RICH TRIBUTE PAID TO M.F HUSIAN, INDIA’S FOREMOST MODERN PAINTER
M.F Husain, India’s foremost modern painter and an internationally recognized artist passed away on Thursday, 9th June, 2011. He was 97. Husain was reported have a “silent heart attack in Dubai recently but had recovered. He reached London, and was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital, where he died at 1 am. The burial will take place at a private cemetery at London on Friday, 10th June, 2011. He is survived by six children: four sons & two daughters.
Husain lived in Dubai and London after being forced to leave India in 2006.He left in the face of vicious campaign of harassment and intimidation, including death threats, by right-wing Hindutva groups, citing his artistic depiction of Hindu deities. His exhibition was vandalized. Last year, Qatar offered him nationality. Born in Pandharpur in Maharashtra, Husain lost his mother when he was one and a half. His father remarried and moved to Indore, where he went to school. In 1935, he moved to what was then Bombay and joined the Sir J.J School of Art. Husain made his international debut in 1952 with a solo exhibition at Zurich and soon established a worldwide reputation. He soon became one of India’s highest paid painters. The first state recognition came in 1955 when he was awarded the Padma Shri,in 1973, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986. Reputed for his free and creative spirit and sense of adventure, Husain experimented with cinema. He made his first film, “through the eyes of a painter, in 1967. It won a Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival. He made two Hindi films, GajaGamini with Madhuri Dixit who he described as his muse, and Meenaxi. A tale of three cities. He also did a series of paintings inspired by the Bolly wood actor, signing off as’ Fida’ an Urdu word for devoted.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying tributes to artist M.F Husain on Thursday, 9th June,2011,even as several political leaders regretted the fact that such a famous son of India had died” in exile” because of some” narrow-minded people. Condoling his death, the president said he was a world renowned artist whose extraordinary style made him a celebrity in the arena of contemporary art. A man of multi-dimensional talent, his death would create a deep void in the world of art and creativity” He also brought glory to the house as a parliamentarian” Husian had been nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986. Husain had dominated the Indian art firmament for almost 70 years. The Prime Minister said that the nation had lost an iconic artist and the art world one of its most colourful personalities. He made an immense contribution to popularizing Indian art both within the country and abroad. Vice President Hamid Ansari said” He was a keen observer of our national evolution, who captured the public imagination with his portrayal of important personalities and events.” To most Indian’s he came to represent modern Indian art.
Lok Sabha speaker Meira kumar said that while that his death would” leave a vacuum in the world of art” his creative legacy would continue to inspire future artists. Mr. Husain was a great artist who upheld the principles of secularism and communal amity all through his life and one who was celebrated the world over as a symbol of modern Indian painting.
It was disgraceful that he had died as a virtual exile from India and nation’s failure to offer him protection in the face of threats from the Sangh Parivar would remain a festering wound in the national psyche. Although he had wished to return India, his home towards the end of his life, the India government had done nothing to make his desire a reality. The Kerala government had bestowed on Mr. Husain the Ravi Varma Puraskaram, the highest state award for painting, but could not present the award to him following opposition from communal forces
Some 10 years ago, Mr. Husain did a series of illustrations for Kerala Tourism titled “ Kalyani kuttyude Lokam (World of Kalyanikutty). It featured Kerala’s splendid beauty and local life through the eyes of an emblematic Malayalee woman, who blends tradition and modernity in her persona. Mr. Husain acknowledged his deep appreciation of Kerala, saying” If Kashmir is all about men and mountain, then Kerala is all Husain, who once painted cinema hoardings and rose to become one of the world's most celebrated artists, was forced to leave India in 2006 after his paintings of Hindu gods in the nude triggered attacks on his works and police complaints against him by rightwing Hindu organisations. TheIndian government failed to bring him back when he was alive, his death was widely mourned in the country."A man of multi-dimensional talent, his death would create a deep void in the world of art and creativity," said President Pratibha Patil."It is a national loss," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Husain had accepted Qatari citizenship last year.Husain was born in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Sep 17, 1915 to Zunaib and father Fida. His tryst with painting began when he learnt the art of calligraphy. He moved to Mumbai, India's entertainment capital, at a young age to become an artist and painted cinema billboards to make a living. He went on to be part of the progressive school of artists in he late 1940s.Controversy and fame went hand in hand for the lanky and silver-maned Husain. He was known to move around barefoot, even in elite circles. He made a name for himself with his paintings on horses and figurative drawings. His untitled work in Christie's fetched $2 million in 2006.Husain had a keen interest in films and was fascinated by actress Madhuri Dixit. He made movies with her and Tabu and he was keen to make a film with Vidya Balan.
Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy & Kurakar Cultural Forum arranged a condolence meeting at Kurakar Town Center, Kottarakara on 10th June,2011 at 5 p.m. Prof. John Kurakar, President, Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy presided . Mr Sam Kurakar, Director, Comrade Info systems, Dr. Balan Nair, Dr Varghese, Mr. Kareem, Dr. Abdulkhan, Mr. Sadasivan, Mr. .Bobby Kurakar, Mr. Manu Kurakar, Mr. Sarasan were spoke on the condolence meeting.
Prof. John Kurakar
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