Kerkar’s Ganesh painting draws ire

Dr Subodh Kerkar has been asked by Goa police to keep his creations in control.

Panaji: Goa police on Monday asked controversial painter Dr Subodh Kerkar to desist from hurting religious sentiments after the right wing Hindu organizations protested against his drawings on Lord Ganesh.The internationally famed installation artist had earned ire of Hindu groups who had lodged police complaintagainst him for ``hurting religious sentiments by portraying Lord Ganesh indecently``.

The artist had drawn Lord Ganesh in different formslike the one with an Oscar trophy and the one doing somersault. The artist , however, maintained that there is no indecency in the paintings. "We have told him (Dr Kerkar) to desist from any activity which will hurt religious feelings," police inspector Nolasco Raposo told PTI today. He said that the department has sought legal opinion on the complaints filed by two organisations against Dr Kerkar. "Appropriate action would be taken on receipt of legal opinion," Raposo added. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Shri Samarth Ramdas Seva Bhakti Mandal, two associations had filed a police complaint against the artist after the drawings were published in local Marathi newspapers. The organisations have objected to the artist`s scheduled exhibition from August 20 to August 31, when Ganesh Chaturthi festival would be celebrated in the state. The exhibition is planned at his art gallery in beach village of Calangute. "What Dr Kerkar is doing is derogatory against the religion. He has no right to hurt the sentiments of the people and moreover it`s a violation of law," HJS convenor Jayesh Thali told a press conference . Kerkar, however, said he did not mean offence to anyone. He told PTI "I have taken the Lord across the globe in my imagination. Lord Ganesh always inspires me and the paintings mean no offence to anyone,". He said that as a painter he has a right to express his creativity and there is no indecency in the paintings. The painter said that he has been receiving threatening calls from unknown persons and has already filed a police complaint in that regard. ``They threatened to chop my fingers off for drawing such a painting," he stated. Bureau Report