painting is a thought crime in India
Al Smith
Nov 17 7:38 AM US/Eastern
India's most celebrated artist M.F. Husain says he is very
homesick in London where he lives in voluntary exile to escape
prosecution over his paintings of nude Hindu gods and goddesses.
"I am extremely homesick," the 91-year-old told The Hindustan
Times, adding that he is yearning for Mumbai.
"I long to walk through the streets of Grand Road and Byculla
where I have spent some of the best years of my life," he said.
"As far as I know there are at least 900 cases registered against
me (in India). Matters are so legally complicated that I have been
advised not return home.
"I have become an international gypsy. It is no secret that I am
wandering around the world with only my art for company." His
paintings fetch tens of thousands of dollars.
Last May, the Indian government alerted the police fearing
Hindu-Muslim riots over a nude painting by Husain, a Muslim.
The work depicts a nude "Mother India" and raised the hackles of
Hindu groups, one of which this year offered an 11.5 million
dollars for Husain's murder.
One of the cases pending against Husain is for hurting the
sentiments of Hindus.
The law ministry has examined half-a-dozen works by Husain and
told the government that prosecutors would have a strong case
against him if they sued him for deliberately hurting religious
feelings.