MF Hussain, the legendary painter who was in exile after threats to his life, died in London a few hours ago, according to media reports from the city.
Hussain died in exile from his homeland in India, having become a Qatari citizen in 2006.
In the 1990s some of Husain's works became controversial because of their portrayal of Hindu deities in the nude or in an allegedly sexual manner.
'You guys are terribly mistaken if you think nude sculptures are not being done now. Go to Mahabalipuram or some other place, there are plenty of artists who do nude or semi nude sculptures of Gods and Goddesses to be installed in temples. In fact nude sculptures are more common in India than any other country because it has been officially sanctioned for centuries to be used in temples. Please travel and know more about your own country'.
Yes, it’s true that there are many temples being built as we speak where there are nude gods and goddesses. Here I include a picture that I took recently when I visited my hometown in Telangana. Here’s a god standing in glory in one of the temples. This god is a recent addition.
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 Hindu's. ".
In 1998 Husain's house was attacked by Hindu groups like Bajrang Dal and art works were vandalised. The leadership of Shiv Sena endorsed the attack. Twenty-six Bajrang Dal activists were arrested by the police. Protests against Husain also led to the closure of an exhibition in London, England.
In February 2006, Husain was charged with hurting sentiments of people because of his nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses.[20]
A series of cases were brought against him and a court case related to the alleged obscene depiction of Hindu goddesses in his paintings resulted in issuing a non-bailable warrant against Husain after he failed to respond to summons.
Hussain is also famous for his painting of Madhuri Dixit, for his series Gaja Gamini.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) deeply
mourns the demise of one of modern India's most iconic artists Maqbool
Fida Hussain. Born in Maharashtra's temple town, Pandharpur, Hussain
grew up in Indore with his father, having lost his mother in childhood.
Apart from his signal contributions, through his paintings and other
creative activity, in strengthening the aesthetic traditions of India,
Hussain richly contributed in advancing India's syncretic
civilizational ethos. Though he passed away at this ripe old age of
95, his absence would be dearly felt in this respect.
It is most unfortunate that Hussain had to stay away from India in a
self-imposed exile since 2006. The CPI(M) had steadfastly protested
against the harrasment of Hussain by the Hindutva communal forces. It
is a pity that the government of the day did not heed the voice of
powerful solidarity in the country to facilitate the return of Hussain
to India. Hussain's death must galvanise the movement to safeguard and
strengthen the syncretic civilizational ethos of India, firmly
adhering to secular democratic traditions.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) conveys its deep felt condolences to
Hussain's family members, activist-painter son Shamshad and other
members of the artist fraternity.
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