HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JULY 28
Categorically rejecting claims that there is something offensive about Dr Pereira’s paintings, the Xavier Centre of Historical Research (XCHR) at Porvorim has strongly condemned threats and intimidatory tactics by the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and its activists.
The XCHR has also extended a public apology to Dr Pereira and has regretted the systemic failure to honour, appreciate and protect artists and intellectuals.
In a press note, the XCHR stated that it had temporary closed its latest art exhibition, ‘Epiphanies of the Hindu Gods’ by eminent Sanskrit scholar and wide-ranging intellectual giant, Dr Jose Pereira.
“For the last 24 hours, the Centre has come under sustained pressure from the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and its activists, who have filed a police complaint against Dr Pereira’s paintings, and indulged in a non-stop campaign of telephone threats and warnings to the point of disrupting normal communications with the XCHR.”
“The anonymous telephone calls have included many threats of violence, including a threat of decapitation of the 80-yr-old artist, who incidentally suffers from Parkinson’s disease,” the press note adds.
The XCHR claimed that Dr Pereira’s ‘Epiphanies of the Hindu Gods’ are based entirely on original Sanskrit scriptures, and added that their imagery is derived entirely from the most characteristic iconography of ancient India.
“These paintings are based on a lifetime of selfless scholarship of classical India, and have been painted in the same artistic spirit that Dr Pereira has painted several nude images of Christ, also on display at the XCHR.”
“We categorically reject the claim that there is something offensive about Dr Pereira’s paintings, and strongly condemn the threats and intimidatory tactics he has been facing.”
However, in response to a direct personal appeal by authorities, the XCHR said Dr Pereira had agreed to temporarily close his exhibition, and reopen soon after withdrawing three allegedly controversial pastel paintings.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to the art and culture lovers of our state. The XCHR also extends a public apology to Dr Pereira on behalf of the people and society of Goa, which has once again demonstrated a systemic failure in its capacity to honour, appreciate and protect its greatest artists and intellectuals,” the press note added.
