03 March,2010 08:51 AM IST | | Qasim Mehdi
It's disheartening to know that the Picasso of India, who was born in Pandharpur nearly a century ago, will no longer be an Indian. On the other hand, it is good news in a sense, as all those who have concern for the artist will be relieved to know that the 95-year-old genius will not, at least technically, have to lead a refugee's existence in his twilight years.
After being forced -- by a few harebrained lunatics -- to leave India four years ago, Maqbool Fida Husain will finally have a place that he can actually call home. And I believe it's in Husain's best interest to live somewhere other than here, where democracy exists only on paper.
However, the way in which the controversy over Husain and his nude art was dealt with makes me wonder about our much-talked-about 'democratic' system. What has happened with this man who painted India bright on the world canvas is truly a tragedy. A few national parties, along with some petty letterhead outfits, have violated a man's fundamental right -- the right to freedom of expression. What's more, the supposed secular alternative to right-wing fundamentalists has remained a mute spectator.
It's not Husain who has shamed the nation, but the goons who threw out a gem from India's crown. I recently read an online article by N Ram, the editor-in-chief of the Hindu, and found myself in complete agreement with it. It's absolutely ironical that a country whose religious art portrays nudity and even overt sexuality, as in the case of the Khajuraho sculptures and the murals of south Indian temples, has grown so intolerant as to drive its most famous artist into permanent exile. However, several hypocrites have been repeatedly asking why Husain only paints Hindu deities in the nude.
Well, Muslims have never had any image or idol to worship. It is the same with Sikhs. Christians, on the other hand, have saints, and even movies have been made on them and Christ. The Church may have objected to these, but freedom of expression has nearly always won.
A Husain painting is a piece of art, and should be treated as such. I would say any perversion is indeed in the eyes of the beholder.
Perhaps, as a writer has rightly said,u00a0 "Husain is guilty in a couple of ways. He is guilty of belonging to the minority community and of being a genius."
