Leaders condole death of Husain as national loss

New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) Vice President Hamid Ansari and
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among a host of leaders who
Thursday condoled the death of artist M F Husain, describing
him as a "legend" whose passing away is a "national loss".
In his condolence message, Ansari said Husain was a
keen observer of national evolution which was reflected in his
art.
"I am deeply grieved to learn about the sad demise of
Maqbool Fida Husain, a legend of art of our times. To most
Indians, he came to represent modern Indian art. Besides his
enormous achievements in painting and other art forms, Husain
was a keen observer of our national evolution which was
reflected in his art," he said.
Ansari noted that Husain captured public imagination
with his portrayal of important personalities and events and
his death is an immense loss to the nation and to the artistic
community. "He will always be remembered for his love of India
that was reflected in his paintings," he said.
Singh condoled the death of the 95-year-old painter,
terming it as a "national loss" while Lok Sabha Speaker Meira
Kumar said Husain's death has created a "vacuum in the
creative world".
Describing Husain as an "eminent and respected"
personality, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni
said his artworks have been displayed with great interest for
public viewing.
"He was invited to India ...I do not remember on how
many occasions. It's very unfortunate that narrow minded
people look at art and creativity with same perspective, but
the majority of Indian people have never supported their
views," Soni said when asked about protests against him by
right-wing activists. Soni said it was true that Husain got displeased at
many instances and he did express his displeasure, but the
government and many NGos tried to reason out with him.
"As far as change in citizenship is concerned, I
myself listened to one of his interviews where he cited work
and lifestyle as reasons for changing citizenship. I don't
think he stopped loving his country," she said.
Corporate Affairs Minister Murli Deora said, "Husain
was a great artist who was known to me for the last 35 years.
He was a noble soul... a very humble person at heart."
Deora, whose official residence here is adorned with
several paintings of the celebrated artist, said, "He was a
brilliant painter who revolutionised modern art".
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury described Husain as one
of India's foremost artists and creative personalities who
contributed to art to take forward the syncretic civilisation
that India is.
"It is tragic that during his last years, he was
forced to live outside India because of relentless campaign
against him by the communalists. We convey heartfelt
condolences to his son and painter Shamshad and other
relatives," he said.
Maintaining that Husain "slipped" while drawing
paintings of Hindu deities, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray
today said, "Damage may have been caused to modern art due to
his demise."
"Damage may have been caused to modern art due to his
demise. Thats all. May Allah give him peace," he said.
"As an artist, everyone has a domain and Husain
handled his modern art with zeal. However, he 'slipped' while
drawing paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses," Thackeray
said.
Husain's autobiography was being made into a movie
tentatively titled The Making of the Painter, starring Shreyas
Talpade as the young Husain.
His name has also been included in the list of the 500
Most Influential Muslims in the World, issued by the Royal
Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.
Artist Pranava Prakash said, "Artists such as Husain
and Raza sell because of their PR machinery, not because of
their artistic merit."
In the 1990s some of Husain's works became
controversial because of their portrayal of Hindu deities in
the nude.
The paintings in question were created in 1970, but
did not become an issue until 1996, when they were printed in
Vichar Mimansa, a Hindi monthly magazine, which published them
in an article headlined "M F Husain: A Painter or Butcher".
In response, eight criminal complaints were filed
against Husain.
In 2004, Delhi High Court dismissed these complaints
of "promoting enmity between different groups ... by painting
Hindu goddesses — Durga and Sarswati, that was later
compromised by Hindus."
In 1998 Husain's house was attacked by Hindu groups
like Bajrang Dal and art works were vandalised. Protests
against Husain also led to the closure of an exhibition in
London, England.
The artist left the country stating that "matters are
so legally complicated that I have been advised not to return
home". He used to live in London and Dubai.
A recent Supreme Court order has suspended an arrest
warrant for Husain.