L K Advani inaugurates an exhibition on "Naxalism: A threat to the Unified nation of India"

For Pictures of the Ehibition Click here

Those who of you couldnt make to
the exhibition, heres’s an online exhibition.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2469417/Naxal-Low-Res-

additions…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3907033/5-new-panels

Below are the press release and the photographs of L K Advani’s visit to the
exhibition….

http://i-newswire.com/pr179064.html

http://picasaweb.google.com/vee4ru/NaxalismExhibition02

L K Advani today inaugurated an exhibition by FACT on “Naxalism: A threat to the Unified nation of India” at India Habitat centre Delhi. The Exhibition based is on the statistical and ground reports along with photographs. It is an impressive effort to bring to light the mindless violence in the name of Left wing ideology. Mr Advani after inaugurating the exhibition by lighting the lamp was impressed by the exhibition and remarked “this is a very dedicated effort and I appreciate the organisers FACT and its founder Francois Gautier” He also remarked in the visitors book ” violence can never be a solution to the existing problems or of the future and its efforts like those by Sri Sri Ravishankar and Art of Living that can make a difference”.

The exhibition will be screened until 14th july 2008, while this happens to be the second screening of the exhibition, the first one was held on the sidelines of the “South Asia Peace and Reconciliation conference” Oslo in Norway. This effort happens to be a one of its kind.

The exhibition travels through the pain and sufferings caused by the Left wing seperatism with ample help from Photographs and statistics. Blasted schools that rob the children of their future and childhood, blasted roads and destruction caused in the lives of the peasants whom the Maoists claim to be fighting for are all illustrations of a failed ideology through the gun. Investments in the stock markets by maoists, budgets scaling to crores for ammunition show the loss of ideology of the ‘saviours’ and puts them in question of their deeds by even their own supporters. The exhibition tries to portray and study the sociological and human rights impact from neutral perspective while giving a benefit of doubt for the arguments that “but they are fighting for people”, “but they have sacrificed their lives”, “but they are committed” and a whole lot of questions. The money and the caste conflicts in the naxal movement are by themselves answers to a lot of questions while maoism fights for a so called casteless society.

FACT a not for profit trust and has been working to highlight the mindless killings in the name of ideology and religion. Established in 2003 by Francois Gautier the French journalist, indologist and author living in India for the past 33 years. The recent Historical and Artistic exhibition on Aurangazeb by the organisation has run into trouble after Muslim fundamentalists createdtrouble in chennai.

Upcomming events: World Refugee day and Naxalite exhibition

1) FACT EXHIBITION IN PUNE (Kashmiri Pandits: World Refugee day)

2) FACT EXHIBITION IN DELHI (Naxalism: A threat to the Unified nation of India)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 – Monday, July 14, 2008
Venue : India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
(Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps)

This World Refugee Day 2008 Would be a special occassion to remember, voice and address the concerns of the refugees in India especially the ones that are neglected. June 20th would be a special eve for the Kashmiri pandits this year as FACT INDIA in association with Hindu Janjagruti Samithi would organise an event complete with candle light procession an exhibition on the pandits and media awareness.

About the event
The events would be held in Pune and Delhi. The World Refugees day Programme would include ‘to raise voice against’ the closure of Wandhama massacre case.

The break-up of the event for the day is like-

Wandhama massacre refers to the murder of Kashmiri Hindus in the town of Wandhama on the intervening night of 25th January 1998. It was one of the worst incidences of violence against Kashmiri Pandits being carried out by militants in Kashmir. It was an illustration of the Kashmir militant’s policy of ethnic cleansing . The victims, all of them Kashmiri Pandits, included four children, nine women and 10 men. The case is in a way a microcosm of the apathy of the Government towards the Pandits. Ideally the government should have asked a better investigating agency like a SIT/CID or even a CBI to pursue the case so that the killers could be identified and nabbed, had its own Police proved incompetent to do the job. But that was not to be. As always the Police simply closed the case and thought its responsibility is over.

1. FACT exhibition

Mrs Gayatri Chauhan, FACT representative in Maharashtra is holding an exhibition on 20th of June, Pune.

2. Press conference

Panelists will be invited from different fields, Police commissioner Pune, Editors of leading newspapers, NHRC representatives, Lawyers etc.

3. Candle light

A candle light procession with People gathered from all walks of life would be held at the exhibition as well as press conference will be taken to the saras bagh, where in candle light is to done.

The blogsite depicts the whole of story.http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com
rinkoo thusoo: 09250006232

Sri Sri inaugurates Exhibition on Sikhism

Sri Sri inaugurates Exhibition on Sikhism

23rd January, 2008, New Delhi

Renowned spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inaugurated an exhibition on Sikhism titled ‘Sikhs, the Defenders of Indian Dharma’ at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, New Delhi.

Organized by FACT India, in cooperation with Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, the exhibition showcased the bravery, fearlessness and sacrifices of the Sikhs during the Mughal, British and post independence periods.

From Sri Guru Nanak Devji to Sri Guru Gobind Singhji and Sardar Bhagat Singh to the Kargil War, artistic renditions brought to life the numerous onslaughts braved by the Sikhs and their valiant contribution to the India that exists today.

The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee felicited His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, after which he addressed the gathering.

He spoke about the incomparable role Sikhs have played across the centuries and the service they have rendered to the nation. He also hailed the core essence of Sikhism that is glorious and all encompassing to this day. “The true spirit of Sikhism is in Sewa. It can be seen at all Gurudwaras where people from all walks of life can enter and all are fed freely, with no discrimination and no barriers”, He said.

Undeterred by the cold, people thronged in large numbers to the Gurudwara to be a part of this initiative.

Looking back at history: Aurangazeb Exhibition

Looking back at history

RANA SIDDIQUI

New Delhi gets a peep into history through Francois Gautier’s exhibition.

Photo: V.V. KRISHNAN

PROJECTING HISTORY Francois Gautier against the backdrop of his exhibits.

Not often does an exhibition of Indian paintings serve a historical purpose. Hardly a painting exhibition in Delhi now has any recall value either. The only recent venture that comes to mind is Mahakranti, an insightful exhibition of 120 historical cartoons covering the period from 1855 to 1860. Mounted by Professor Pramila Sharma, it aimed at showing the conspiracy that triggered the 1857 Uprising. This exhibition, Pramila claims, was the first of its kind in the world. Also, in the last year, the city saw artist Veer Munshi’s much forgotten exhibition of paintings and installations depicting the pain of the uprooted Kashmiri Pandits and extremist activities in the Valley.

But of late, there has been an interesting turn of artistic events in the Capital. Some exhibitions are not only likely to raise a debate, but also have nostalgia value. One of them is Sabia’s works on the romantic side of Ghalib’s life. It just concluded at India Habitat Centre. And the next is an exhibition of watercolour works and drawings on “Aurangzeb, as he was, according to Moghul Records”. This exhibition now mounted at Open Palm Court from this Friday till coming Tuesday, is brought by famous French journalist and historian François Gautier. It highlights the cruel side of Aurangzeb, Emperor Shah Jahan’s sixth son.

If in one exhibit you see Shah Jahan being imprisoned by Aurangzeb, the other shows his son, Aurangzeb’s brother, prince Dara Shikoh being taken a prisoner while fleeing to Persia. Dara, said to be Shah Jahan’s favourite son, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb because he opposed his atrocities on the Hindus. The disgraceful burial of Shah Jahan on Aurangzeb’s command, the demolition of Hindu temples and so on are portrayed in other canvases. Banning of established Hindu schools and public worship, re-employment of Jaziya tax on the Hindus, Shivaji’s son Shambhaji’s execution, and his acceptance of “hard labour” that he put in to capture Shivaji, and much more form the other exhibits. All these works are accompanied with dates as sourced from various historic documents including Persian Maasir-i-Alamgiri.

Unknown painters

These works are made by some known and some unknown miniature artists from Jaipur including well-known artist Sumeendhra. Professor V.S. Bhatnagar of Jaipur University along with Gautier gave details of the events to the painters to bring alive the barbaric events.

The exhibition is the part of a two-year project under Gautier’s Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism – FACT, formed in Delhi in 2003. Through this exhibition, the works will travel across the globe. Gautier aims at “portraying Aurangzeb as a terrorist”.

Says Gautier, an Indophile living in India for 35 years and an expert in Indian history, “I don’t understand why Indians treat Aurangzeb as a noble man. Why do Indians refuse to accept history as it is?”

But at the same time, many agree that he has conveniently forgotten the good deeds of the emperor in the form of huge donations for temple building at Banaras and Allahabad. “Its authentic documents are in Banaras math. Also Pandit Vishwanath Pandey, former Governor of Orissa, saw authentic documents procured by Municipal Chairman of Allahabad,” says Bhatnagar. At the same time, he seems to care little about the religious frenzy India is known for.

Counters Gautier, “I had certain exhibits showing his good side too. But because of paucity of space I am not exhibiting them. People ask me why I am bringing alive the buried ghosts. Sometimes I fail to understand why I have done that. I am a Westerner and a non-Hindu. I just wish that it raises a healthy debate among the right thinking people.”

Sikhs, the defenders of Indian Dharma

Sikhs, the defenders of Indian Dharma…

The Sikh Exhibition

FACT

Throughout the ages, Sikhs have protected India from numerous onslaughts by foreign invaders – whether the Mughals or the British… This has not been recognized by society today…

FACT has in association with the SGPC Delhi commissioned the contribution of Sikhs to Indian Dharma titled Sikhs, the defenders of Indian Dharma. The exhibition would travel the time and present to the world all those facts that we have forgotten about the wonderful things the Sikhs have given to India their Motherland.

Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji:

The first Sikh Guru to be martyred by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan for not converting to Islam.

Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji

Aurangzeb wanted to implement Sharia or the Islamic religious law. He executed Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (the 9th Sikh Guru), who refused to convert to Islam.

The Battle of Saragarhi

The Battle of Saragarhi was fought on 12th September, 1897 between 21 Sikhs of the Sikh Regiment and 14,000 Afghans. This battle is listed as one of the 8 top battles of collective bravery by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Sikh Regiment Formed in 1846, The Sikh Regiment is the most highly decorated regiment of the Indian Army. In the 1999 Kargil Conflict, the Sikh regiment went into action once again, this time against Pakistan. 8 Sikh took Tiger Hill, whereas 14 Sikh fought at Chorbat La.

30th May, 1606 – Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji – Jahangir

1634 – Sri Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji – Battle of Kartarpur

9th November, 1675 – Bhai Dyala – Red Fort -Boiled

9th November, 1675 – Bhai Mati Das – Red Fort – Cut

9th November, 1675 – Bhai Sati Das – Red Fort – Burnt

11th November, 1675 – Bhai Jaita Singh -Rangretta Guru ka Beta – Head of Sri…

11th November, 1675 – Lakhi Shah Vanjara – Body of Sri…

1687 April – Battle of Bhangani – Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

1687 – 1705 – Sahibzada Ajit Singh son of Sri…

1691-1705 – Sahibzada Jujhar Singh son of Sri… Buried alive in walls – Zorawar Singh and Fateh
Singh – sons of Sri…

1701 – Bhai Udai Singh and Bhai Bachitar Singh

1706 – Mai Bhago

1723 – 1803 – Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia

1745 – Faith before family – atrocities of Mir Mannu

1761 – Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia – Lahore Fort

1762 – Battles against Nadir Shah – Loot, Jewellery, confiscating Indian Women

1763 – Martyrdom at Lahore – atrocities of Mir Mannu

11th March, 1781 – Flag on Red Fort – Sardar Bhagel Singh

1791 – 1831 – Ssrdar Hari Singh Nalwa – got Kashmir and Kabul

1818 – Victory of Multan Fort from Mughals

13th January, 1849 – War at Chillianwala

17th January, 1872 – 66 Sikhs blown up by British

24th May, 1896 – 16th Nov., 1915 – Sardar Kartar Singh Sarabha

26th Dec., 1899 – 31st July, 1940 – Sardar Udham Singh killed the brain behind Jallianwalan Bagh Massacre, Gen. Dyer

27th Sep., 1907 – 23rd Mar., 1931 – Amar Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh

November 1921 – Non-violent protest against British confiscating keys of Sri Harmandir
Sahib Ji

30th October, 1922 – Sri Pratap Singh and Sri Karam Singh trampled by Train – Guru ka
Bagh

21st Feb., 1924 – Bibi Balbir Kaur

1965 – Sikh Regiment got Raja Hills from
Pakistan

1971 – War against Pakistan Misc. without Dates
1. Baba Deep Singh
2. Bhai Kanhiya – Sewa Panth – Water and First
Aid to War-victims
3. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
4. Nihang Festival
5. Jathedar Lachhman Singh and Daleep Singh,
Nankana Sahib (Pakistan)
6. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji warning Babar
7. Bhai Bidhi Chand – Jump on Horse
8. “Nishchay kar apni jeet karo.”
9. Banda Bahadur + 100 Sikhs martyred
10. Sardarni Sada Kaur – Victory over Shahi
Fort of Lahore
11. Ahmad Shah Abdali – Hindu Women
12. Tees Hazari
13. Mahant
14. Elder son Sikh
15. Conversion and Drugs
16. Battle of Kargil