Pandharpur, cousin recall brush with painter Husain

The wish to once again meet his cousin, legendary painter M F Husain, will remain unfulfilled for Qutubuddin Bohari.

The wish to once again meet his cousin, legendary painter M F Husain, will remain unfulfilled for Qutubuddin Bohari. After the painter's demise in the wee hours yesterday in London, the 86-year-old Bohari, a former shopkeeper from Pandharpur, said he had met his cousin only twice after the family left the pilgrimage town and moved to Gujarat.


M F Husain is felicitated by the Pandharpur Municipal Council members

Bohari, who finds it difficult to remember past events because of his age, said, "I harboured a wish to meet my legendary painter cousin once again, but it will now remain only a wish." Bohari's mother and Husain's mother were sisters, and though the two families rarely used to meet, there was high regard for Husain's achievements.


Husain paints on the back of a white bull after the felicitation

"I was proud of my brother," said Bohari. Husain's dilapidated home in Kalika Bazar in Central Pandharpur came down four year ago. Bohari said his cousin had left Pandharpur when he was only four. "According to what my forefathers told me, Husain's mother had passed away because of tuberculosis a few days after Husain's birth," said Bohari. "His father had come from Indore and took him back with him."


Au00a0painting of Ganesh by Husain

Husain was born in Pandharpur on September 17, 1915, to Zunaib and father Fida. Pandharpur last invited Husain in 1995. The Pandharpur Municipal Council honoured Husain at a public function, presenting him the Pandharibhushan award and a citation. Residents, who now faintly remember the event, say Husain had painted on a bullu00a0 after the function.


Husain shows off one of his paintings during the felicitation ceremony
Pics/Raju Sanadi

Pandharpur last invited Husain in 1995. Its municipal council honoured Husain at a public function, presenting him the Pandharibhushan award and a citation

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