Open Letter to Trustees of the Walters Art gallery, Baltimore, Maryland, USA: I request devotees of Ganes'a worldwide, to contact and/or write to the Trustees of Water Art Galley museum authorities to withdraw their book about Asian Art and/or expunge the derogatory remarks made in the book which hurt the sentiments of Hindu worldwide: "Asian Art in The Walters Art Gallery: A Selection," by Hiram W. Woodward, Jr. Publisher: The Trustees of The Walters Art Gallery, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201; Excerpts from Page 20:"Ganesa, is a son of the great god Siva, and many of his abilities are comic or absurd extensions of the lofty dichotomies of his father...Ganesa's potbelly and his childlike love for sweets mock Siva's practice of austerities, and his limp trunk will forever be a poor match for Siva's erect phallus." It appears that, Hiram W. Woodword, the author and The Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery, who are the publishers, are basing these obnoxious anti-Hindu comments on the 'academic' work of Prof.Courtright (Emory University) recently withdrawn from circulation by Motilal Banarsidass. The Art Gallery trustees should be aware that Ganes'a is venerated not only in India but also in many other parts of the world. Ganes'a is a cultural icon, for example in Indonesia where Ganes'a adorns the 20000 rupiah currency note (the obverse of the note shows a classroom with children) and Ganes'a icon adorns the entrance of Bangkok Institute of Technology as a divinity of education, and in Thailand, Ganes'a is venerated in Buddha Dhamma. Such derogatory comments about divinities, Ganes'a and S'iva, in a public museum hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindu worldwide and damages the image of the Waters Art Gallery which should be an institution for objective public display of art from many parts of the world. The damage caused to the psyche of the students, children and parents alike who visit the Art Gallery with such unauthenticated and baseless comments is incalculable. Art Gallery is obligated to the world citizens to present the art forms as ennobling representations of human thought and should not be presented to demean Hindu dharma or hurt the sentiments of many people of the world who hold Ganes'a in great adoration and devotion. The Art Gallery should not only offer a public apology to all Hindu and all world citizens who venerate Ganes'a and S'iva, but also compensate for the damage caused by donating to the promotion of Hindu dharma. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman kalyan97@xxxxxxxxx Sarasvati Research Centre, Chennai, India 600015 4 January 2004 Walter Art Gallery 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD Phone: 410-547-9000. Gary Vikan is Museum Director. http://www.artcom.com/museums/vs/sz/21201-51.htm --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/VkWolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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