Husain’s no more an Indian: the media reacts

Renowned Indian (now with Qatari nationality) painter M. F. Husain, went away from his (former) home country to live abroad to escape the various obscenity charges slapped against him. One of India's pre-eminent artists was forced to flee the country. He has now deserted it legally.

"I, the Indian origin painter Husain at 95, have been honored by Qatar nationality," the artist noted above a sketch of a horse, the leitmotif of much of his work. The BBC News reported: “He has been under attack from hardliners Hindus for his paintings of nude Hindu goddesses. Since 2006, the 95-year-old artist has been living in Dubai and in London. They have accused him of hurting their religious sentiments.”

There are nearly 900 cases pending against him in various courts. Husain states that he has been harassed by mobs and his exhibits have been vandalized in India. The Hindu quipped that his ‘change of nationality brings to a close one of the sorriest chapters in independent India's secular history.’

The newspaper added that he did not apply for Qatari nationality; the emirate’s ruling family conferred it upon him. There were huge protests in Mumbai in the mid-1990s after the artist painted a series of nude Hindu goddesses. He even apologized in 2006 for a painting that showed the country as a nude goddess.

The Indian Government doesn’t recognize dual citizenship so Hussain will have to surrender his passport. M.F.Hussain's son Owais told The Gulf News that the process of surrendering the Indian passport would get underway soon. In reply to a question on how his father will react, Owais stated: "My father is 95 years old and life becomes crystal clear at that age."

Summing up sentiments of the art fraternity, the ToI reported: “News of Husain's new nationality created ripples in the art world and triggered anger over the government's failure to bring home the artist.”