199 Caliing Attention [ RAJYA SABHA ] to a Matter of 200 Public Importance MB

199 Caliing attention [ RAJYA SABHA ] to a matter of 200 Public importance MB. CHAIRMAN; Please sit down. SHRI V. GOPALSAMY (Tamil Nadu): (Interruptiom). Mr Salve you cannot &ive Sir. I beg to call the attention of the Minister the answer. Please sit down. (Interruptions.) of Culture to the reported shipment of priceless treasures of Indian art and culture in- SHRI MURLIDHAR CHANDRAKANT cluding rare sculptures from various BHANDARE (Maharashtra): Sir, I have one museums; are galleries and temples for point to make. display during the Festival of India to be held in tho United States oi America and France, at SHRI RAMANAND YADAV (Bihar): Sir, grave risk to their safety and steps taken by why are you allowing him to make any Government in this regard. mention. MR. CHAIRMAN; I am not allowing THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE anybody. (Interrwptions) DEPARTMENTS OF PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND SHRI RAMANAND YADAV: CULTURE (SHRI K. P. SINGH DEO); Sir, I Thank you. welcome this opportunity to clarify tho position in regard to the art exhibitions during MR. CHAIRMAN; The discussion on this the Festival of India. matter id closed. Now Calling Attention. The Festival of India in France and USA is SHRI GULAM MOHI-UD-DIN SHAWL scheduled to open in June 1985. It will be cm (Jammu and Kashmir); Sir, I want to say a scale much bigger than the one held in something about Kashmir. It is not about London in 1982 and will cover a wider Bombay. canvas?. It will comprise a large number of exhibitions sponsored by some of the most MR. CHAIRMAN: You cannot raise prestigious musieums in United States and anything without my permission. Please sit France which have displayed the greatest art clown. (Interruptions). treasures oi' the world, performing art^, Indian film Festival, theatre groups poetry reading, SHRI VISHWANATH PRATAP SINGH: symposia and seminars etc. Sir, just one minute. To tie up the looso ends, I assure the Hous* that this information will Six major exhibitions of classical art are be expedited. I know the feelings ol' the being organised during the Festival of India in Members. As soon as I get the information I USA. These are being held in some of the will give it. I have, no intention of hiding or most prestigious! musemus in the world putting it back. including the National Gallery of Art MR. CHAIRMAN; You cannot spoil the Washington DC, Metropolitan Museum of answer. You got it in your favour. Now, Art New York and tho Boston seum of Fine Mr. Gopalsamy. Arts. They are; (1) Sculpture of India 3090 BC to 1300 AD. CALLING ATTENTION TO A MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— C2) 'Tndia". Reported shipment of priceless treasures of Indian Art and culture including <-are (3) Life at Court: Art for India's Rulers- sculptures from various museums, art galleries 16th-19th Cent. AD. and temples for display during- the festival of India to be held in the United States of (4) From India Earth: 4000 years of America and France, at Grave risk to their Terracotta Art. safety. 201 Calling attention | 9 MAY 1985 ] to a matter of 202 public importance (5) Kushan Sculpture val of India constitutes an insignificant proportion of the art works and masterpieces (6) Fatehpur Sikri and the Ag* of Akbar. available in the countiy. The selection of these art objects for different exhibitions is The art objects have been collected from 55 due to the fact that they are well known in the private|autonomous and Governmen; world of art. Eg fact exhibitions of such art museums, besides 9 private collectors with treasures generate more interest and their consent. The process: of selection enthusiasm among scholars and general included the examination of the exhibits by public in the art and cultural heritage of India. experts. As many as 76 out of 441 art objects which w,er initially listed for. display in the e Apart from obtaining' insurance cover on exhibitions! in USA have been dropped, "wall to wall" basis, everv care., according to taking into account the adverse coservaton international practice is being excercised in report or due -to the fragile condition of the respect of packing, transportation etc. Utmost objects. Some of the art objects, which were security have been taken such as valuable on© of their kind such as Pasupati seal and exhibits are escorted by arm ed guards, Dancing girl of Mohanjodra were also consignments are accompanied by experts, excluded. Thu extraordinary objects of s detailed photographic documentation is made historical or aesthetic importance in the at different sltages of the movement of the art context of history of Indian art were excluded. objects. The museums where the exhibitions Barhut Yakshi from Indian Museum and are being held are also equipped with the Amarvati Roundal from Madras Museum, most advanced security systems, and have which were embedded, have not been taken everr precaution to ensure the safety of selected. the art objects being exhibited. It is customary for Museums of It would, therefore, be observed that all international repute to exchange exhibitions, possible precautions have been taken by the each side trying to project th© best of the Government to en-Sure th safety and security counry's cultural heritage and also to receive e of the art treasures proposed to be sent to the the finest in return. For example, the National Festival of India. I might add that Museum New Delhi itself received exhibitions considerable enthusiasm has been generated of the finest and priceless works of art such as abroad about the art and cultural heritage of Thracian Gold from Bulgaria, Art Treasures India. from Dresden and the National Gallery of Modern Art those of German Expressionist. SHRI V. GOPALSAMY: Mr. Chairman, Paul Klee and sculptures by Rodin. It may Sir, "The Discovery of India", a unique also be noted that many nations of the world contribution by the great Pandit Jawaharlal have sent some the greatest exhibitions to the Nehru, projecting the image of this country, a United States, France, Britain and Japan, e.g. land of ancient civilazation, art and the exhibitions of Chinese Art Treasures from architecture and precious sculptures, Tut-Ankh-Amen of Egypt and paintings of stimulated the people abroad to visit this Rembrandt. Out country- cultural heritage and country, to visit the places of art and image is unique in the world and fram times sculpture. Now, Sir, the very idea of immemorial Indian art has also influenced the transporting these priceless treasures, unique styles of the Art of China South East Aslia treasures, to the United States, ig most, and Fai'-eastern countries. Therefore, what ha s outrageous, as if it is a street vendor carrying been selected for the Festi- on his sales, as if inviting publicity. 203 Calling attention [RAJYA SABHA j to a matter of 204 public importance I The Deputy Chairman in tho chair] "According to Khandalawala a committee, set up to work out the insurance Madam, Sculptures dating from the Harappan rates for the art objects going abroad Age to Maurya, Gupta, Kushan and Chola recommended that the Didarganj Yakshi be periods, are being sent abroad. Nine Chola kept back. It was overruled." bronzes removed from temples where they were still worshipped, I understand, will form part "Another outstanding case in which the of the exhibits. The stunning Yakshi of Festival authorities appear to have abandoned restraint is that of the Didarganj, already sent t0 Japan, is to be sent from thereto the U.S.A. Some of the newly Vadakallature Kalaya-naisundaramurthi, excavated sculptures from Sanghol Hear which is repori-edly on their passenger list Chandigarh are in the list. They are the only as well. A depiction of the marriage of pieces of its kind in the country and hence Shiva and Parvathi, this masterpiece of infinitely valuable. Sir, even a slight damage to Pallava art of 9 th century AD executed in some of the pieces will mean incalculable bronze, came to light in 'Tamil Nadu amid loss. Raids of various museums and galleries much elation, about a decade ago." were conducted by the Curators and experts "How do I describe it to you?" asked were brought from the United States and one scholar. "You have to see it for France. Our own experts were not consulted. yourself. The expression on Parvathi's face, Particularly, the viewa of most of the the grace and fluidity of the figures... There directors of the museums were not taken into are several Kalyanasundarams but like this consideration. I quote Karl Khandalawala one." has said. Karl Khandalawala is the eminent art scholar and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bombay's Prince of Wales Museum. Who are the. persons who have come here This has appeared in the Vidian Expres of to select these items? Mrs. Pupul Jayakar, the May 5 last. chairperson of the Advisory Committee, is running the whole show and it is she who selected the items, she who corresponded with "It is nothing short of a crime to send a the various museums. Particularly, the directors masterpiece like the Didar-jang Yakshi— of the museums in the United State- and other the only one of its kind—out of the galleries were corresponding wich Mrs. Papul country. One small crack and she will be Jayakar. But now when she gives interviews to ruined for ever.".. ."This splendid, almost the press, she says, "I have no idea; I don't even completely intact, Mauryan sculpture of the oee the list; I have not seen the list" What idea of 3rd century BC, is, along with the Saranath herself is she selling at the United States? Here lion, the most remarkable survivor of that is a photostat copy of the news released by the period." Smithsonian Institution about this Festival of India.

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