'HUSAIN IS NO MORE AN INDIAN?'
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
HUSAIN IS NO MORE AN INDIAN?
http://www.freepressjournal.in
Friday, February 26, 2010
Indraprasth aka New Delhi - Qatar has conferred on M F Husain its
nationality, which the latter might accept as New Delhi cannot
protect him from fringe groups...
Under attack from sections of the Hindu right and hopping between
Dubai and London, as he lived out of a suitcase as a homeless
itinerant, India's most celebrated artist M.F. Husain has reportedly
been conferred Qatar nationality.
This, in turn, has ignited a major de- bate with his critics slamming
him but the UPA Government insisting that he was the "pride of
India."
The 95-year-old celebrity painter, who has been named in hundreds of
lawsuits across the country for his paintings on goddesses that many
Hindus find sacrilegious, said he has been "honoured" by Qatar.
"I, an Indian origin painter M.F. Husain at 95 have been honoured by
Qatar nationality," Husain wrote above a black- and-white line sketch
of a horse, the leitmotif of much of his work.
The Hindu newspaper carried the black and white drawing on Thursday
morning. In a signed article, The Hindu editor N. Ram wrote that the
artist had given him the news from Dubai.
According to the report, Husain did not apply for the nationality but
it was conferred on him at the instance of the emirate's ruling
family.
However, Husain has not clarified whether it is honorary citizenship
and whether he is giving up Indian citizen- ship. India does not
allow dual citizen- ship, even though there is an Overseas In- dian
category. Photographer, designer and activist Ram Rahman, who is
close to the Husain family, said: "The citizenship has been offered
by the sheikha, the wife
of the sheikh of Qatar, and it has several implications. "On a
personal note, I feel it is quite clear that a man who is 95 years
old and cannot return to his country to die, there is no point in him
remaining an Indian citizen." "It would be a tragedy. He has not
given up his Indian citizenship yet but if he decides to take up the
Qatari offer, he will not remain an Indian citizen anymore. It is
also a reflection of our legal system because the cases against him
will drag on for 20-30 years.... So it is justified if he takes up
the Qatari offer," Rahman told a wire agency.
Last month, the legendary painter had said that he missed India
"tremendously" but could not return to the country because of the
numerous cases filed against him for his art.
The news found emotional resonance amongst his friends, fans and in
political circles. Apparently embarrassed by the development, the UPA
Government made it clear Husain was free to return to India and it
was ready to provide him security.
Describing the painter as the "pride of India," Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao said, " I would like him to feel safe and secure in
India." Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said, "There is no case
against M. F. Husain. Supreme Court has quashed all the cases against
him." RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said in Thiruvananthapuram the Sangh
was not opposed to the renowned painter's return, but he should
apologise to the people "whose feelings he has hurt with his
paintings." The BJP, too, said it had no issues with Husain being
offered citizen- ship, adding that everybody had a right to reside
anywhere in the world. However, every painter, writer, journalist and
those involved in other creative pursuits should keep in mind that
while they are engaged in painting or writing... they should not do
anything which hurts or harms the sentiments of others...
Expressing unhappiness over the development, some artists said it was
a shame that a revered painter could not return to his homeland at
the fag end of his life.
"The Qatar offer is a great honour for him," painter Anjoli Ila Menon
said, describing Husain as a "true Karma Yogi". Referring to the con-
troversy over his work, she said all that the government had do was
to extend him security.
Filmmaker Shyam Benegal said he would not blame Husain if he accepts
Qatar's nationality as he has been treated "so shabbily in our
country." He is a living treasure and certainly the most celebrated
Indian contemporary artist, Benegal added.
Husain went in exile after a hate campaign was launched against him
in 2006 over his controversial paintings. Several cases were filed
against him, his house was attacked and art works ravaged by funda-
mentalists.
Kishan Khanna, who was a member of the Progressive Artists Group co-
founded by Husain in 1947, said: "I am feeling awful. I feel it is a
slap in the face for the country." Theatre veteran M K Raina, who had
protested against exclusion of Husain's works at the 2008 India Art
Summit here, said: "When Salman Rushdie was issued a fatwa, Britain
and other countries stood by him.
I think this is a slap on Indian democracy and it is a nation's loss.
This hypocrisy of calling yourself a 5,000 year old civilization, it
is hogwash."
End of forwarded article
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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