Why MF Husain's Ganesha painting was removed from JW Marriott exhibition

There is little doubt that India is a nation waiting to be offended - from paintings to film titles, from words like sex to the idea of virginity, we can be outraged by everything. The latest victim of the great offended Indian is none other than Ganesha. Or more accurately, a painting of Ganesha by MF Husain.

A report in The Times of India says Husain’s painting was a part of an exhibition made up of 75 artists’ works on display at JW Marriott, in Mumbai. However, a guest at the hotel took offense to the painting and wrote a scathing letter to the hotel’s management, following which the exhibitors removed the work. The exhibitors - Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) - later explained that the painting was removed to make sure it didn’t spark violent protests which could potentially also lead to the painting getting damaged.

The painting showed Lord Ganesha in the lap of his mother, Parvati. The Marriott guest was incensed by the fact that the god was portrayed alongside a “nude woman”.

TOI quotes Kishore Singh of DAG: “There was a form of a woman, his mother. It’s a pity that someone chooses to see it like this. But when you want to see something in a particular manner you will.”

The incident had occurred at least a month back and only came to light when film critic and director Khalid Mohamed referred to it in a blog, reports The Hindu.  

According to the paper, Mohamed found the painting mentioned in the catalogue though the painting couldn’t be spotted anywhere in the hotel. On investigating, he unearthed what had happened.

The Hindu states: “Hotel JW Marriot refused to comment. Without specifying any reasons, a hotel spokesperson said ’the painting was replaced with another MF Husain painting,’ a tribal artwork. The Ganesha painting, an untitled and undated work from the ’80s or ’90s, was removed as a measure of ‘caution’ and to see that no sentiments were hurt,” said Kishore Singh.