reaches deep down the bottom of the pit and picks any Tom, Dick, or Harry to drag to bed!!!)

Just to make you happy, I’ll do it.

Here it comes - my apology to the great Harimau!

“Dad” Harimau, if you are still kicking (I realize there may be an element of doubt – from the severe shock of the whipping you got already), please accept my sincere apology as I offer this act of penance to enhance north-south understanding! (And don’t ask me to explain how that will happen!)

I offer this small penance so that the body Indiana shall appear as one solid piece of rock which can then be dumped in its entirety on top of all the Pakistani crowds here (except the miniscule “sensible” ones (I said don’t ask me to explain who it is. (No, not him! Not even him! And certainly, not her! (What do you mean she is not Pakistani?))))

Here is my small gesture of friendship.

Starting tomorrow, for one whole week – every day of the week – I’ll make the ultimate of sacrifices.

Almost impossible, but to show my sincerity – I’ll do it!

Yup, no tea for me!

Just coffee!

I hope you are happy!

Re: # 86, bjkumar:
It is not for me to say to you what is right to do.

You are absolutely right about our insignificance to the total Indian Picture. But please do not forget that our universe in the Chowk are our interactions. Whatever we can do to keep the atmosphere positive and foster understanding is valuable.

It is too bad that the non-productive language issue has created unnecessary unhappiness among Indians, particularly in South-North relationship.

Indians at the Chowk have to enhance understanding not only between sensible Pakitanis and Indians but also among Indians themselves who often have different perspectives on the existing issues.

From the wordings of the comments, I thought you had a larger chance to be moderate.

Re: # 80

Some more comments:

Here are more numbers: composite, perfect, triangular, square. The list is not exhaustive.
You asked me to which number family I belong. Here is the answer: I belong to number
family four

---

Let me explain

---

I am the descendant of Hazrath Ali (karam allahu wajhu),
who is the fourth khalifa of prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Thanks for welcoming and encouraging me to interact on chowk.

#86, {``Besides, ...are already throwing around terms such as ``hatemonger``.``}

Looks like the heat-seeking mirchi missile found its mark. :)

#83 Inquie

[Please do not divide the Indians in North - South. ]

Read my #64 one more time - a bit slowly! Pulling Harimau`s lungi a bit does not a North-South divide create! (Also, I personally believe his bark is a lot worse than his bite!)

Besides, the wheeler-dealer, used-car-salesmen, pimp-like morons on this site are already throwing around terms such as ``hatemonger``. As if this interactor somehow caused their own mindset to develop from so far away.

The country of India is quite united on its own - faraway individuals are highly peripheral to such issues!

So who cares for trivial interactors like me!

Re: # 80

Dear Mr. Salim Chauhan:

Assalamu alaikum o rahmathullahi o barakathahu:

Thanks for agreeing with my comments 1, 2, and 3. Regarding the number family, you left
our some numbers

---

even, odd, prime, mersenne, fermat, complex, fibonachi, lucas

---

this
list does not exhaust all numbers.

If you wish to interact with me personally, here is my e-mail address: asadulla@vsnl.com

If you wish to know more about me, here is the address of my website:
www.stfx.ca/people/sasadull/

Re: # 78, sridhar:
I thought you had more pride in India and Indians.

Re: # 75,bjkumar:
Please do not divide the Indians in North - South. You are a very sensible interactor. Just ignore Harimau.

Re: # 72, D-M:
Can you publish more about the interaction between Vajpayee(BJP) and Singh (Congress)? It can be quite interesting.

Re: # 59, Farzana:
Thanks.

I was hoping to hear about your view about A-D system. I hope that enjoyment of interactios will not be held hostage by ``fear of aging!``

#79, number {``One solution to this
problem may be to ask the members to use their real names. What are they afraid of?``}

Dear Shri/Shrimati ``number`` sahib/sahiba,

I would like to welcome and encourage you as you post your second interaction on Chowk. I fully agree with your comments in items 1, 2, and 3. By the way, which branch of the number family do you belong to? cardinal, imaginary, Arabic, Roman, whole, partial, or just the plain old gambling type? :)