Report: Hindu Holocaust Museum – A project initiated by Francois Gautier

Visit: francoisgautier.com

François Gautier was born in Paris, France. In the early eighties, he began freelancing in India for different publications and finally ended-up being the correspondent in South Asia, for the Geneva-based « Journal de Geneve », then one of the best international newspapers in Europe.  In 1993, he switched to Figaro, one of France’s leading newspapers for which he worked exclusively for ten years. He also started writing regular columns for Indian newspapers, first in Blitz Bombay, then in the Hindustan Times, later came the ‘Ferengi’s column” in the Indian Express, then the “French Connection” column in the Pioneer, as well as  regular contributions for Rediff., New Indian Express, Dainik Jagran, etc.

François has written several books: Un autre Regard sur l’Inde” (Editions du Tricorne, Geneva-Paris), which has been reprinted thrice and for which he was invited in May 2000 to ‘Bouillon de Culture’, France’s most prestigious TV literary programme; “Arise O India” (Har Anand) 1999,  “A Western journalist on India” (Har-Anand 2001), “India’s Self Denial (Editions Auroville Press, 2001), “Swami, moine hindou et PDG (Editions Delville, Paris, 2003, 8000 copies sold) “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a guru of Joy” (India Today Book Club, 2003; 11 reprints, 100.000 copies sold). La Caravane Intérieure (Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2005). A New History of India (Har Anand, 2008), The Art of Healing (Harper Collins, 2011), Quand l’Inde s’éveille, la France est endormie (Editions du Rocher, 2012). He is now writing a biography of Shivaji Maharaj for Hay House.

Francois is also the editor in chief of the Paris-based La Nouvelle Revue de l’Inde (lanouvellerevuedelinde.com) and a director of a book collection on India with the same publisher. Francois is married to an Indian from Delhi, Namrita and shuttles between Pondichery, Pune and Delhi.

• NJ 6/27 Fri- 6/29 Sunday. confirmed

• Boston 6/30 Monday -7/2 Wednesday – not confirmed

• Chicago 7/3 Thursday-7/5 Saturday – not confirmed

• Houston

• Florida

• San Jose 7/10-12 – not confirmed

• LA 7/13 Sunday – 7/15 Tuesday

F​act India report 2006 to 2014

Auromodel

Auroville 605101. T.N. India.

www.fact-india.com

1. 3. 2012

 

FACT ACTIVITY REPORT 2007-2012

 

2007

 

FACT was started in 2003 by Namrita and Francois Gautier to highlight Human Right abuses in South Asia. First FACT exhibition dealt with the ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Hindus, four hundred thousand of them having become refuges in their own country . After this exhibition was shown successfully in Delhi and Bangalore, it was displayed in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune in 2006, and Poland, Germany, Israel, England, Holland in 2007. Furthermore, it was brought to the US Congress in July 2006, leading to a bipartisan resolution on the Human Rights of the Kashmiri Pandits in the US Congress . Another exhibition on the persecution of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh was inaugurated in Mumbai on 18^th November 2006 by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. A path-breaking project on “Aurangzeb as he was“ has been shown in Delhi’s Habitat Centre and is no programmed in Bangalore from 14^th to 30^th March 2007. A film on the condition of Brahmans and Other Upper Castes was also made in 2007:www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Xgc4ljHKM)

2007-2008

The successful Kashmiri Pandits’ exhibition, got translated in Marathi and was shown in villages of Maharashtra, another exhibition/symposium on the persecution of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh.

The exhibition on “Aurangzeb as he was according to Moghol records“ was shown in Delhi’s Habitat Centre in February 2007 in G gallery Bangalore in April 2007 and then exhibited in Pune in August and Mumbai. FACT have also initiated in 2007 a show Shivaji. FACT has embarked as well on a project to do two exhibitions: one on the 1947 Holocaust of Hindus and Sikhs and the second on the rise of Sikhism as a defender of the Hindu Dharma. FACT plans to bring out audio CD’s on all these subjects to educate people. We have already brought one on the Kashmiri Pandits’ issue, another one on the victims of the Bombay train blasts and of course, a third one on Brahmins and OUC.

l  In 2008, FACT commissioned a new project on “Ahilyabai Holkar, the Warrior Queen”,

l  FACT has instituted an annual FACT-Shivaji award, (One lakh rupees cash prize and citation) which was given this year to Captain Bana Singh, the “Hero of Kargil” in Mumbai in November 2008.

l  FACT is also setting up a FACT-Ahilyabai Award for Women, which shall be offered every year to a contemporary woman incarnating the values of Ahilyabai.

l  FACT is retrieving the exhibition “Aurangzeb as he was according to the Moghul records”, which was damaged in Chennai and which we got repaired.

 

2008-2009

 

FACT completed in 2008 a path-breaking exhibition “Naxalism, a threat to the Unified Nation of India”, which was first shown in Oslo, Norway, in March 2008 at the Peace & Reconciliation Conference and then at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The exhibition is one of its kind and for the first time screened in India. It then travelled to Bihar, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

The exhibition “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, A Hero for Modern India” was shown in Bangalore, on 27th September 2008, at Gallery G, 38 Maini Sadan 7th Lavelle cross road, and was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Shri Yediyurappa. This is a miniature paintings exhibition, which met with a huge success in Mumbai last February. It is now in Pune.

In August 2009 Namrita and Francois Gautier went on a US fund-raising tour to raise money for a Museum of Indian History. About 130.000$ were raised in seven cities: Boston, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

On 12^th Jan, FACT-will lay the foundation stone of this museum of Indian History in Pune, on land it has obtained. This museum, which will be called theChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History, will deal with the History of India from the beginning of its civilization till today. It will educate children of all faiths about the greatness of their cultures, religions and history. The Museum will have at its core a permanent exhibition on Shivaji, the great Hero Warrior of Maharasthra, who will have found at last a shrine worthy of his greatness, in his own home town.

2010

 

Ahilyabhai, the queen reformer, was shown in Pune’s main art gallery, Balghandavar Mandir on 13^th Jan 2010 and a symposium on Indian women and Ahilyabhai took place at the same time in the presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

On 14^th January, HH SSRS performed the bhoomi puja on the 5 acre land in Waghaon, Pune, where we intend to build the Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History. Our entire team was present: Namrita/ François Gautier, trustees; Mr Girish Doshi, the architect, Mrs Kumkum Naren, FACT’s Pune representative; Mr Gautam Vig, webmaster, Mr  E. Rathinam, financial officer & Mr Anand Mathur, chief fund-raiser.

Colonel Anand Thatte, a retired army officer, was appointed project coordinator, with a salary of Rs 30.000 per month, Mr Rao, as overseer and Mr Kamlesh as local architect.

In the course of the year, a site office was built, two wells were dug, water conservation trenches were made, a bougainvillea natural fence was planted and three phase electricity was provided along with a pump and sintex tanks, both on top and below . We also secured all the necessary permissions, as well as the services of a senior lawyer, Mr Srivivasan, who is advising us on all matters.

On 6^th April, we commissioned an exhibition on the Hindu Holocaust, from the Hindu Kush, to 26/11. Mr Gautam Vig is in charge of the project.

On 23^rd November, we commissioned an exhibition on Maharana Rana Pratap, the legendary Rajput who fought Akbar. Professor Gupta of university of Udaipur will be the chief researcher and it will be done in the ancient style of paintings.

2011

 

On 4. 1. 2011, we appointed professor Bhadani of Aligarh university to mount a painting exhibition on Dara Sukoh the Sufi scholar, who was beheaded by his brother Aurangzeb for apostasy. Painters in Jaipur, already used for Shivaji exhibition, will do the paintings.

On 10^th Jan, the puja and foundation stone for the Mother India shrine was performed on the Museum land by the trustees of FACT, Namrita & François Gautier & Mrs Gayatri Chauhan. Mrs Sheetal Harpale, the architect, was also present. This will be a unique temple in India, which will again spread the concept of India as the Mother, in Sri Aurobindo’s light.

Later in the site office, two Tata Bluesteel engineers explained how we are going to put up temporary buildings next to the temple of a good aesthetic value, so that all our existing exhibitions can be housed, while the main Museum comes-up on the hill.

On 12^th, Vasanth, a renowned sculptor from Pondichery, was commissioned to do a bronze rendering of Mata Bharati endowing Shivaji. Also a bust of Shivaji Maharaj

In February, a painting exhibition on Maharana Pratap of Udaipur, the only Rajput to ever have fought and won against the Moghols was commissioned. Professor KS Gupta of the University of Rajasthan and a team of young Udaipur-based painters. Total cost of the exhibition for 50 paintings will e 20 lakhs.

In April, we commissioned a painting exhibition of the history of the Vijaynagar empire. This exhibition is tutored by Dr Ram Agarwal from London and the paintings are done by famous painter ravi Deo from Pune. Cost of exhibition 30 lakhs.

In June the foundations for the main Museum (1^st phase) were started on top of the land.

In August the yantra design of the shrine were finished.

In September the Tata Bluescope building was completed at a cost of 20 lakhs. The small amphitheatre was also completed end Of September.

In October the Bharat Mata statue endowing Shivaji and the Shivaji Maharaj statue made at a cost of 5 lakhs, were sent by van to Pune from Pondichery and installed in the shrine in the presence of François and the temple architect.

In November, the Shivaji Maharaj exhibition, completed at a cost of 23 lakhs was installed in the Tata Bluescope building for public exhibition.

With the fixing of the Shivaji Maharaj bust and the quotes from Sri Aurobindo, the shrine was completed end of November.

December. 2d temporary building, in wood started

Mother’s eyes, installed

2012

January. 2d building finished

3^rd temporary exhibition building started

Printing of Six huge Shivaji flexes

Printing of Hindu Tolerance and Aryan invasion exhibitions

14^th Jan. inauguration o Bharat Mata temple and 3 exhibition halls by HH Holiness SSRS, Shri Gadkari and Mrs Ajit Pawar

May, Building of Aurangzeb hall begins

September, Aurangzeb building completed

November Maharana Pratap exhibition completed

December Building of Ahilyabhai Hall begins

December making of a video room to screen all FACT’s films

December Dara Shukoh Exhibition completed

2013

Jan Inauguration of Aurangzeb Hall by Shri Prafull Goradia

3^rd Feb, Inauguration of Maharana Pratap exhibition Ramlila Grounds Delhi by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

23^rd Feb. Inauguration of Dara Shukoh Exhibition by Shri Pratap Pawar

July, building a new Tibetan Holocaust Pavilion

August Inauguration of the Pavilion by HH the Dalai Lama

2014

January,  Installation of Hindu Holocaust exhibition, the first in the world

March. Inauguration of Video room and canteen

April finishing the Ahilyabhai exhibition Hall

FACT EXHIBITIONS

• Sikhs: the defenders of Indian Dharma,  Inaugurated by H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 22nd Jan and shown until 7th Feb 08, at Bangla saheb Gurudwara New Delhi The exhibition was not only a huge hit with the sikh community but people from all faiths.
  Visitors : 65,000)
• http://sikhismexhibition.info/

–Naxalism: Threat to Unified Nation of India  First shown in Oslo, Norway, then in Delhi’s Habitat Centre. It had people writing about it in blogs and communities http://naxalism.info

• – ASRU: Exhibition on persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh, The exhibition has travelled all over India, even in the interior villages of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa. A total of 250,000 visitors appreciated the exhibition.
• http://bangladeshiminorities.info
• – “Aurangzeb as he was according to the Moghul records ” has received a record critical acclaim from critics and common visitors. The exhibition after hitting controversy in Chennai was locked up but we brought it out and will be soon travelling to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, after being screened in Delhi,(March 2007), Pune 20,000 (Oct 2007) and Chennai (March 2008) 56.000 people visited the exhibition.
• http://aurangzeb.info
• – A Hero for Modern India : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (8th  – 18th mar’08 Mumbai) the exhibition had art lovers, Historians, Students and trekkers as well as Nature lovers interested in Shivaji. The Bangalore leg of the exhibition has had the Chief minister asking to show it in schools and colleges in Karnataka.
• http://shivajimaharaj.info

–          Terror Unleashed, An Exhibition on Kashmir The exhibition has travelled to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Poland, Germany, Israel, England, Holland Scotland, Interior villages in Maharashtra and in the US Congress. As of today a total of 300,000 visitors have appreciated the exhibition.

–          `http://kashmiripandits.info

Ahilyabai Holkar the warrior queen, The exhibition on Ahilyabai Holkar was screened in Jan 2010 initially in Pune, then Indore and later in Mumbai, and other places. The Warrior Queen that rebuilt the Indian spiritual centers across the country which were destroyed  or left dilapidated,.

http://ahilyabaiholkar.info

Maharana Pratap the indomitable. The only Rajput who fought the Moghuls and actually beat Akbar’s army in Haldighat. Lived a simple life with his soldiers, respected his enemies’ women and children, cared for his subjects and encouraged arts.

Dara Shukoh the Sufi. Shah Jahan’s eldest (and preferred) son, a true Muslim, but also a Sufi saint and scholar, who translated the Upanishads and studied other religions. If he had become emperor the whole history of Islam in India – and maybe Islam in the world – would have changed. But Aurangzeb beheaded him.

The History of Tibet. The beautiful history of Tibet and the struggle of it s people since they were invaded by the Chinese in 1959

FACT FILMS (FACT Videos),

Christian conversions

Kashmiri Pandits

Brahmins and Upper castes

The Trauma of Partition

Mumbai train blasts.

26/11, the true story