fun: 08/17/09

MUMBAI KA FUNDA....While Traveling by the Mumbai local trains......

Mumbai Ka Funda

While Traveling by the Mumbai local trains.....ALWAYS REMEMBER....

1) Never iron your shirt if you intend to travel during peak hours.

The packed train shall do the needful.

2) Thou shall buy a first class pass only if your company is paying

for it.

3) Else thou should be really rich with an annual income of at least

Rs.10 lakhs traveling by first class. Otherwise is a public crime.

4) Before getting off at a station always make sure to ask the person

ahead of you, "Uterega Kya?" This way you shall not feel left out.

5) If you happen to be one of those few gazillion, who travel by

train during peak hours, on a regular basis, do not spend money on

gymnasiums or health instructors. You will realize how effortlessly

and in an innovative manner, one can practice yoga while traveling.

6) If you have already started practicing this innovative yoga, see

to it that it remains within the confinements of the train

compartment. Try these steps anywhere else and you'll soon get

yourself locked up in a mental asylum.

7) Always push the person standing ahead of you. It is amusing when

the person ahead of you does not use a single word against you.

8) In case you happen to sweat or if your nose starts twitching, rub

the desired body part on the clothes of the person standing closest

to you. Your hands are goanna be of no use to you at that time.

9) Make sure you are the tallest among those standing around you. It

affects you less when others have to bear the smell of your armpits.

10) Avoid traveling in slippers or sandals. It is an accepted fact

that someone always climbs on to your foot.

FW:Mission India Animation Film

Dear Friends,

On occassion of our Glorious Independence Day, I would like you all to see a wonderful animation film "Mission India". Please click on the Youtube link below to see the animation film. Plz do add your comments for this animation film.

Link : http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=-Tgj3KY8zEc

If anyone wants the personal copy of this film, send your request to missionindia. xds@gmail. com.

Warm Wishes

Shreyans Shah

Touch N Inspire

FW:MF Hussain's art disrespects women: Dr Pravana Prakash

MF Hussain's art disrespects women: Dr Pravana Prakash

By: Amit Singh

Date: 2009-08-17

Place: Delhi

Says artist Dr Pravana Prakash, who wants to send a message to the great master through his exhibition

Controversy in colours: 'Your Turn,' the painting by Dr Pravana Prakash, being exhibited at All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society

Maqbool Fida Hussain has been caught in the buff.

Afterdecades of depicting women in the nude, including Bharatmata and manyHindu goddesses, on his canvas, the controversial master artist hasbeen painted doing a Full Monty by a young amateur artist from Delhi.

Ironically, the artist shows a woman painting the nude master!

Controversy framed

Theartist, Dr Pravana Prakash, an Institute of Management Technology (IMT)graduate from Ghaziabad, has created a canvas that shows a woman artistpainting Hussain, as he stands framed against his trademark works. Inthe painting, Hussain is depicted standing with a weasel and a palette.And the artist's inspiration for this controversial painting seems tobe a group of woman painters who had taken offence at the master'sdepiction of the fairer sex in uncompromising positions.

"Ihave no grudge against Hussain. But he depicts women as objects, andthat is wrong. His work disrespects women. The idea to paint Hussain inthe nude was mooted by a group of women painters. But they were afraidto take on such a famous person. I hope through my paintings themessage is conveyed to him," the artist said.

Taking a stand

The exhibition, titled 'Stop That' includes frames that highlight violence against women.

Theartist says his paintings reflect his anger against those whodisrespect women and justify violence against the fairer sex in thename of tradition. "There has been an increase in attacks on women inthe name of moral policing. It is nothing but male chauvinism. Thehooligans who attacked the pub in Mangalore in January said they wereangered by girls drinking and having fun. But they conveniently choseto ignore boys who were doing the same. Does Western culture corruptgirls alone? This duplicity is the distorted face of modern Indiantradition. And I oppose this," said Dr Prakash.

"We can notafford to remain silent and be a mute spectator to women beingmistreated. We have to take a stand against what happened in Mangalore,to author Taslima Nasrin in Kolkata and to nuns in churches,highlighted by Sister Jesme in her book about sexual repression of nunsin Kerala. This series is my way of protesting."

The talk of town

Theexhibition, inaugurated on Independence Day, at All India Fine Arts andCrafts Society (AIFACS), Connaught Place, is attracting eyeballs. Thenude Hussain is in the spotlight. Rakhi Kapoor, a student of Fine Artsfrom Delhi University, visiting the exhibition, said, "MF Hussain hasbeen known for his controversial paintings. Now he has been painted inthe same frame. This should make him stop depicting others in aderogatory manner."

But not everybody is happy with thecontroversial canvas. Another visitor, a student of National MuseumInstitute, said, "Everybody has the freedom of expression but this isnot the right way. Male nude is hardly attractive."

Interestingly,Dr Prakash's paintings were rejected by many galleries before AIFACSstepped forward. "Most were too scared to take on an artist ofHussain's stature," said Dr Prakash.

The exhibition will end on August 21.

The artist
Bornand brought up in Patna, Prakash completed his Bachelor of Medicinefrom Nalanda University. After 9/11 halted his plans to study in theUS, he studied Business Management from IMT, Ghaziabad.

Thisis not the first time Dr Prakash has taken a stand against social evilsthrough his art. He has spoken out against political corruption andxenophobia in the West. "As an artist, I feel responsible aboutsociety. Instead of just expressing my creative self, I like to reactto issues ailing the human kind," he said.