A SILENT PROTEST
Art imitated life at this painting exhibition and silence spoke a thousand words
VISHWAS GAUTAM
They came together to peacefully raise
their voices against the atrocities done by the Chinese communist government
against people who follow Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a
powerful sadhana based on ancient wisdom for mind and body refinement, often
done through slow exercises and a seated meditation.
In a silent protest
against the wrong done to these followers, the Indian practitioners of Falun
Dafa, displayed their pain and anguish through the strokes of their brushes and
put up an exhibition of paintings depicting the plight of the people.
Strategically timed during the visit of Chinese president to India, followers of
this meditation technique wished to bring to his notice the genocidal campaign
in China waged against them. For the past seven years, the Chinese Communist
regime has been persecuting Falun Gong practitioners with torture, brainwashing,
jail and forced labour without trials or representation, confiscating their
property and ruining their reputations with mass propaganda.
Former
Canadian secretary of state, David Kilgour, and international human rights
lawyer David Matas, who have launched a two-month independent investigation,
were also scheduled to arrive but could not make it to the event.
Individuals who practice this art feel that it
is a good way to be at peace with one�s self and cleanse the soul of unruly
thoughts. Janice, who had flown in from Singapore for the event said, �We are
trying to propagate the message that this practice helps in achieving mental and
spiritual well-being and that there is nothing that we are doing to annoy or
harm anyone else.�