Death is always a loss. You were part of this world till yesterday and today you are not here. You won't be here either tomorrow. You will be never seen again. You are gone. Will someone remember you after a couple of years? I doubt it.
The only difference of loss by a death is, in some cases the loss is felt only by a family and in some cases by the country and in rare cases for the whole world. Artist M.F. Hussain's death was surely a loss for the country, if not the world, and he will be remembered for a long time to come for the work he left behind.
He was a great painter, indeed. Started his career as a movie poster painter he has grown into world renowned artist with sheer hard work and with little bit of luck. I have seen him very closely, when he was a regular in the corridors of Bombay's famous Jehangir Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda, walking barefoot (the one thing that I hate about him). He was not alone there. There were other artists like him. One of them was Mr. A.H. Ara, though he has not became a celebrity like M.F. Hussain. To become a celebrity you need to have a little bit of luck along with talent. M.F. Hussain had both.
I was also a regular at the Gallery, not as an artist but someone who was working in an office in the same vicinity. Many a time I was sitting in the next table in the famous Samovar restaurant in the company of all these talented artists. Artists are maintained their trade mark appearance. Hussain in kurta pyjama with long and unattended silver hair and beard, walking barefoot. On other hand Mr. Ara always in his well-ironed suit.
Mr. Ara preferred Way Side Inn, an old-fashioned restaurant in the Rampart Row, just the other side of Jehangir Art Gallery. His visits to Samovar were rare, but Husain was always there, in around Jehangir Art Gallery and Samovar. Mr. Ara owned his gallery in the Rampart Row, a little away from Jehangir Art Gallery. It was located in the same side as of Way Side Inn restaurant. Maybe that is the reason why Ara preferred Way Side Inn to Samovar.
As the years passed I have also moved out of Rampart Row. After many years down the line one day I came to know Mr. Ara has passed way. I got to know that from a newspaper report. He was person who I knew closely than Mr. Hussain. He was great human being always helpful and kind. When I heard his death, I did the only thing I could do. I prayed for a second.
Popularity of Mr. Hussain was growing. And with the arrival of cable television networks he was getting wide coverage for his work. News hungry media was always at his disposal. He has transformed into film maker from a painting artist. He has found Madhuri Dixit has a medium to get more popularity. The film Gaja Gamini was the result of that association. He is also a recipient number of Padma awards which he truly deserved.
However great you are, sometime along the journey of your wonderful life, you are bound to lose the balance. That's the rule of life. Otherwise why should a great talented and world renowned artist like M.F. Hussain must draw a 'nude' picture of Hindu God Saraswati? As an artist he has every right to draw a nude picture. The picture can also be shown holding a 'veena', a musical instrument which the Hindu God Saraswati holds. But was it necessary for him to inscribe the name 'Saraswati' in it? That is the one mistake for that he has got punished for rest of his life.
Your freedom ends where my nose begins. Mr. Hussain definitely misused his freedom while drawing that picture and he has paid a big price for that thoughtless action.
We should not talk evil about the dead. As there is no re-take in life his controversies are also gone with him. May his soul Rest in Peace.
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