M. F. Husain

M. F. Husain
M. F. Husain in 2010
Born	Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-09-17)17 September 1915 Pandharpur,Bombay Presidency,British India
Died	9 June 2011(2011-06-09)(aged 95) London,England
Nationality	Indian (1915–2010) Qatari (2010–2011)
Education	Sir J. J. School of Art
Known for	Painting
Notable work	Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Through the Eyes of a Painter
Movement	Bombay Progressive Artists' Group
Spouse	Fazila Bibi ​ ​ (m.1941; death 1998)​
Children	6, includingOwais HusainandShamshad Hussain
Awards	Padma Bhushan(1973) Padma Vibhushan(1991)
Member of ParliamentRajya Sabha
In office 12 May 1986 – 11 May 1992

Maqbool Fida Husain(17 September 1915 – 9 June 2011)was an Indian artist known for executing bold, vibrantly coloured narrative paintings in a modifiedCubist style.He was one of the most celebrated and internationally recognised Indian artists of the 20th century.He was one of the founding members ofBombay Progressive Artists' Group.M.F. Husain is associated with Indianmodernismin the 1940s. His early association with the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group used modern technique, and was inspired by the "new" India afterthe partitionof 1947. His narrative paintings, executed in a modifiedCubiststyle, can be caustic and funny as well as serious and sombre. His themes—sometimes treated in series—include topics as diverse asGandhi,Mother Teresa,theRamayana,theMahabharata,theBritish Raj,and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. In September 2020, his painting titled “Voices”, auctioned for a record $2.5 million.

Husain's later works have stirred controversy, which included nude portrayals ofHindu deities,and a nude portrayal ofBharat Mata.Right-wing organisations called for his arrest, and several lawsuits were filed against him for hurting religious sentiments. He remained in a self imposed exile from 2006 until his death in 2011, acceptingQataricitizenship in 2010.

In 1967, he received theNational Film Award for Best Experimental FilmforThrough the Eyes of a Painter.In 2004, he directedMeenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities,a film he worked on with his artist sonOwais Husain,which was screened in the Marché du film section of the2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Biography

Husain (first from left) with the other members of theBombay Progressive Artists Group

M. F. Husain in 1956

Husain was born on 17 September 1915 inPandharpur,Bombay Province(present-dayMaharashtra)in aSuleymani Bohrafamily. He picked up taste in art through studying calligraphy while he stayed at a Madrasa inBaroda.Husain attended theSir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of ArtinMumbaibut couldn't finish his schooling.Early in his career, Husain painted cinema posters inMumbai.To earn additional income, he worked for a toy company designing and building toys. He often travelled toGujaratto paint landscapes whenever he could afford to travel.

Husain developed his painting skills in the 1930s, painting billboards for the growingBollywoodfilm industry.This was a clique of young artists who wished to break with the nationalist traditions established by theBengal school of artand to encourage an Indian avant-garde, engaged at an international level. In 1934,he sold his first painting for Rs 10 on the roadside.Husain's father, who was an accountant, wanted him to get into business.

The artists cite "The Partition" of India and Pakistan 14 August 1947, with its resulting religious rioting and heavy loss of life as their reason for forming The Progressive Artist's Group in Bombay in December 1947. The artists saw the Partition as a "turning point" for India, and their new style of art was urged on by, and was also a turning point for, (modern) Indian Art.Husain's first solo art exhibition was in 1952 inZürich.His first U.S. exhibit was at India House in New York City in 1964.his biography written by Akhilesh "Maqbool" is the most appreciated book published by Rajkamal PrakashanNew Delhi.

Husain was a special invitee along withPablo Picassoat theSão Paulo Biennial,Brazil in 1971. He was nominated to theRajya Sabhain 1986.He married Fazila Bibi (d. 1998) in 1941, they had six children: four sons (including artistsShamshadandOwais) and two daughters - Raisa, his muse and an actress and costume designer in his films and Aqueela, his muse.

1990–2005

Although he was raised in a Muslim household, Husain sought freedom to capture the essence of beauty in other religious cultures, for which he received a backlash.His paintings allegedly hurt the religious sentiments ofHindus,which beginning in the 1990s mounted a campaign of protest against him.The paintings in question were created in 1970, but did not become an issue until 1996, when they were printed inVichar Mimansa,aHindimonthly magazine, which published them in an article headlined "M.F. Husain: A Painter or Butcher".In response, eight criminal complaints were filed against him. In 2004,Delhi High Courtdismissed these complaints of "promoting enmity between different groups... by paintingHindugoddesses – Durga and Sarswati, that was later compromised byHindufundamentalist groups. " In 1998 Husain's house was attacked by Hindu fundamentalist groups likeBajrang Daland art works were vandalised. The leadership of another fundamentalist political partyShiv Senaendorsed the attack. Twenty-sixBajrang Dalactivists were arrested by the police.Protests against Husain also led to the closure of an exhibition inEngland.

He has also produced & directed several movies, includingGaja Gamini(2000) (with hismuseMadhuri Dixitwho was the subject of a series of his paintings which he signedFida). The film was intended as a tribute to Ms. Dixit herself.In this film she can be seen portraying various forms and manifestations of womanhood including the muse ofKalidasa,theMona Lisa,a rebel, and musical euphoria. He also appeared in a scene in filmMohabbat,which hadMadhuri Dixitin lead role. In the film, the paintings that were supposedly done by Madhuri were actually Husain's.He went on to makeMeenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities(withTabu). The film was pulled out of cinemas a day after someMuslimorganisations raised objections to one of the songs in it.The All-India Ulema Council complained that theQawwalisongNoor-un-Ala-Noorwas blasphemous. It argued that the song contained words directly taken from theQuran.The council was supported byMuslimorganisations like the Milli Council, All-India Muslim Council, Raza Academy, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind and Jamat-e-Islami. Husain's son stated that the words were a phrase referring to divine beauty that were being sung by the central character played byTabu.He said there was no intention to offend. Following the wave of protests the enraged artist withdrew his movie from cinemas. The film was well received by the critics, however, and went on to win various awards.

2006–2011

In February 2006, Husain was charged with "hurting sentiments of people" because of his nude portraits ofHindu gods and goddesses.In addition, on 6 February 2006 issue,India Today,a national English weekly published an advertisement titled "Art For Mission Kashmir". This advertisement contains a painting of {Bharatmata} (Mother India) as a nude woman posed across a map of India with the names of Indian States on various parts of her body. The exhibition was organised byNafisa Aliof Action India – an (NGO) and Apparao Art Gallery. Organisations like VHP protested persistently against Husain displaying the painting on the websites and even in exhibitions in north Europe. As a result, Husain apologised and promised to withdraw the painting from an auction, though it later sold for Rs 80 lakh.The painting later appeared on Husain's official website. Husain claims that the loss of his mother at the age of a year and a half is a possible reason for his pattern of paintings depicting a maternal Indian figure.

Husain became the best-paid painter in India, his highest-selling piece fetching $1.6 million at a 2008Christie'sauction.

Hundreds of lawsuits in connection with Husain's allegedly obscene art were outstanding as of 2007.A warrant was issued for his arrest after he did not appear at a hearing, though this warrant was later suspended.

Husain lived in self-imposed exile from 2006 until his death.He generally lived inDohaand summered in London.For the last years of his life Husain lived in Doha and London, staying away from India, but expressing a strong desire to return,despite fears of being prosecuted.

In 2008 Husain was commissioned to create 32 large-scale paintings of Indian history. He finished 8 before his death.In 2010, he was conferred Qatari nationality, and he surrendered his Indian passport; though he still held anOverseas Citizenship of India.InQatar,he principally worked on two large projects, one on the history ofArabcivilisation, commissioned byQatar's first lady,Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned,and one on the history of Indian civilisation.The works are to be housed in a museum inDoha.

At the age of 92 Husain was given the prestigiousRaja Ravi Varmaaward by the government ofKerala.The announcement led to controversy inKeralaand some cultural organisations campaigned against the granting of the award and petitioned theKeralacourts. Social Activist,Rahul Easwar,went toKeralaHigh Court and it granted an interim order to stay the granting of the award until the petition had been disposed of.

In 2010, the JordanianRoyal Islamic Strategic Studies Centrenamed Husain as one of the 500 most influential Muslims.

Grave of M. F. Husain inBrookwood CemeteryinSurrey,England.

M. F. Husain died, aged 95, on 9 June 2011, following a heart attack. He had been unwell for several months.He died at theRoyal Brompton Hospitalin London, and was buried inBrookwood Cemeteryon 10 June 2011.

Other Indian artists expressed criticism.Satish Gujralpublicly asked Husain whether he would dare to portray Islamic figures similarly.However Gujral stated that he deeply regretted the way Husain was treated and forced into an exile because of what Gujral termed "the mob culture".And Harsh Goenka, a Mumbai-based industrialist, claims that forcing Husain into exile "is, in a way, showing the weakness of the system, that we cannot protect the rights of the citizen".

Writing inThe Pioneer,Chandan Mitra wrote, "As long as such a law exists in the statutes, nobody can be faulted for approaching the courts against Husain's objectionable paintings, nor can the judiciary be pilloried for ordering action against the artist for his persistent and deliberate refusal to appear before the court."

In response to the controversy, Husain's admirers petitioned the government to grant Husain theBharat Ratna,India's highest award. According toShashi Tharoor,who supported the petition, it praised Husain because his "life and work are beginning to serve as an allegory for the changing modalities of the secular in modern India – and the challenges that the narrative of the nation holds for many of us. This is the opportune and crucial time to honour him for his dedication and courage to the cultural renaissance of his beloved country."Husain had such a vast amount of work that spanned over 10 decades producing roughly 40,000 paintings by the end of his lifetime.

On his part Husain stated that leadingHinduleaders have not spoken a word against his paintings, and they should have been the first ones to have raised their voice and only people with political intentions created controversy.

After Husain's death,Shiv SenachiefBal Thackeraysaid, "He only slipped up on the depiction ofHindugods and goddesses. Otherwise, he was happy and content in his field. If his demise is a loss for modern art, then so be it. May Allah give him peace! "

Awards and honours

• Padma Shriin 1966,Government of India.
• Padma Bhushanin 1973,Government of India.
• Padma Vibhushanin 1991,Government of India.
• Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2007,Government of Kerala.
• Honorary Doctorates fromBanaras Hindu University,Jamia Millia Islamia,University of Calicut(2003)andUniversity of Mysore.
• National Art Award in 2004,Lalit Kala Akademi,New Delhi.
• Aditya Vikram Birla‘Kalashikkar’ Award in 1997 forLifetime Achievement.
• National Film Award for Best Experimental FilmforThrough the Eyes of a Painter,in 1968 India.
• Golden Bear short film awardfor his filmThrough the Eyes of a PainteratBerlin International Film Festivalin 1967 and purchased byMuseum of Modern Art(MOMA), New York City.
• International Biennale Award in 1959, Tokyo.
• First Prize at the National Exhibition of Art in 1955,Lalit Kala Akademi,New Delhi.
• Bombay Art Societyin 1947,Mumbai.

Legacy

Indian film director Santi P. Choudhury madeHusain,a documentary film on his life in 1980.Choudhury had earlier made another documentary on the artist,A Painter Of Our Time: Hussain,in 1976.Both of these were produced by theGovernment of India'sFilms Division,for whom Husain himself had earlier made the filmThrough the Eyes of a Painter.

On 17 September 2015, search engineGooglecommemorated M. F. Husain with aDoodleon his birth centenary.

See also

• Bombay Progressive Artists' Group
• Cubism
• Expressionism
• Bengal School of Art

External links

• Husain's website
• M. F. HusainatIMDb
• ProfileonGoogle Arts & Culture
• Documentary on HusainbyFilms Division of IndiaonYouTube
• Radio autobiography byPrasar BharatiArchives: Partone,two,three&fouron YouTube (inHindi)