A file picture of a visitor taking a look at a huge painting, titled Pieta, by MF Hussain at an exhibition in Mumbai. — AFP

All through his illustrious career, MF Hussain seemed to be controversy's favourite child. Progressing from painting cinema billboards to become one of India's most famous avant garde artist, he decided to live abroad after receiving death threats from right-wing groups for his paintings and often shuttled between the cities of Dubai and London.

In the 1970s and 80s he was caught up in a controversy for painting Hindu goddesses in the buff. His painting that first triggered public controversy depicted a bare bodied woman who was painted to look like the map of India, perhaps a take on "Mother India" referred to in cinema and literature. In 2000, cases were filed against Hussain on the same issue.

In 2008, the Delhi High Court quashed three cases against him that alleged that he had hurt public sentiments though his works, some of which were dubbed as obscene. The Supreme Court transferred the cases from Pandharpur (Maharashtra), Indore (MP) and Rajkot (Gujarat) to the Delhi High Court. That same September, the apex court refused to initiate criminal proceedings against him. “There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," a Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan had said, dismissing one such petition.

In January, at the India Art Summit venue, the celebrated painter's works were first taken off the walls following fears of attacks with right-way activists and then reinstated after an assurance from the Delhi Police and the Ministry of Culture. — PTI

From an exile of art to a refuge in death — Hussain lives on
Vandana Shukla

Signature Strokes

It was Hussain’s ‘horse sense’ that brought him great success not only in India but the world over

Of all his muses, Mother Teresa was given the largest canvas and the highest pedestal

MF kept returning to Indian mythological figures; sometimes in a rather controversial form

Some of the recurring motifs in Hussain’s works were derived from his mofussil childhood

Had MF Hussain returned, once, to his homeland, the hurt would have been lessened. But, he died in his self-imposed exile. Making it harder for the artist community to stomach the fact, that Hussain sahib was singled out; for his success and, more disturbing, for his religion, to bear the brunt of artistic freedom in India. The fact that Hussain was born in Pandharpur, known as Vitthal’s town and was greatly inspired by the characters of Ramaleela staged in his hometown, studied almost all religions and philosophies to paint them on his canvas, escaped many. Deliberately, or by design, is now too late to ponder.

The defining moment for Indian art was the day when Hussain’s work was auctioned by Christie’s for $2 million, bringing Indian art to the notice of thriving global art market. There was no end to celebrating the day by the artist community who saw great doors of opportunity open for them by this recognition of Indian art. But, soon came another defining moment, when the artist community had to witness Hussain’s studio being burnt, his shows being cancelled, even in the heart of the national capital, Delhi.

Not that artists did not protest, they did, but, there were also voices which claimed, Hussain should have been more responsible towards public sentiment! The incidents spelt doom for artistic freedom, if not for art business. It also left a big question mark for the artists who aspire to touch the heights Hussain could scale. Can great art be prudent, can it thrive in the classroom of an exacting teacher?

“ We are a fluid society, sometimes you feel we are free, at times, a little thing ignites sentiments. There is always a looming danger. Akbar Padamsee once had to fight a court case to reclaim his artistic freedom. He won. Many writers are dragged to the courts. M F hussain was not the first one who was prosecuted. It was his choice that he wanted to leave India, but he continued to work. So, even though, those forces succeeded in sending him away, they could not stop him from expressing his art,” says Arpita Singh, noted painter whose works were greatly admired by Hussain.

Arpita feels, what happened should not have happened, but, the saving grace is, no one can deny that many generations of artists will be possible because Hussain happened to Indian art.

Diwan Manna, chairperson, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, says, “ In his death he has left a blot on the Indian credentials of secularism, despite the fact that his contribution to the Indian art is unparalleled.” Even though ace photographer like Raghu Rai, has proposed to bring his body to India, to finally correct a wrong that was done to the best contemporary artist India produced. ” Now that all the cases against him have lost meaning, the least we can do is to give him a proper burial in the land he was born in. We can request the government to let us do that.”

Paramjit Singh, veteran artist says It is shameful, a giant artist like him had to face it, he could not die in a country where he was born, and loved the country so much. Moreover he was the one who defined modern Indian painting by bringing motifs of Indian culture on his canvas. That, he had to face accusation of insulting Indian gods and goddesses, only reflects ignorance. His works should be celebrated, the way Hussain celebrated life, in all its colours and shades.