On the 17th of September, Hundreds of Artists gathered to celebrate in a novel way the birthday of one of the illustrious sons of the Indian soil, Maqbool Fida Hussain popularly known as M.F. Hussain. Artists - eminent, emerging as well as young students of Art - exhibited their Art works at an exhibition organized by Jamia Millia Islamia in association with SAHMAT. The exhibition was organized to commemorate Hussain’s 94th birthday. A “Befitting Tribute” to one of the greatest Artists of contemporary India!
The story of Hussain’s life would indeed be an inspirational tale to tell, a triumph of determination over adversity, of success over the many speed bumps that one would encounter over life’s highway. He was born on 17th September 1915 in the Pandharpur town of Maharashtra. Coming from extremely humble backgrounds, he had to endure difficult times in his infant age, having lost his mother as a child. Living in the pilgrimage city of Pandharpur, Hussain soon became enchanted by the Hindu spiritual texts, particularly the Ramayan, the Geeta, the Upanishads and the various Puranas, later to become the very life and form of his Canvasses. He began his career by drawing Cinema hoardings; later shifting to the themes he loved the most. One decade of his illustrious career was spent drawing 150 canvases of the Ramayan on the insistence of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. Another decade spent drawing the Mahabharata. Thousands more drawn in a career spanning over 7 decades on Hindu Gods and Goddesses – Ganeshas, Shiva, Parvati and Hanuman - he captured them all with his paint and brush. In 1966, the Government of India awarded him the prestigious “Padma Shree”, and within a few years another prestigious Award the “Padma Bhushan”. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Hindu Art came in the early 2008, when Hussain’s Battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata set a world record at Christie's Auction by fetching an astronomical $1.6 million, a record of sorts. Today, this premier Artist, classified as the 'Picasso of India' by the Forbes magazine has to spend his birthday in isolation, and the sunset of his life in exile, outside the Country he loves the most, hounded by the followers of a Religion that he has been attracted to the most. Thanks to a needless controversy created by groups who understand nothing about Art. M F Hussain’s Canvasses are stunning visual masterpieces – all devoted to the glory and the diversity of Hinduism. He is undoubtedly the greatest painter that India has produced in modern times. Hindus must not get carried away by the false and malicious propaganda being carried out by the well-orchestrated machinery of Right Wing Groups. We must realize that behind all the opposition is simply a predatory lust for power. The Artist deserves to be judged by the entire spectrum of his works done during the course of his lifetime, not just by a few odd paintings which some may find objectionable, either justifiably or unjustifiably. Real Justice can be given to the premier Artist by giving him a warm and gracious welcome. The "Poster Boy" of Hinduism must be back in India, painting his Canvasses. This is the very least he deserves, if not the “Bharat Ratna”. Cheers Sandeep Heble
