Jesus and Mata Hari
There is nothing in common between Jesus and Mata Hari, except that both were executed. One was a metaphysical rebel who went on to achieve divinity and the other was an exotic dancer who came to be accused of espionage. Tom Vattakuzhy, an artist from Kerala, found certain similarity between the two and generated some controversy. His painting Supper at a Nunnery had to be removed twice from the public sphere. One was a few years ago when it was used as an illustration in a Malayalam periodical and the other was recently in the Kochi-Muziris Biennale art exhibition. [For my post on that exhibition, click here .] Both the times some Christian religious groups protested against the symbolism in the painting which allegedly offended their religious sentiments. Both the times the painting was removed from the place. Religious sentiments have become very fragile all over the world. Even Donald Trump and Narendra Modi, who are otherwise unexceptionally insensitive, carry the burden of...
