Are we paying for the Prince of Arcots’ luxaries ?

While the commies are active and busy dethroning Nepals’ monarch they are busy here in TAmil nadu enjoying the parties of the only known recogniseable H H Nawab of Arcot. What can we say it speaks to itself in volumes and when the exhibition on Aurangeb was vandaliswed no voices rose neither diod the candles nor did the human rights or atleast the freedom of expression come in to play. All that mattered was the wine and the delicacies served by the Nawab and his hospitality perhaps the votebank to some extent. And yet the Nawab claims he is not interested in politics,……

We still pay from our purses to the upkeep and maintainance of His Highness and his palaces as well as his families. Dont we want to know why? Yeah a little bit of googling and you are enlightened to know the TRUTH that the Indian Govt actually broke the promise it gave to the princes of India during the constituent assembly days but actually is strong wiled to honour the word given by the then imperial ruler the queen. Surprise nope! Indian administration has lots more of them.

Part III. Article 18.
Abolition of titles.-
(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.
[Constitution of India] but still the GOI made an amendment to honour the pledge made by the Queen of whom england, this was finally achieved by an amendment to the Constitution at the end of 1971. So is there equality in India atleast the Congress which made this amendment need to clarify it to us the ignorants as to why we should be paying through our pockets for the maintainance of filthy palaces and his family and staff of 600.

And look at all the links and you find one name in common Mr N Ram presiding over this function or that function or pouring praise on the “nawab”. So what else do we need ?

Read the following of the Nawab I didn’t write, but rather all from his friends in the press. Links given …….

****************************************************************************************

Despite a history rich in heritage (the family claims descent from the Caliph Umar, second successor of the Prophet Muhammad) Asif Ali says he and his brother have always been free to do as they please. However, he plays the part of diwan to his father, taking care of his official affairs. The Prince of Arcot is the only royal in India whose title is recognised by the President even today, says Asif Ali. His main duties are administering his ancestral endowments. This includes the Wallajah Mosque in Chennai and several madarssas in Tamil Nadu to which they contribute money. Asif Ali says, ‘‘We have several shops and property that are a source of income.’’ He says they also receive a privy purse from the Central Government. His father, the prince, is given the status of a State Cabinet Minister

http://www.indiavarta.com/m2c/royal.asp

The historic institution of His Highness, The Prince of Arcot has been in existence since 1867 A.D.

After the abolition of the Nawabship of the Carnatic in 1855 A.D., the Government created the new title – His Highness, The Prince of Arcot, by an issue of the Royal Letters Patent in 1867 A.D. Even today, the President of India officially recognises the present Prince, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, as His Highness, The Prince of Arcot. The title of the Prince of Arcot also carries certain special privileges, honours and courtesies granted by the Government which also provides a residence for the Nawab – Amir Mahal.

After the abolition of the Nawabship of Carnatic in 1855 A.D., the Government took over the original Chepauk Palace, known as Kals Mahal, which stood on 121 acres of land situated at Marina, which now houses Senate House and Public Works Department offices.

After the demise of the last Nawab of Carnatic, who died without an issue in 1855, the Government committed to provide a suitable new residence to the paternal uncle of the deceased Nawab, Prince Azeem Jah, who was later recognised as the first Prince of Arcot.

As per a Government Order (No: 113, dated 28-03-1870), the Royapettah Police Court was purchased for converting it into the official residence of the Prince of Arcot and his successors in title. This building, with its stately facade, grand Durbar hall and Banquet hall, was built in 1798, used as Royapettah Police Court and finally converted into a palace, fit for the residence of the Prince.

Under further orders, the building was named Amir Mahal and the Government made an allotment in their budget for its upkeep and annual repair works. In 1940, the Government of Madras, in consultation with the Prince of Arcot transferred the management of Amir Mahal from the charge of the Madras Government to the Central Government that is now looking after its maintenance, annual repairs, electrical installation and furniture establishment through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

The present Prince of Arcot, who is the eighth in accession, continues to live in his ancestral ‘s historic and official residence – Amir Mahal, along with his family, staff and servants and their families, who total nearly 600 in number.

http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/sightseeing/history/amirmahal.asp

CHENNAI, AUG. 18. The mother of the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Jeelani Begum Saheba, and the Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu and group publications, N. Ram, today launched a website on the Nawabs of the Carnatic and the Princes of Arcot.

The historical website (www.princeofarcot.com) contains details of the Nawabs of the Carnatic from 1690 to 1855 and the subsequent Princes of Arcot since 1867 to the present day.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/08/19/stories/2004081908611200.htm

The direct descendent of the erstwhile rulers of Carnatic from 1690 to 1855 and subsequent Princes of Arcot since 1867 to the present day, Nawab Ali is the only royalty in India that’s being recognized by the government that pays for his upkeep and maintenance.

Born in the Royal House of Arcot, on the 9th August, 1951, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali is the eldest son of the Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader, the late Prince of Arcot and lives in the historic palace of his ancestors, ‘Amir Mahal’, in Royapettah in the city of Chennai (Madras), India.

The family traces its lineage from the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Omar Bin-Khattab. Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali succeeded his later father, and was recognized by His Excellency the President of India, as “HIS HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF ARCOT”.

IN the heart of Chennai is a mahal which is home to a princely family that traces its lineage from the Second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Omar Bin-Khattab. Not many residents or visitors to the city, as they hurry through the crowded streets of Royapettah, would be aware that beyond the high crimson walls that enclose the wrought iron gates, lie centuries of history. Enter them and you pass through a driveway, flanked by sheds and outhouses, to a huge building in Indo-Saracenic style.

This is Amir Mahal, the 14-acre residence of His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azim Jah, the eighth Prince of Arcot. More than 300 years ago, his ancestor Zulfikar Ali Khan was summoned from Mecca by Emperor Aurangazeb in order to fight against the Marathas. In the 17th Century when the Marathas were holding sway in the Southern Carnatic from their stronghold at Gingee, Zulfikar Ali Khan came down and inflicted a crushing defeat on the ruler Rajaram.

The delighted Mughal emperor made him the Nawab of the Carnatic under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad and thus were sown the beginnings of the House of Arcot. Later holders of the title identified closely with their area of domicile. The cordial interaction between the Nawabs of Arcot and the Hindu inhabitants of the Tamil country generated a climate of mutual tolerance and secularism that is proudly being carried on to this day.

His Highness the Prince of Arcot is ranked on par with the Cabinet ministers of the State in the Warrant of Precedence, the Courtesy ranks accorded to officials and non-officials.
The Prince is founder-secretary general of “Harmony India” a registered association formed in 1990 to promote communal amity and national integration. Mr. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, is the president while the other 32 members are drawn from different communities.

The 70-room Amir Mahal is home to 600 people all the govt expense.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/02/01/stories/2004020100120200.htm

Haj refund

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI March 9. The Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee today said those who undertook the pilgrimage this year need not contact it for now, on refunds.

The committee said the pilgrims who were accommodated in Arcot Rubat were entitled to a higher refund, being the excess rent paid by the Consulate-General of India over and above 750 Saudi Riyals, for which the Rubat was eligible. But the Muthavalli, Prince of Arcot, agreed to refund only 500 Saudi Riyals per pilgrim. The refund is still awaited from the Consulate-General and is expected through the Central Haj Committee, which has not received the fund. The pilgrims accommodated in Arcot Rubat would be informed separately after receipt of funds from the Central Committee towards refund, says an official release here.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/03/10/stories/2004031006160400.htm

The High Court of Madras, in a judgement in O.S.A. NO. 103/1913, held that the Wakf was created not by a private person, but a sovereign. When in 1913 a scheme suit was filed at Tiruchirapalli in respect of the Endowments, the then Agent, Moulvi Mohammed Abdur Rahman Sahib ‘SHATIR’ with the Fatwa of prominent Muslim Ulama issued on 15-9­1921, was able to persuade the Government to enact the ‘Prince of Arcot Endowments Act’ and the private wakf was converted into a public wakf with the consent of the then Prince of Arcot. The Bill was piloted in the Legislative Council, Madras, by the then Law Member, Sir C.P. Ramasamy Aiyar with the main object of preserving the institution of the Prince of Arcot and preventing any move to remove the Prince of Arcot from the management of public charitable and religious institutions. The Act under Sec. 5 created a scheme for Trichy properties and the Act barred future invocation of reliefs under Sec.92(i) CPC, or reliefs specified in the Religious Endowments Act XX of 1863 in respect of religious and charitable trusts. This Act still continues in force for the governance and administration even today as unequivocally decided by the Bench of the Madras High Court in W.A.2204/1987.

Mr. U. Mohamed Khalilullah, a leading chartered accountant, is the present agent to manage the Prince of Arcot Endowments at Chennai and Trichy and other places outside Trichy district. His appointment is approved by the Tamil Nadu Government.

http://www.princeofarcot.org/present1.htm

Some of the rulers listed here were granted increased gun salutes after the independence. The Maharana of Udaipur was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, and all 9-gun states were permitted the use of the style of Highness. However, it has not been possible to obtain complete details for all the rulers from sources available in England. Arcot appears at the head of the list since the Prince of Arcot is the only prince officially recognised in India.

http://blogs.ibibo.com/dewsoft/SOME-RULERS-GRANTED-INCREASED-GUN-SALUTES.html

Bloggers speak: Chennai cops shut down Lalit Kala Akademi

BLOGGERS Speak

When Thoughts Cease

A tale of two cities (and media hypocrisy)

Incident 1:
Vadodara.
May 9, 2007.

Suspected Hindu right-wingers attack an internal exhibition of paintings at MS University. Artist Chandramohan arrested.

Reaction: The Left-liberal media begins to froth at its mouth. Protests happen all over the place (or at least we are made to believe so by the media). The incident is given wide coverage in all newspapers. Talk shows debate the issue endlessly. SMS Surveys, phone-in shows, internet polls, editorials and Sunday columnists (“intellectuals”) condemn the incident. Phrases such as “Hindu fundamentalists”, “Hindutva fascists” and “Saffron brigade” are bandied about to describe the attackers. The attack is an attack on cultural freedom say some. Some say it’s moral policing.

The media really gave it to those “fascists”, didn’t they? Wham! Bham! Pow! Left, right and center. They even got the artist released from jail and promptly got his perspective on the brouhaha (we cover all aspects of the issue you see).

http://whenthoughtscease.blogspot.com/

Atanu Dey on India’s Development

Truth would have a hard time prevailing in a nation of people cowed down from fear and threat of violence. A recent example of violence shutting out an attempt at finding the truth occurred in Chennai. A bunch of people shut down an exhibition which revealed Aurangzeb to be a tyrant. The police were also involved in the vandalism. The state was involved in suppressing the expression of a viewpoint that some considered unpalatable. Most of the newspapers did not report this.

Isn’t it true that India’s motto basically pokes fun at India’s public actions?

http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/09/on-aurangzeb/

Monologue of a Nomad

I am amazed why should these Muslim organizations join issues here? Why are they feeling obliged towards Aurangzeb? It is a well know fact that among many Hindus the name of Aurangzeb evokes the same passionate hatred as do the names of Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad of Ghori. It was Aurangzeb who ordered all temples destroyed, among them the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most sacred places of Hinduism, and had mosques built on a number of cleared temple sites. Other Hindu sacred places within his reach equally suffered destruction, with mosques built on them.

http://nomadmolouges.blogspot.com/2008/03/muslim-organisations-force-closure-of.html

FACT exhibition vandalized: Has Aurangzeb reincarnated in form of police?

mar 8th, 2008

actually, aurangazeb = sonia and karunanidhi. the police are just their underlings.

http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2008/03/fact-exhibition-vandalized-has.html

Muslim Goondaism shall not pass!

March 8, 2008

Some muslim miscreant bent on hiding the truth managed to get our pseudo secular govt cancel the expo in Chennai. You can be rest assured none of the pseudo secular NGOs will call for freedom of expression now. They will be whacked by the Muslim goondas.

But here are the some of the paintings and sketches about his rule as well as farhans, original edicts by Aurangzeb, preserved at the Bikaner Museum. (Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal Records):
http://www.fact- india.com/ Aurangazebgaller y.php

http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/category/tamilnadu/

Another report mentions that the show was cancelled following some objections but does not mention that three ladies were arrested (It cryptically refers to four people).

Overall the Indian media and intellegentsia has been conspicuous by their silence on the matter.

Will Ms Arundhati Roy, esteemed Shabana Azmi and all other champions of free speech please stand up and defend the right of Francois Gautier to continue with this exhibition?

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/03/08/will-arundhati-roy-defend-gautier/

The super-secular Chindu could only notice a few visitors raising a protest against two paintings. It gives you the impression that everything went so peacefully. Contrast this with the article from The Statesman.

http://cbcnn.blogspot.com/2008/03/art-exhibition-on-aurangazeb-cancelled.html

Philistines brush aside paint of history

NT Bureau | Fri, 07 Mar, 2008 , 02:41 PM

History, in normal course, is the stuff of academic tomes. But these days, history, and the depiction of it through an artistic medium, is newspaper headlines.
All through last week, the national media and the self-appointed custodians of free speech were aghast at the protest from a large section of people over the portrayal of Rajputs in Jodha Akbar, a highly opinionated and patently fictionalised celluloid offering on the Mughal king Akbar and one of his numerous wives, Jodha.
The usual catchphrases of ‘freedom of expression’, ‘creative licence’ were bandied about with gay indignation.

http://jihaditerror.blogspot.com/2008/03/philistines-brush-aside-paint-of.html

VHP condemns police action at FACT exhibition

Chennai, Mar 6: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President S Vedantam today condemned the ‘unruly and undemocratic behaviour’ of police at the exhibition organised by Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT) on the topic ”Aurangazeb as he was according to moghol records” at Lalith Kala Academy here….

http://hindu.theuniversalwisdom.org/vhp-condemns-police-action-fact-exhibition

Chennai cops shut down Lalit Kala Akademi show on Aurangzeb

March 7th, 2008 – 1:44 pm ICT by admin
(Thai Indian News)
Chennai, March 7 (IANS) An art show at the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) here curated by journalist Francois Gautier was at the receiving end of moral policing when an exhibition on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was shut down. Stating that it had received three complaints that the show would disturb communal harmony, police Thursday night burst into the exhibition, shut it down forcibly, took into custody three women associated with the hosting of the exhibition and seized some of the works on display.

The exhibition of 40 paintings, including exceptional miniatures by noted Indian artists, gathered together by Gautier’s Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT) were on show at the LKA from March 3.

The show included farhans (edicts issued by Aurangzeb) from the Bikaner museum and other material on Aurangzeb. It also contained two pictures depicting Aurangzeb’s army destroying the Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Kesava Rai temple in Mathura.

The organisers said they had the right to freedom of expression and the right to exhibit a show that had travelled all over India.

LKA regional secretary R.M. Palaniappan told the media he “should have screened the exhibits more carefully”.

Joint Commissioner of Police P. Balasubramanian later told the media: “We feared it might create a law and order problem.”

The three women from FACT, Saraswathi (65), Vijayalakshmi (62) and Malathi (47), were picked up from the show at about 7.30 p.m. and taken to the police station, where they were held for nearly an hour without being allowed to contact their families or any lawyer.

“The police were rude to us, they asked us whether we were terrorists”, Saraswathi told the media. The women were later released.

Gautier too told the media Chennai police refused to protect the exhibition. “The idea was to show how different the history of India would have been if Dara Shikho, emperor Shajahan’s elder son and preferred heir, had become ruler of India,” he said as he went to the police and explained that his intentions were not to spread any social disharmony, “only to bring history to the people”.

The exhibition had come to Chennai after showing in Delhi and Pune and was to go on till March 9.

Art exhibition on Aurangazeb cancelled

Staff Reporter (The HINDU)

Chennai: An art exhibition on the life of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb in the city was closed down on Thursday following protests by a section of visitors who objected to the “communal nature” of some of the exhibits. The exhibition was inaugurated on Monday and was scheduled to be open till Sunday. However, some visitors raised a protest against two paintings showing demolition of temples in Somnath and Mathura.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) M. Ramasubramani said the management of Lalit Kala Akademi, where the event was being held, told the exhibition organisers ‘Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism’ to close down as they apprehended law and order problems. The Foundation is run by Delhi-based French journalist Francois Gautier. In a statement here, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali welcomed the cancellation of the exhibition in view of its communal content. He added that the exhibition would unnecessarily create communal disharmony in a State reputed for its secularism.

Ire, indifference after closure of ‘objectionable exhibition’

New Kerala

Chennai, March 7 : Anger and indifference are the two main reactions expressed here Friday following Thursday’s closure of an “objectionable exhibition” organised by French journalist and political commentator Francois Gautier at the Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA).

The exhibition claimed to “expose the misdeeds against Hinduism during the Mughal period”.

Following Muslim protests, the exhibition of paintings and reproductions of Arabic and Persian documents alluding to destruction of Hindu shrines at the LKA here since Monday was closed down to “prevent a law and order situation”.

“We had no other option but to close it down. Some Muslims objected to it citing wrong inferences drawn from Arabic texts which could not be independently deciphered by anyone here,” Rm Palaniappan, the secretary of the Chennai LKA told IANS.

“We requested the removal of some objectionable materials – including a few illustrations of temples being pulled down during the era of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb – thrice as their display is against our rules.

“Our facility is purely meant for showcasing contemporary art. When the representatives of Francois Gautier refused to heed our requests, we had no other option but to close it down after a police complaint.

“Since we wanted to prevent a law and order situation here developing out of an objectionable exhibition, we had to pull the shutters down,” Palaniappan said.

A furious Hindu Front leader Rama Gopalan has a different version.

“The incident makes it clear that we are being prevented from publicly exhibiting historically documented facts. The exhibition of Gautier – which had been shown successfully elsewhere in India earlier – was vandalised by Islamic goons and closed down by the LKA officials with police protection to pander to the crude tastes of the minority community.

“If persons like M.F. Hussain can be allowed to openly denigrate Hindu deities in the name or art in similar institutions in India, can’t an impartial foreign commentator be permitted to depict facts per se? In a nutshell, this is simple and straight fascism,” Gopalan told IANS.

“The press has twisted facts to fit into a pattern that suits saffron apologists,” said Commissioner of Police Nanchil Kumaran.

Director General of Police P. Rajendiran said: “Notwithstanding what my colleague (Kumaran) said, the simple fact is that a law and order situation has been averted. No news, in our opinion, is good news.”

Artists view the matter differently.

“It is a very sad thing to happen. Art is something where there is total freedom of expression. Why are they making religion such a big issue? It is totally unfair.

“There is nothing obscene in exhibiting Mughal paintings. Look at the west, which has given artists complete freedom. If such things happen in a democratic country like ours, what can you say,” said leading contemporary artist Kanchan Chander.

“There have been protests. We protested against politicians who targeted M.F. Husain branding his works anti-national, but nothing really came of them. I am a Hindu, but I respect every religion,” Chander added.

Gautier was unavailable for comment.

— IANS

No room for “FACTS” in Dravidian Land!

FACTS ABOUT THE FACT – Exhibition on Aurangazeb!
(HJS website)
FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) had organized an Exhibition of Paintings under the theme “Aurangazeb ‘as he was’ According to Moghol Records” in Chennai from the 3rd of March to 9th of March, 2008. The venue of the Exhibition was “Lalit Kala Academy” (National Academy of Art), Greams Road, Chennai.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr.Vittal, Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr.B.Raman Former Additional Secretary of UOI & RAW Official and Mr.S.Gurumurthy, Columnist, on the 3rd of March at 5 pm. The inauguration was attended by about 100 people. Prior to the inauguration, a Press Meet was also conducted.

From the next morning onwards, visitors started coming and the numbers gradually increased towards the evening. On Wednesday the 5th, a group of Muslims (around 15 people) visited and argued with the volunteers of the exhibition about the authenticity of the paintings and the historical information. The evening news paper “News Today” carried a report about the inauguration of the exhibition.

Art exhibition in city runs into rough weather

Chennai online
Chennai, Mar 6: An art exhibition, showcasing the life of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb has run into rough weather here following objections from some Muslim individuals against some portraits, claiming that the pictures would ‘disturb the peace’ in Tamil Nadu.

The Lalit Kala Academy, where the exhibition is on till March 9, is even considering cancelling the show.

R M Palaniappan, Regional Secretary, Lalit Kala Academy, told reporters that two persons had submitted written complaints, stating that a portrait, depicting the demolition of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, following the order of Aurangazeb, could lead to communal hatred.

“Since it came to my attention only yesterday, I have informed the headquarters at Delhi and are waiting further orders from them,” Palanippan said.

To a query, he said that though he had the discretionary powers to cancel the show, he was still awaiting orders from the headquarters.

Meanwhile, Hindu Munnani founder leader RamaGopalan today visited the gallery and saw the pictures.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said it was in no way a distortion of facts. “Visitors (to the exhibition) have the right to know the truth. If the exhibition is cancelled, we will stage a demonstration the Lalit Kala Academy”, he said.

Malathy, a ‘volunteer’ with FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) the organisers, told that they wanted to put on show just the historical facts about Aurangazeb, aimed at reaching school children.

Police personnel have been posted at the academy premises as a precautionary measure. – Agencies

Published: Friday, March 07, 2008

‘Aurangzeb expo aimed at promoting enmity’

(rediff.com)

Welcoming the closing down of an exhibition on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali on Friday alleged that the expo was organised to promote enmity among various groups and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of co-existence of religions in Tamil Nadu.

“The exhibition was a complete diatribe against Aurangzeb, organised by a Muslim-hating columnist, totally biased and one-sided in its presentation and calculated to stir up feelings of ill-will and animosity towards the minority community for the alleged acts and omissions of a ruler who lived centuries ago,” he alleged in a statement.

Claiming that the expo sought to portray the emperor as an ‘iconoclast, dictator, bigot and ruthless ruler’, he said the paintings seemed to dwell only on Aurangzeb’s alleged misdeeds and not a word about his many contributions of lands and grants to Hindu temples. The monarch’s acts were presented torn out of their historical context, he claimed.

He said there was no doubt that all right thinking people interested in the promotion of communal harmony, secularism and national integration would welcome the decision of the police to close down such an ‘inflammatory and prejudiced’ exhibition. This would go a long way in preventing untoward incidents and maintain brotherhood and respect for each other’s religion, he added.

On Thursday, the exhibition was abruptly closed down in the wake of some Muslim outfits and Hindu organisations failing to see eye to eye on some of the portraits on display and the police fearing that it could whip up communal passions. The Prince of Arcot, who visited the exhibition, had expressed displeasure over the paintings. UNI

Controversy puts an end to Aurangzeb exhibition

(Rediff.com)

March 07, 2008 11:55 IST
Last Updated: March 07, 2008 14:01 IST

Curtains came down abruptly on an exhibition, depicting the life history of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai in the wake of some Muslim outfits and Hindu organisations failing to see eye to eye on some of the portraits on display.

Trouble started when some Muslim organisations and Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali took up cudgels against some portraits, claiming it would disturb peace in the state and demanded the expo ‘Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal records’ be cancelled.

Jumping to the defence of the exhibition of paintings by French artist Francois Gautier, a few Hindu outfits opposed any move to cancel the show, contending that ‘only historical facts’ were on display.

Police provided tight security on the premises, with the two groups unrelenting.

Fearing that the exhibition could whip up communal passions, the city police and Akademi regional secretary R M Palaniappan ended the expo, which began fours days ago, abruptly, three days ahead of schedule.

Police also detained three women associated with the exhibition — Saraswathi (65), Dr Vijayalakshmi (62) and Malathi (47) — for half an hour for inquiry.

Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad working president S Vedantam condemned the police action at the exhibition, organised by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism. UNI

Bloggers speak: Chennai cops shut down Lalit Kala Akademi

BLOGGERS Speak

When Thoughts Cease

A tale of two cities (and media hypocrisy)

Incident 1:
Vadodara.
May 9, 2007.

Suspected Hindu right-wingers attack an internal exhibition of paintings at MS University. Artist Chandramohan arrested.

Reaction: The Left-liberal media begins to froth at its mouth. Protests happen all over the place (or at least we are made to believe so by the media). The incident is given wide coverage in all newspapers. Talk shows debate the issue endlessly. SMS Surveys, phone-in shows, internet polls, editorials and Sunday columnists (“intellectuals”) condemn the incident. Phrases such as “Hindu fundamentalists”, “Hindutva fascists” and “Saffron brigade” are bandied about to describe the attackers. The attack is an attack on cultural freedom say some. Some say it’s moral policing.

The media really gave it to those “fascists”, didn’t they? Wham! Bham! Pow! Left, right and center. They even got the artist released from jail and promptly got his perspective on the brouhaha (we cover all aspects of the issue you see).

http://whenthoughtscease.blogspot.com/

Atanu Dey on India’s Development

Truth would have a hard time prevailing in a nation of people cowed down from fear and threat of violence. A recent example of violence shutting out an attempt at finding the truth occurred in Chennai. A bunch of people shut down an exhibition which revealed Aurangzeb to be a tyrant. The police were also involved in the vandalism. The state was involved in suppressing the expression of a viewpoint that some considered unpalatable. Most of the newspapers did not report this.

Isn’t it true that India’s motto basically pokes fun at India’s public actions?

http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/09/on-aurangzeb/

Monologue of a Nomad

I am amazed why should these Muslim organizations join issues here? Why are they feeling obliged towards Aurangzeb? It is a well know fact that among many Hindus the name of Aurangzeb evokes the same passionate hatred as do the names of Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad of Ghori. It was Aurangzeb who ordered all temples destroyed, among them the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most sacred places of Hinduism, and had mosques built on a number of cleared temple sites. Other Hindu sacred places within his reach equally suffered destruction, with mosques built on them.

http://nomadmolouges.blogspot.com/2008/03/muslim-organisations-force-closure-of.html

FACT exhibition vandalized: Has Aurangzeb reincarnated in form of police?

mar 8th, 2008

actually, aurangazeb = sonia and karunanidhi. the police are just their underlings.

http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2008/03/fact-exhibition-vandalized-has.html

Muslim Goondaism shall not pass!

March 8, 2008

Some muslim miscreant bent on hiding the truth managed to get our pseudo secular govt cancel the expo in Chennai. You can be rest assured none of the pseudo secular NGOs will call for freedom of expression now. They will be whacked by the Muslim goondas.

But here are the some of the paintings and sketches about his rule as well as farhans, original edicts by Aurangzeb, preserved at the Bikaner Museum. (Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal Records):
http://www.fact- india.com/ Aurangazebgaller y.php

http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/category/tamilnadu/

Another report mentions that the show was cancelled following some objections but does not mention that three ladies were arrested (It cryptically refers to four people).

Overall the Indian media and intellegentsia has been conspicuous by their silence on the matter.

Will Ms Arundhati Roy, esteemed Shabana Azmi and all other champions of free speech please stand up and defend the right of Francois Gautier to continue with this exhibition?

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/03/08/will-arundhati-roy-defend-gautier/

The super-secular Chindu could only notice a few visitors raising a protest against two paintings. It gives you the impression that everything went so peacefully. Contrast this with the article from The Statesman.

http://cbcnn.blogspot.com/2008/03/art-exhibition-on-aurangazeb-cancelled.html

Philistines brush aside paint of history

NT Bureau | Fri, 07 Mar, 2008 , 02:41 PM

History, in normal course, is the stuff of academic tomes. But these days, history, and the depiction of it through an artistic medium, is newspaper headlines.
All through last week, the national media and the self-appointed custodians of free speech were aghast at the protest from a large section of people over the portrayal of Rajputs in Jodha Akbar, a highly opinionated and patently fictionalised celluloid offering on the Mughal king Akbar and one of his numerous wives, Jodha.
The usual catchphrases of ‘freedom of expression’, ‘creative licence’ were bandied about with gay indignation.

http://jihaditerror.blogspot.com/2008/03/philistines-brush-aside-paint-of.html

VHP condemns police action at FACT exhibition

Chennai, Mar 6: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President S Vedantam today condemned the ‘unruly and undemocratic behaviour’ of police at the exhibition organised by Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT) on the topic ”Aurangazeb as he was according to moghol records” at Lalith Kala Academy here….

http://hindu.theuniversalwisdom.org/vhp-condemns-police-action-fact-exhibition

Chennai cops shut down Lalit Kala Akademi show on Aurangzeb

March 7th, 2008 – 1:44 pm ICT by admin
(Thai Indian News)
Chennai, March 7 (IANS) An art show at the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) here curated by journalist Francois Gautier was at the receiving end of moral policing when an exhibition on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was shut down. Stating that it had received three complaints that the show would disturb communal harmony, police Thursday night burst into the exhibition, shut it down forcibly, took into custody three women associated with the hosting of the exhibition and seized some of the works on display.

The exhibition of 40 paintings, including exceptional miniatures by noted Indian artists, gathered together by Gautier’s Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT) were on show at the LKA from March 3.

The show included farhans (edicts issued by Aurangzeb) from the Bikaner museum and other material on Aurangzeb. It also contained two pictures depicting Aurangzeb’s army destroying the Somnath temple in Gujarat and the Kesava Rai temple in Mathura.

The organisers said they had the right to freedom of expression and the right to exhibit a show that had travelled all over India.

LKA regional secretary R.M. Palaniappan told the media he “should have screened the exhibits more carefully”.

Joint Commissioner of Police P. Balasubramanian later told the media: “We feared it might create a law and order problem.”

The three women from FACT, Saraswathi (65), Vijayalakshmi (62) and Malathi (47), were picked up from the show at about 7.30 p.m. and taken to the police station, where they were held for nearly an hour without being allowed to contact their families or any lawyer.

“The police were rude to us, they asked us whether we were terrorists”, Saraswathi told the media. The women were later released.

Gautier too told the media Chennai police refused to protect the exhibition. “The idea was to show how different the history of India would have been if Dara Shikho, emperor Shajahan’s elder son and preferred heir, had become ruler of India,” he said as he went to the police and explained that his intentions were not to spread any social disharmony, “only to bring history to the people”.

The exhibition had come to Chennai after showing in Delhi and Pune and was to go on till March 9.

Art exhibition on Aurangazeb cancelled

Staff Reporter (The HINDU)

Chennai: An art exhibition on the life of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb in the city was closed down on Thursday following protests by a section of visitors who objected to the “communal nature” of some of the exhibits. The exhibition was inaugurated on Monday and was scheduled to be open till Sunday. However, some visitors raised a protest against two paintings showing demolition of temples in Somnath and Mathura.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) M. Ramasubramani said the management of Lalit Kala Akademi, where the event was being held, told the exhibition organisers ‘Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism’ to close down as they apprehended law and order problems. The Foundation is run by Delhi-based French journalist Francois Gautier. In a statement here, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali welcomed the cancellation of the exhibition in view of its communal content. He added that the exhibition would unnecessarily create communal disharmony in a State reputed for its secularism.

Ire, indifference after closure of ‘objectionable exhibition’

New Kerala

Chennai, March 7 : Anger and indifference are the two main reactions expressed here Friday following Thursday’s closure of an “objectionable exhibition” organised by French journalist and political commentator Francois Gautier at the Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA).

The exhibition claimed to “expose the misdeeds against Hinduism during the Mughal period”.

Following Muslim protests, the exhibition of paintings and reproductions of Arabic and Persian documents alluding to destruction of Hindu shrines at the LKA here since Monday was closed down to “prevent a law and order situation”.

“We had no other option but to close it down. Some Muslims objected to it citing wrong inferences drawn from Arabic texts which could not be independently deciphered by anyone here,” Rm Palaniappan, the secretary of the Chennai LKA told IANS.

“We requested the removal of some objectionable materials – including a few illustrations of temples being pulled down during the era of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb – thrice as their display is against our rules.

“Our facility is purely meant for showcasing contemporary art. When the representatives of Francois Gautier refused to heed our requests, we had no other option but to close it down after a police complaint.

“Since we wanted to prevent a law and order situation here developing out of an objectionable exhibition, we had to pull the shutters down,” Palaniappan said.

A furious Hindu Front leader Rama Gopalan has a different version.

“The incident makes it clear that we are being prevented from publicly exhibiting historically documented facts. The exhibition of Gautier – which had been shown successfully elsewhere in India earlier – was vandalised by Islamic goons and closed down by the LKA officials with police protection to pander to the crude tastes of the minority community.

“If persons like M.F. Hussain can be allowed to openly denigrate Hindu deities in the name or art in similar institutions in India, can’t an impartial foreign commentator be permitted to depict facts per se? In a nutshell, this is simple and straight fascism,” Gopalan told IANS.

“The press has twisted facts to fit into a pattern that suits saffron apologists,” said Commissioner of Police Nanchil Kumaran.

Director General of Police P. Rajendiran said: “Notwithstanding what my colleague (Kumaran) said, the simple fact is that a law and order situation has been averted. No news, in our opinion, is good news.”

Artists view the matter differently.

“It is a very sad thing to happen. Art is something where there is total freedom of expression. Why are they making religion such a big issue? It is totally unfair.

“There is nothing obscene in exhibiting Mughal paintings. Look at the west, which has given artists complete freedom. If such things happen in a democratic country like ours, what can you say,” said leading contemporary artist Kanchan Chander.

“There have been protests. We protested against politicians who targeted M.F. Husain branding his works anti-national, but nothing really came of them. I am a Hindu, but I respect every religion,” Chander added.

Gautier was unavailable for comment.

— IANS

No room for “FACTS” in Dravidian Land!

FACTS ABOUT THE FACT – Exhibition on Aurangazeb!
(HJS website)
FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) had organized an Exhibition of Paintings under the theme “Aurangazeb ‘as he was’ According to Moghol Records” in Chennai from the 3rd of March to 9th of March, 2008. The venue of the Exhibition was “Lalit Kala Academy” (National Academy of Art), Greams Road, Chennai.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr.Vittal, Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr.B.Raman Former Additional Secretary of UOI & RAW Official and Mr.S.Gurumurthy, Columnist, on the 3rd of March at 5 pm. The inauguration was attended by about 100 people. Prior to the inauguration, a Press Meet was also conducted.

From the next morning onwards, visitors started coming and the numbers gradually increased towards the evening. On Wednesday the 5th, a group of Muslims (around 15 people) visited and argued with the volunteers of the exhibition about the authenticity of the paintings and the historical information. The evening news paper “News Today” carried a report about the inauguration of the exhibition.

Art exhibition in city runs into rough weather

Chennai online
Chennai, Mar 6: An art exhibition, showcasing the life of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb has run into rough weather here following objections from some Muslim individuals against some portraits, claiming that the pictures would ‘disturb the peace’ in Tamil Nadu.

The Lalit Kala Academy, where the exhibition is on till March 9, is even considering cancelling the show.

R M Palaniappan, Regional Secretary, Lalit Kala Academy, told reporters that two persons had submitted written complaints, stating that a portrait, depicting the demolition of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat, following the order of Aurangazeb, could lead to communal hatred.

“Since it came to my attention only yesterday, I have informed the headquarters at Delhi and are waiting further orders from them,” Palanippan said.

To a query, he said that though he had the discretionary powers to cancel the show, he was still awaiting orders from the headquarters.

Meanwhile, Hindu Munnani founder leader RamaGopalan today visited the gallery and saw the pictures.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said it was in no way a distortion of facts. “Visitors (to the exhibition) have the right to know the truth. If the exhibition is cancelled, we will stage a demonstration the Lalit Kala Academy”, he said.

Malathy, a ‘volunteer’ with FACT (Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism) the organisers, told that they wanted to put on show just the historical facts about Aurangazeb, aimed at reaching school children.

Police personnel have been posted at the academy premises as a precautionary measure. – Agencies

Published: Friday, March 07, 2008

‘Aurangzeb expo aimed at promoting enmity’

(rediff.com)

Welcoming the closing down of an exhibition on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali on Friday alleged that the expo was organised to promote enmity among various groups and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of co-existence of religions in Tamil Nadu.

“The exhibition was a complete diatribe against Aurangzeb, organised by a Muslim-hating columnist, totally biased and one-sided in its presentation and calculated to stir up feelings of ill-will and animosity towards the minority community for the alleged acts and omissions of a ruler who lived centuries ago,” he alleged in a statement.

Claiming that the expo sought to portray the emperor as an ‘iconoclast, dictator, bigot and ruthless ruler’, he said the paintings seemed to dwell only on Aurangzeb’s alleged misdeeds and not a word about his many contributions of lands and grants to Hindu temples. The monarch’s acts were presented torn out of their historical context, he claimed.

He said there was no doubt that all right thinking people interested in the promotion of communal harmony, secularism and national integration would welcome the decision of the police to close down such an ‘inflammatory and prejudiced’ exhibition. This would go a long way in preventing untoward incidents and maintain brotherhood and respect for each other’s religion, he added.

On Thursday, the exhibition was abruptly closed down in the wake of some Muslim outfits and Hindu organisations failing to see eye to eye on some of the portraits on display and the police fearing that it could whip up communal passions. The Prince of Arcot, who visited the exhibition, had expressed displeasure over the paintings. UNI

Controversy puts an end to Aurangzeb exhibition

(Rediff.com)

March 07, 2008 11:55 IST
Last Updated: March 07, 2008 14:01 IST

Curtains came down abruptly on an exhibition, depicting the life history of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, at the Lalit Kala Akademi in Chennai in the wake of some Muslim outfits and Hindu organisations failing to see eye to eye on some of the portraits on display.

Trouble started when some Muslim organisations and Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali took up cudgels against some portraits, claiming it would disturb peace in the state and demanded the expo ‘Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal records’ be cancelled.

Jumping to the defence of the exhibition of paintings by French artist Francois Gautier, a few Hindu outfits opposed any move to cancel the show, contending that ‘only historical facts’ were on display.

Police provided tight security on the premises, with the two groups unrelenting.

Fearing that the exhibition could whip up communal passions, the city police and Akademi regional secretary R M Palaniappan ended the expo, which began fours days ago, abruptly, three days ahead of schedule.

Police also detained three women associated with the exhibition — Saraswathi (65), Dr Vijayalakshmi (62) and Malathi (47) — for half an hour for inquiry.

Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad working president S Vedantam condemned the police action at the exhibition, organised by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism. UNI

Press coverage and controversy around Aurangzeb in Chennai

Aurangzeb Exhibition thretened by the Muslim Groups in Chennai

Update: The two volunteers (female) from chennai were threatened by the state police and illegally taken into custody for 5 and half hours. Ofcourse they were later released after repeated appeals. The Additional commissioner of police Mr Murali IPS was the one acting like an agent of the miscreants and he threw down two precious paintings breaking them beyond repair (how is taking law into ones own hands justified). The right to freedom of expression I hope would not come into play here since Hindus are involved. The Exhibition as of now is indefinitely locked up and closed as is the gallery. The Aurangzeb Exhibition in Chennai was thretened and asked to close down today by the Muslim leaders of the makkal urimai kalazam. They were having problems with the way Aurangzeb was portrayed in the exhibition. While the organisers FACT India is clear and we have nothing to do with the content which is sourced from the Original Akhbarat or Court documents of Moghul courts in the archives of Museums Deprartment, Govt of India. Leaders of the Muslim group and Nawab of Arkat walked in yesterday 5th march 2008 and protested on the exhibition saying Aurangzeb was poorly depicted, and this would lead to clashes and riots. Their contention was while Aurangzeb has done lot of good things (reading quran and stitching his caps which by the way is depicted in the exhibition) nothing was said about that and only his misdeeds were portrayed. They alleged that Hindus would get angry and make disturbances so the Exhibition needs to be closed. FACT India clarifies that it is not anybody’ opinion that is depicted in the exhibition but only the History as it was from the Moghul court documents the Akhbarat. FACT India has orgnised this exhibition to bring awareness on facts as they are. And Aurangzeb and his philosophy of “I kill if you dont agree” is the fundamentalism that the world is facing, it needs to be encountered tooth and nail. The Terrorism and the ideology behind it needs to be stopped. The exhibition has travelled to New Delhi, Bangalore and Pune and is currently showing at Lalit kala Academy Chennai. The exhibition is scheduled to be in chennai from 3rd to 9th march 2008. The media was immediately there and Police intervened to secure the exhibition from miscreants. What was surprising was the media never came when invited for the inauguration of the Exhibition time and again, it was never to be seen while everything was peacful but once they smelled the disturbance all of them were there.

Aurangzeb exhibits at Lalit Kala Academy kick up row
Chennai | Thursday, Mar 6 2008 IST

Web India

An art exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi here, depicting the life history of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb has run into a controversy following opposition by some Muslim outfits to some of the portraits and Hindu organisations coming to its defence by opposing the cancellation demand. Tight police security had been deployed at the premises after Muslim organisations took up cudgels against some of the portraits claiming that it would disturb peace in the State and demanded that the expo should be canceled. Justifying the portraits, a Hindu outfit opposed any move for canceling the show contending that “only Historical facts” were on display.

The Akademy’s Regional Secretary R M Palaniappan told reporters that three people, including two Muslims had raised objections to a photo that showed demolition of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat by Muslim forces, following an order by Aurangazeb. They also submitted a written complaint that this picture could hurt the sentiments of Hindus and would result in communal hatred. The issue has been referred to the Akademi headquarters at New Delhi, he added. To a question, he said though he had enough powers to cancel the show, he was awaiting orders from the headquarters. “I cannot allow such controversies in a government building,” he added. Meanwhile, ‘Hindu Munnani’ leader Rama Gopalan visited the Akademi and said there was no distortion of facts in the pictures. He also threatened to launch an agitation if the exhibition was cancelled.

— (UNI) — 06MS42.xml

Knowing the Mughal Emperor
Thursday March 6 2008 11:31 IST

Express Features

LALIT Kala Akademi is holding an exhibition on Aurangzeb, the mighty Mughal empire’s most reviled king. Organised by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism, it contains paintings and sketches about his rule as well as farhans, original edicts by Aurangzeb, preserved at the Bikaner Museum.

When Francois Gautier, trustee, FACT, approached the museum for the original records, it was first of a kind query for the museum. “They told me nobody had touched these records in the last fifty years. I could obtain permission to use the records only after speaking to the chief minister of Rajasthan,” he says.

Aurangzeb as he was, is an initiative by Francois to tell the world what they read about Aurangazeb in textbooks wasn’t what he exactly was.

“Instead, if Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb’s elder brother and Shah Jahan’s preferred heir, had taken over the throne, the course of Mughal history and India would have been a lot different,” he explains. ‘Aurangzeb as he was’ was inaugurated in Delhi, travelled Pune and Bangalore before reaching Chennai.

Over 40 exhibits pictorally explain Aurangzeb’s macabre rule which saw the demolition of many tem ples, reinstallation of jizyah for non-muslims and incentives for conversion into Islam. Also depicted is the death of Dara Shukoli himself, as ordered by Aurangzeb.

A French journalist who has made Chennai and Puducherry his home now, Francais sees India as a great country, with a repository of wealth in certain issues.

“Take the family system for example. It is the pure genius of India. If that is lost in the country, it isn’t India at all,” he remarks.

Other Indian ideals that have caught the fancy of Francais are Ayurveda, Vedas, and spirituality. A biographer of Pandit Sri Sri Ravishankar, Francais sees an atmosphere of tolerance to others in the country. “Just that there is very little awareness about the country’s cultural importance,” he rues.

The exhibition took three years to be completed and was inaugurated by former chief vigilance commissioner N Vittal, former RAW chief B Raman and journalist S Gurumurthy.

It was inaugurated on Aurangzeb’s death anniversary (March 3) and will be on till March 9.

Press coverage and controversy around Aurangzeb in Chennai

Aurangzeb Exhibition thretened by the Muslim Groups in Chennai

Update: The two volunteers (female) from chennai were threatened by the state police and illegally taken into custody for 5 and half hours. Ofcourse they were later released after repeated appeals. The Additional commissioner of police Mr Murali IPS was the one acting like an agent of the miscreants and he threw down two precious paintings breaking them beyond repair (how is taking law into ones own hands justified). The right to freedom of expression I hope would not come into play here since Hindus are involved. The Exhibition as of now is indefinitely locked up and closed as is the gallery. The Aurangzeb Exhibition in Chennai was thretened and asked to close down today by the Muslim leaders of the makkal urimai kalazam. They were having problems with the way Aurangzeb was portrayed in the exhibition. While the organisers FACT India is clear and we have nothing to do with the content which is sourced from the Original Akhbarat or Court documents of Moghul courts in the archives of Museums Deprartment, Govt of India. Leaders of the Muslim group and Nawab of Arkat walked in yesterday 5th march 2008 and protested on the exhibition saying Aurangzeb was poorly depicted, and this would lead to clashes and riots. Their contention was while Aurangzeb has done lot of good things (reading quran and stitching his caps which by the way is depicted in the exhibition) nothing was said about that and only his misdeeds were portrayed. They alleged that Hindus would get angry and make disturbances so the Exhibition needs to be closed. FACT India clarifies that it is not anybody’ opinion that is depicted in the exhibition but only the History as it was from the Moghul court documents the Akhbarat. FACT India has orgnised this exhibition to bring awareness on facts as they are. And Aurangzeb and his philosophy of “I kill if you dont agree” is the fundamentalism that the world is facing, it needs to be encountered tooth and nail. The Terrorism and the ideology behind it needs to be stopped. The exhibition has travelled to New Delhi, Bangalore and Pune and is currently showing at Lalit kala Academy Chennai. The exhibition is scheduled to be in chennai from 3rd to 9th march 2008. The media was immediately there and Police intervened to secure the exhibition from miscreants. What was surprising was the media never came when invited for the inauguration of the Exhibition time and again, it was never to be seen while everything was peacful but once they smelled the disturbance all of them were there.

Aurangzeb exhibits at Lalit Kala Academy kick up row
Chennai | Thursday, Mar 6 2008 IST

Web India

An art exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi here, depicting the life history of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb has run into a controversy following opposition by some Muslim outfits to some of the portraits and Hindu organisations coming to its defence by opposing the cancellation demand. Tight police security had been deployed at the premises after Muslim organisations took up cudgels against some of the portraits claiming that it would disturb peace in the State and demanded that the expo should be canceled. Justifying the portraits, a Hindu outfit opposed any move for canceling the show contending that “only Historical facts” were on display.

The Akademy’s Regional Secretary R M Palaniappan told reporters that three people, including two Muslims had raised objections to a photo that showed demolition of the Somnath Temple in Gujarat by Muslim forces, following an order by Aurangazeb. They also submitted a written complaint that this picture could hurt the sentiments of Hindus and would result in communal hatred. The issue has been referred to the Akademi headquarters at New Delhi, he added. To a question, he said though he had enough powers to cancel the show, he was awaiting orders from the headquarters. “I cannot allow such controversies in a government building,” he added. Meanwhile, ‘Hindu Munnani’ leader Rama Gopalan visited the Akademi and said there was no distortion of facts in the pictures. He also threatened to launch an agitation if the exhibition was cancelled.

— (UNI) — 06MS42.xml

Knowing the Mughal Emperor
Thursday March 6 2008 11:31 IST

Express Features

LALIT Kala Akademi is holding an exhibition on Aurangzeb, the mighty Mughal empire’s most reviled king. Organised by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism, it contains paintings and sketches about his rule as well as farhans, original edicts by Aurangzeb, preserved at the Bikaner Museum.

When Francois Gautier, trustee, FACT, approached the museum for the original records, it was first of a kind query for the museum. “They told me nobody had touched these records in the last fifty years. I could obtain permission to use the records only after speaking to the chief minister of Rajasthan,” he says.

Aurangzeb as he was, is an initiative by Francois to tell the world what they read about Aurangazeb in textbooks wasn’t what he exactly was.

“Instead, if Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb’s elder brother and Shah Jahan’s preferred heir, had taken over the throne, the course of Mughal history and India would have been a lot different,” he explains. ‘Aurangzeb as he was’ was inaugurated in Delhi, travelled Pune and Bangalore before reaching Chennai.

Over 40 exhibits pictorally explain Aurangzeb’s macabre rule which saw the demolition of many tem ples, reinstallation of jizyah for non-muslims and incentives for conversion into Islam. Also depicted is the death of Dara Shukoli himself, as ordered by Aurangzeb.

A French journalist who has made Chennai and Puducherry his home now, Francais sees India as a great country, with a repository of wealth in certain issues.

“Take the family system for example. It is the pure genius of India. If that is lost in the country, it isn’t India at all,” he remarks.

Other Indian ideals that have caught the fancy of Francais are Ayurveda, Vedas, and spirituality. A biographer of Pandit Sri Sri Ravishankar, Francais sees an atmosphere of tolerance to others in the country. “Just that there is very little awareness about the country’s cultural importance,” he rues.

The exhibition took three years to be completed and was inaugurated by former chief vigilance commissioner N Vittal, former RAW chief B Raman and journalist S Gurumurthy.

It was inaugurated on Aurangzeb’s death anniversary (March 3) and will be on till March 9.