M.F. Hussain—A Layman’s Brooding!

 I am no artist. So I am not in a position to write about art or artists. But M. F. Hussain’s death abroad has kicked so much of controversy I can’t control the temptation of my two pence

  Before his exile I thought, “Hussain is a  famous artist  who is a bit crazy.”  He had watched  Madhuri’s movie 67 times and was inspired to a make a movie with her.  All the fans of Madhuri (me too) had seen sound logic in that and was convinced that the man  has got real eye for beauty. But being a non-artist,   my curiosity of Hussain’s art  ended there .

 Next time, I became aware when the nude Goddesses  painted by  Hussain made headlines. A part of me was sad. I could not help thinking why all geniuses find artistic inspiration in un-clothing the  Hindu Goddesses   whom we  worship as  sacred.

 Yes, I know my  feelings would be defeated by the  logic. There were  Khajuraho  sculptures , konark statues created by  none other than  the Hindus. But that was a time very different from now. Now,  anybody with the faintest  knowledge of politics would know that doing things like that  will be  planting a seed of  violence in communally tensed country.

One of   my liberal friends told me” To save our secularism, we must not be  afraid of violence.”

 “Then why did GOI banned  Satanic Verses?

 My liberal friend had given the example of Gandhiji.  He said  during communal violence  Gandhiji always scolded  the Hindus but never  did the same to Muslims. When someone had asked him about the discriminatory behaviour , Gandhi said he appealed  to Hindus always because by nature they were ‘more tolerant.’ The other party would not have  listened  to him.

 My friend told me may be Hussin knew even  some of the  ‘more tolerant sect”  would bay for his blood.   . But the rest will  discuss his art and finally will understand his creative genius.  Alas! This calculation has gone slightly wrong. Anyway – I never saw any of  nude paintings.

 Last I became aware of him when   he was in discussion about the Nationality issue. At the terminal years of life  he had changed  Nationality. But this time I reasoned it out myself from my own experience.     Seeing  old  politicians and celebrities , I know once a person  crosses 80, he becomes a bit irresponsible.

 Since his/ her subconscious knows – the days  are not many—they want to have all the attention. As   there are few peaks to climb, calculation goes to the wind and real nature  takes over. Then comes the irresponsible comments and chronic complaints like “ world has not  given  my due.” Last few days his action  seemed to be mere tantrums- for getting attention.

But was he a   Bad man?  I have no idea. Vaidyanthan puspagiri has reproduced N Ram’s  analysis in his blog. Reading it had touched me. It painted the picture of a man desperate to   share his loneliness with a friend.

 But it was friend’s memoir, who knew the man- behind the  veil of  great artist.

 To me, who knows him through a newspaper only,  only one impression will last; “ A famous artist with a weakness;  to hog limelight- at any cost.”