The Standpoint

‘Creative protest’ at Jamia

By

Kalpana Gupta

Maqbool Fida Husain turned 94 in Dubai on September 17 of this year. It seems his self-imposed exile in 2006 left a revealing scar in the minds of his well-wishers. Jamia Millia Islamia University along with other artists and students organised a “creative protest” against the factors that led to the country’s best known living artist’s exile.

M.F Husain Art Gallery in Jamia University was decorated with colourful paintings all over it. Other than Husain’s paintings, Anjolie Ela Menon and Ghulam Muhammed Sheikh contributed their works to this exhibition. The photographer turned filmmaker Mira Nair displayed many of her photos after a long gap of 30 years.

Ram Rahim of the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust said that two Tihar Jail inmates contributed the “poignant gesture” made especially for this exhibition. Adding to the glory of Husain, the Gallery of Modern Art showcased a photograph taken in the year 1993 in which M.F Husain is seen sitting with his extended family that includes his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

By late morning, the students of Jamia Milia Islamia University thronged the exhibition with full gusto and curiosity. The mesmerizing colors along with thoughts and ideas of artists left the visitors with an inescapable smile on their faces. While one of the paintings depicted the flying Lord Hanuman over a city with Husain’s head, others urged the visitors to do a little thinking and make out their own meanings.

The show began with a screening of three of Husain’s films-Through the Eyes of a Painter (1966) that won the Silevr Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, Gajagamini (2000) starring Madhuri Dixit and Meenaxi : A Tale of three cities (2004) featuring Tabu.

Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung released the book written by the noted filmmaker K. Bikram Singh named as Husain at 94.

Ram Lila had been the source of inspiration for Husain’s paintings in his early childhood days. He had painted hundreds of scenes from it but unfortunately his uncle sold them to a raddi-wala. Husain then earned his bred by painting hoardings in Mumbai. This is believed to be the reason why his sympathies and concerns are of ordinary people who generally make place in his paintings as they have it in Husain’s heart.

In accordance with Husain’s desires, the works at the show would be auctioned and the money out of it would be utilised for the education of poor children.

The event strived to convey the message–

Even if the politicians continue to harass Husain, the Artists have not forgotten him.