WHAT IS "OUTRAGEOUS ?"

There is now a fresh mail that is doing the rounds that says "OUTRAGEOUS"- yes, indeed, once more about the hounded artist, MFHussain.

I am not sure how many have read the article, in the TOI of 16/03/10 "Why Should We Shut Up ?" by Gautam Adhikari, an eminent ex-executive editor of TOI, who says, "when an artist of Hussain's calibre is forced to renounce his citizenship, it is time to ask why.."

Also, At the India Today Conclave- as at the 'Indian of the Year' held by both NDTV and CNN/IBN - where assemble the biggest and sharpest talents and brains of India and abroad (they are not any vote-seeking or 'Sonia Gandhi anti-Hindu people' ! ) why did the whole audience en masse, clap and applaud Salman Rushdie and other speakers who sided with MFH of his art-expression and denounced all those who denounced him, driving him out of the country ?

Are they / people like me ( who am myself an artist of some measure, and one who entirely understands the meanderings and imaginations of an artist's mind) are we not respectful- greatly, greatly respectful- of our Gods and Goddesses ?

However, speaking of the new mail , there is a line-

"If MF Hussain draws paintings depicting Hindu Gods and Goddesses in sexual positions (which relations are not borne out by ancient texts at all )...."

I am not sure who the author of the mail is, but all that he / she needs to do to find out that "ancient texts' (and Hindu culture-symbols) indeed bear out Hindu Gods and Goddesses in sexual positions, is to merely browse the internet which has actual reproductions of the same.

But leaving aside an artist's freedom to imagine, his art-expression, and above all his foolishness to think society won't be able to perceive his art as he thinks of it, I wish to ask Hindu society- what is 'outrageous" ?

Yesterday, we were shown on television, a 'sadhu-baba' getting upon a helplessly prostrate woman on the ground, thumping her with his feet, and uttering mantras-- is that not outrageous ?

We were also shown another Hindu 'Godman'- on another occasion- stepping upon small babies- one by one, thumping them with his feet,uttering mantras, even as the infants screamed--- (my 10-year-old grandson watching that screamed too, and ran to me hiding his face in my lap, ...)is that not outrageous ?

Again, Various 'Godmen' constantly being exposed for their unstoppable sexual indescretions, zeal and escapades-- is that not outrageous ?
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Time and again the VHP, the Sena-thugs, the so-called Ram-sainiks and the lot have attacked women brutally- pulling them by the hair, beating them, kicking them, horribly abusing them - is that not outageous ?

While the country reels with hungry millions, a woman politican is honoured by her cohorts with a 5-crore-rupee-garland of Thousand -rupee notes.. is that not outrageous ?

A young girl is left alone in a house with male servants, by parents who go partying in the night, only to find, on their return, the girl murdered-------- is that not outrageous ?

A professor is beaten up and klled by so-called 'student-representatives'...is that not outrageous ?

Why do Indians / Hindus not make any hue and cry about those ?

Will someone tell me, What really is outrageous ?
Surekha