In 1982 I moved to a new school. All of 7 years old, my first lesson was ‘Art Class’ something I never heard of and was looking forward to.
In comes a plain looking, 5 feet tall, 50 plus, petite and fragile female teacher. She is Ms Ashraf Unnisa. After a brief introduction, she took a blue-color chalk and drew two umbrellas on the black board. One closed and another, open. This was my first encounter with an amazing world called ‘art’. I was stunned at her energy and clarity. I was obsessed about her and would talk about her to all my relatives and friends. I never missed her single class.
She could see my interest and in return took special interest in me. She guided me at every occasion. She taught me a lot about sketching, filling colors and shading. I used to paint with sketch pens as the color pencils and other material were not easily available.
She introduced me to the magical world of Colors, Imagination, Creation and Satisfaction.
I moved to another school in 1983 and lost touch with her.
Beyond doubt, I hope she is at peace, wherever she is right now and 'thank' her deep from my heart. Sadly I don’t have a picture of hers to share with you all.
I miss you Ashraf Teacher.
A decade ago, in 1993 I was introduced to a celebrated artist called M F Husain by articles and art document. I was too young that time to identify with this phenomena but his name had a miraculous effect on me.
I don’t remember which was his first painting that I came across, but what got entrenched on my senses is his authority on the medium. The usage of pen, watercolor, acrylic and of course oil is miraculous. The heavy yet confident strokes were his forte. His horses are like trademark. The symphonies were astounding.
I did try to copy him during my learning days but never got the life into them. He had his unusual style. I guess every artist should have.
Having born in a small village of Maharashtra on 17 September 1915, this man surely had his head firm on his shoulders. The struggle was surely there. The hard work was always upfront. What I truly like and respect him for, is his energy level.
Husain saab first became well-known as an artist in the late 1940s after painting a series of film posters. In 1947, he joined the Progressive Artists' Group, founded by Francis Newton Souza. In 1952, his first solo exhibition was held at Zürich and over the next few years, his work was widely seen in Europe and the U.S. In 1955, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shree prize by the Government of India.
In 1967, he made his first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter. It was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won a Golden Bear. I loved the film.
He is assumed to have not stayed at any place for more than 10 days! He is got dwelling in India, Dubai, London, USA and Middle East! And everywhere he travels, he paints and only paints.
For the longest time I thought he is from Hyderabad for the kind of love he showed towards the city and its culture. His Cinema Ghar was one place in Hyderabad I used to frequent a lot in a anticipation to meet my magician. And every time I missed him by a glance. I got enthralled looking at his work instead in the studio cum house in Hyderabad. And here I was introduced to his other passion, Cinema.
His first full featured film, Gaja Gamini was undeniably an extravagance to watch.
He went on to make Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (with Tabu). This was one film of his, which is very close to my heart. It was very clear that this man, unquestionably, is a magician. Should check out the direction of one song Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai….it’s just excellent.
His autobiography is being made into a movie tentatively titled The Making of the Painter, starring Shreyas Talpade as the young Husain.
Husain Saab was always a controversial child. In the 1990s some of his works became hot-topic because of their portrayal of Hindu deities in the nude or in an allegedly sexual manner. The paintings in question were created in 1970, but did not become an issue until 1996, when they were printed in Vichar Mimansa, a Hindi monthly magazine, which published them in an article headlined "M.F. Husain: A Painter or Butcher". A series of cases were brought against him and a court case related to the alleged obscene depiction of Hindu goddesses in his paintings resulted in issuing a non-bailable warrant against Husain after he failed to respond to summons.
There were also reportedly death threats. The artist left the country stating that "matters are so legally complicated that I have been advised not to return home".
He took over the Qatar citizenship in February 2010.
For the last years of his life he lived in Dubai and London, staying away from India, but expressing a strong desire to return, despite fears of arrest. He died in a Royal Brompton hospital in London at 2.30 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011 following a cardiac arrest.
His achievements’ are not to miss. Today the art recognition that India got is all merited to Husain saab.
It will take me longest to digest the fact that Husain saab is no more and much longer than I consider to forgive India for losing him.
I shall honestly miss you Husain saab.
