Delhi Art Gallery denies any wrongdoing by showcasing Husain’s paintings

Delhi Art Gallery defends artistic freedom amid controversy over M.F. Husain paintings, denies wrongdoing against religious agenda.

Days after a Delhi court ordered to confiscate the ‘objectionable’ paintings of M.F. Husain displayed at the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG), the DAG authorities said they valued artistic freedom and denied any wrongdoing as alleged by the complainant ‘who has publicly claimed to be principally driven by a religious agenda’.

Judicial Magistrate (JM-I class) Sahil Monga of Patiala House Court on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) reserved the order on a plea filed by Delhi-based advocate Amita Sachdeva, who claimed that the artworks by Husain, that depicted Hindu deities with nude female figures, were highly objectionable and hurt her religious sentiments.

Ms. Sachdeva’s X profile says she will pursue legal action against anyone who insults Sanatan Dharma.

According to the organisers, they started an exhibition showcasing collection of arts of Husain — who was conferred by the Government of India with Padma Shri (1966), Padma Bhushan (1973) and Padma Vibhushan (1991) — last October. The exhibition brought together nearly hundreds of his works, including paintings that explored the idea of nationhood, portraits and self-portraits.

During the course of the exhibition, the gallery received about 5,000 visitors, including scholars, academicians, collectors, students and art enthusiasts as well as journalists, garnering positive reviews. And none of them objected to any of the paintings, the DAG said.

“In early December, one visitor took photographs of a few drawings in the gallery and lodged a police complaint alleging that her religious sentiments were hurt after viewing the artworks. DAG, as a responsible company, complied with the due process and furnished all information as required by the police,” DAG officials said.

They said the drawings in question were acquired internationally at a Christie’s auction and brought to India following due customs clearance.