The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in Vadodara is entangled in a controversy over an exhibition in its Fine Arts faculty. Some students displayed offensive portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses, causing outrage.
The students’ wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), has objected and called for the dean’s resignation.
As per information obtained, for the annual painting exhibition of Fine Arts faculty, the students had prepared art work on various topics. However, some of those art work created outrage. While some students used cutouts to make portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses, some made nude paintings. Newspapers were used to make art work with cut outs. However, the news used to make such portraits were of rapes. Which has triggered the row.
Following this, the ABVP workers had reached the exhibition and demanded resignation of the dean amid sloganeering. They also demanded that proper inquiry is carried out on the students and action taken. The ABVP leaders also submitted an application in this regard to the dean and the vice chancellor.
In its letter to the vice chancellor, the ABVP said that it is a matter of shame to use news clippings of rapes to create iconography of Hindu gods and goddesses. Further it is condemnable that behind the photographs of Hindu gods and goddesses, news clippings of rapes are added.
Earlier also the Fine Arts faculty had put up offensive art work which hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The ABVP stated in a statement that images of Hindu gods and goddesses are wilfully distorted and insulting in the name of art. The Ashok Pillar, India’s pride, has also been distorted. As a result, the ABVP has requested that those involved face severe penalties.
However, faculty dean Jayram Podwal claims that the viral images are not from MSU and are not displayed at the university.