MF Hussain purged from Himachal Textbook

Students in Himachal Pradesh need know only about artists who've lived and worked there. So, M.F. Husain should be banished from school books.
At least, that's what the BJP government thinks.
For the session starting March, the state's school board will replace a chapter on Husain in the Class XI Hindi textbooks by one on painters Sobha Singh and Nicholas Roerich.
"Husain has nothing to inspire students in Himachal," said board chairman Chaman Lal Gupta. "But these painters had a great association with Himachal.
They could ignite minds."
Artist-activist Ram Rahman said: "Husain's work is above petty politics and will outlast intolerable ideology."
Husain, who lives abroad because of threats from Hindutva elements for his portrayal of Hindu goddesses in the nude, could not be reached for comments. reached for comments.
INPUTS FROM NEW DELHI

Hindustan Times

08/01/2010