M.F. Hussain, the most famous Indian painter, often called as the ‘Picasso of India’ died in London today morning at the age of 95. Unfortunately, the Muslim painter, who was into a self-imposed exile right from 2006, has been known more due to ‘venomous criticism’ rather than the purity of his art.
Often linked with Indian modernism, Hussain- the frail old man with white hair could not fulfill his last dream. The dream to return to India, his motherland.
Its still not decided yet, where would the body of the lost artist buried? Will he finally rest in peace in his motherland after his death, or would his dead body still face the punishment of not being embraced back?
Threats of death and violence, court cases and anger from the Hindus, unfortunately, not only threw away the painter out of his own abode. But it also caused destruction to his art, his name and above all, his ideology.
Ironically, Pablo Picasso himself says ‘Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is dangerous. Where it is chaste, it is not art.‘
In spite of being ‘One of the top 500 Influential Muslim in the world‘, ‘highest paid painter’ and above all, ‘ the renowned painter to get Padma Shri’, Hussain had to witness an era in his life in India, when his name entered cheap Page three gossip. Either it was about his fascination with Madhuri Dixit or Tabu- famous Indian actresses or the lack of meaning in his films, often being quoted as monotonous and undecipherable.
During my growing years, I used to recognise him as a ‘Old man who never wore slippers’
Situation worsened when Hussain was severly criticised for drawing the pictures of Indian Goddesses in a nude manner and also painting Mother India, with the names of several Indian states engraved on her naked body. Though, Hussain had to publicly apologise for his art, which I do respect, a simple question comes in my mind.
‘Kamasutra and naked paintings’
India, no doubt, is known for Kama Sutra. She is also known for those famous wall paintings and engraving, which I believe, to a very large extent, do not have fancy attire enveloping them. Both these cases are treated with respect, an epitome of Indian culture with massive study done in their regards.
Unfortunately, when Hussain, a Muslim, which by itself makes him an enemy to Hindu values, had to pay for more than his mistake. My entire question is ‘why to boast of being secular and having the freedom of speech and expression when a man, who is an artist, can not create his own belief?’
‘Clash of politics and religion’
Even Beena Sarwar, a Pakistani writer and documentary film-maker stated ‘He talks about being inspired by Hindu mythology and seeing purity in nudity, a belief reaffirmed by his study of the Hinduism.’
Rather than respecting the fact that Hussain got his inspiration from Mahabharata and Hindu mythology, he was hurled abuses for limiting the recognition of his art in what common people defined as ‘immoral’.
Sashi Tharoor, in one of this columns confessing his regret for not being able to attend Hussain’s exhibition stated ‘In much of Husain’s work, Hindu myths and epic narratives both contribute to and reflect the national consciousness that his own creativity has done so much to influence. In reiterating the epic, the artist and his audience both reaffirm the shaping of their own cultural identity. This is an important statement for Husain to make as a Muslim and an Indian: he is staking his claim to a heritage that some chauvinist Hindus have sought to deny to those not of their own persuasion’
‘How would you remember Hussain’
Interestingly, twitter is literally bombarded with several Indian dignitaries offering condolence to Hussain’s death. My question, in the end is, how to remember Hussain as- a man who bought international fame and recognition to abstract Indian art or a man who rebuked the foundations and beliefs of Hindu religion?
The answer, no doubt, is ‘To each, his own’.
What comes to my mind, instantly is the quote of Martin Luther King that states ‘I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. ‘
shubhdachaudhary 