A London exhibition of paintings by controversial Indian artist M. F. Hussain was cancelled after unidentified vandals defaced erotic paintings of Durga and Draupadi. The attack caused an estimated £200,000 of damage.

The exhibition, hosted by Asia House, contained some controversial images of Hindu deities, including one painting of Durga in what looks like a sexual act with her lion. Certain Hindu groups in Britain had been campaigning to get some of the paintings removed from the exhibition.

Husain, currently aged 90, is one of India's best known artists. He is no stranger to protests and controversy. A recent nude painting of his, titled 'Mother India', drew considerable international protest, and even resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest in India. Past paintings of his have included an image of Sita masturbating on the tail of Hanuman and Parvati fornicating with a bull while husband Shiva looks on.

The attack on the gallery has sparked accusations and counter-accusations between various sections of Britain's Hindu community. A vocal group of academics have accused Hindu groups involved in the anti-Husain protests for having set the atmosphere for the vandalism incident, and have started a petition calling for the reinstatement of the exhibition. They stated that the vast majority of Hindus are not offended in any way by paintings like those of M. F. Husain's.

Hindu groups involved in campaigning against the exhibition have dismissed the academics petition as misrepresentative, and have started a counter petition. Meenaxi Patel, spokesperson for Hindu Human Rights, dismissed the academics as "a bunch of aloof and irrelevant individuals totally oblivious of the feelings and opinions of the Hindu community."

What do people think?

Hindu Voice UK showed a selection of Husain paintings to many individuals, and asked for their feelings on the issue. The following are some comments: