Attack on Art: Silence on Indian front, Decry Pakistani Artists

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
By Atika Rehman

No serious condemnation, criticism from Indian artists, media on gallery attack. DESIGN: EMA ANIS

PAKISTAN---Members of Bajrang Dal, an extremist youth organisation, ransacked the Amdavad Ni Gufa Art Gallery and destroyed the collection of paintings by 11 Pakistanis and six Indians to ‘protest’ against the alleged Line of Control (LoC) ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops and the killing of Indian soldiers. Soon after the incident was reported, an official condemnation email titled ‘Aman ki Ashes’ was sent out by Gallery 6, the Islamabad art house that put up the collaborated show with the Amdavad Ni Gufa. The incident condemned far and wide in Pakistan – but things were quiet on the Indian front. “They [Indians] proclaim to uphold art in high esteem. But there has been no strong criticism of the vandalism. [link]