Self-Appointed Moral Police

Dear friends

You must have known through media reports that Chandra Mohan, a student fromthe Department of Graphics at the Fine Arts College in Baroda has been arrestedon 9th of May 2007 for making an allegedly controversial painting depicting nudefigures with some religious motifs. The arrest followed the storming of theuniversity premises by a group of outsiders. The work in question was part of adisplay in the college premises for assessment by a team of examiners for aMaster's degree in Fine Arts. Charged with sections 153 and 114 as well assections 295 A and 295 B, he has been denied bail and is presently in CentralJail, Baroda .

In a civilized society any dispute on a controversial depiction or content ofa work of art can be dealt with through dialogue and consultation with expertsin the field rather than left to self-appointed moral police employing coercivemeans. In the present case, the outsiders taking law into their hands bargedinto the university campus without prior permission, did not consult or informthe Dean of the Faculty before disrupting the annual examinations in progress.The reports are that they returned again to abuse the Dean and threatened himwith dire consequences.

Such an instance of assault on a student by outsiders in the universitypremises is unprecedented in the history of the Faculty of Fine Arts and must becondemned in no uncertain terms. The Fine Arts College known nationally andinternationally for upholding the highest standards of creative and criticalpractice has also earned reputation for its firm commitment to the freedom ofexpression. The former authorities of the university like Smt. Hansa Mehta, thevery first Vice Chancellor in the 1950s up to Prof. Bhikhu Parekh in the 1980shave stood by the Faculty and its ideals.

The present assault seems to strike at the very ideals on which it was builtby pioneering artist-academics and supported by enlightened universityauthorities. The present administration of the university has not initiated anyaction against the trespassers or applied for bail for the victimized student.The students and staff of the Fine Arts College have organized a dharna and theActing Dean, Prof. Shivaji Panikker has planned to undertake a hunger strike inthe College premises against the assault on the student and callous attitude ofthe university authorities. (Latest report is that the Department of Art Historyhas been sealed and Prof Panikker has been suspended by the universityauthorities). A solidarity demonstration of artists, intellectuals and culturalworkers from all over India is called on 14th of May at the Fine Arts Collegepremises (Pushpabug, University Road, 2 pm onwards) with an appeal to all concerned to gather there to lendtheir support.

As an alumnus and former teacher of the Faculty of Fine Arts, I fear thesedevelopments may imperil the working of an institution which in many ways hasformed our lives; and is indeed an integral part of what we are today. I hopeall other alumni and teachers as well as concerned artists and intellectuals ofthe country will come forward to protect it in its moment of crisis when thevalues it stands for are threatened.

Gulammohammed Sheikh
Dalhousie,
11th May, 2007