Artistic freedom vs popular sentiments

Maqbool Fida Husain, popularly known as M F Husain, was born in 1915 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra.He was called the "Picasso of India" by the Forbes magazine. He was awarded the Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan and is undoubtedly one of the most famous and highly paid artists of the modern India.

His works have become objects of controversy after some nude depictions of Hindu deities were exhibited. India is a secular and democratic country and artists must have freedom of expression. But it is when artistic freedom hurts the religious sentiments of a segment of the population, controversies arise. In response to the controversy, Husain's admirers have petitioned the government to grant Husain the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. The Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti hosts a page in their website in protest against Mr. Husain's controversial paintings.
Link: http://www.hindujagruti.org/activities/campaigns/national/mfhussain-campaign/

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