SAHMAT
8, Vithalbhai Patel House
Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001
Tel-23711276/ 23351424
e-mail:
[email protected]
6.1.2004
Condemn Vandalism of BORI
We strongly condemn the vandalism at the internationally renowned
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune on January 5,2004. A
mob of vandals is reported to have destroyed thousands of rare
manuscripts and other priceless articles, ransacked the cupboards,
tore thousands of books and took away several rare books and damaged
the writings on palm leaves.
We also condemn the attack on the well known Sanskrit scholar Dr.
Srikant Bahulkar. No words are enough to express our anguish at such
wanton destruction of our precious heritage. It is quite clear that
our cultural heritage is not safe with the fundamentalist forces
having a free run in the country. They are being actively encouraged
by the ideology that preaches intolrance and has no respect for half
a millinieum-old monuments, contemporary art practices and scholarly
pursuits.
The government of Maharashtra should do every thing possible to
recover the material and move for exemplary punishment to the
guilty.
R.S.Sharma R.C.Thakran Amar Faroqui
Suraj Bhan B.P.Sahu S.C.Mishra
Irfan Habib V.M.Jha R.P.Rane
D.N.Jha Shireen Moosvi Iqbal Husain
K.M.Shrimali Iqthidar Alam Khan
Ramakrishan Chatterjee
Issued by Ram Rahman
SAHMAT