For favor of publication/broadcasting
Heeding agitated Hindus, Helsinki museum removes word "Hinduism" from nude man photo
Heeding to the demand of infuriated Hindus in various parts of the world, the word "Hinduism" has reportedly been
removed from the controversial photograph of nude man on display at a renowned Helsinki (Finland) museum.
Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded this protest, has appreciated this step of the government run
Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, saying that it was a sigh of relief for the agitated Hindu community. He
urged the Museum to remove word "Pushkar" also from this photograph of nude man with visible genitals, arguing that town
of Pushkar, which is associated with Hindu god Brahma, was sacred to Hindus.
Meanwhile, Kiasma Director Brendt Arell, on the request of a Hindu leader to remove word "Pushkar" also from this
photograph, reportedly said that he would consider it.
Welcoming this gesture, Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA)
today, said that this second step of Kiasma, after the first step of removing the photograph titled "Hinduism: The Night
of Pushkar 2" from the website, would help heal the wounds of perturbed Hindu populace.
On the other hand, Finland Prime Minister's Office transferred this issue to Finnish National Gallery, a public body
under Finland Ministry of Education, of which Kiasma is a unit. In a memo copied to Hindu leaders, Heikki Aaltonen,
Permanent State Under-Secretary, wrote, "…we transfer the issue for possible measures…to Finnish National
Gallery…"
Hindus had approached Finland President, Prime Minister, majority Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and others
requesting intervention for the removal of photograph, apparently denigrating to Hinduism, from the exhibition.
Rajan Zed points out that Hindus are for freedom of expression as much as anybody else if not more. Hindu tradition
encourages peaceful debates, won on their intellectual merit. But faith is something sacred and attempts at belittling
it hurt the devotees.
This controversial photograph is on display till April 19 as part of Marita Liulia's "Choosing My Religion" multimedia
exhibition at Kiasma, in which her art pieces juxtapose Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, and Animism. This exhibition will later travel to Tampere, Turku and Vaasa cities in
Finland. Rajan Zed earlier described this photograph display as "very disrespectful, hurting and irreverent".
Zed argued that they thought museums existed for the service and development of the society and for the purpose of
education, inspiration and enjoyment. When did the museums take over the role of denigrating religions, Zed asked?
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and rich philosophical
thought and it should not be taken lightly, Rajan Zed stressed.
ENDS