By Zohra Javed for TwoCircles.net
M F Husain in his car, as it drove past me on a 1st January some years back in Mumbai’s Fountain parking area. I went almost running behind him much to the amusement of my children ! Just as he had got down from his car I was beside him, children in tow. He looked at them and smiled.
I was speechless with excitement…he stood there calmly on the nearly deserted Hutatma Chowk, wearing an off-white kurta pajama, and a maroon muffler loosely hung around his neck. I don’t quite remember his footwear (we used to hear so much about M F Husain going bare-feet!!!) He spoke something in a very soft voice, talked to the children… And then he signed his million dollar name on a one rupee envelope (I did not have any other plain paper in my bag at that time!), and bidding goodbye smiled again…
It is hard to accept that such a composed, simple and serene person can insult religious sentiment. He never took his Muslim identity too seriously. He thought of himself as an Indian. And hence took the liberty that was not supposed to be his.
So Husain may now decorate the walls of a Museum in Qatar, while our fellow country-men plunder our own national treasure and heritage under one pretext or the other…and not even realise the loss they cause to the national wealth.
Most of the fanatics have been destroying precious heritage and human security systems with their outrageous acts.
The backlash against Husian can be compared to the anger Muslims expressed when a Danish cartoonist insulted the holy Prophet.
Neither of the two groups can lay their claim to religions they so fiercely defend and represent, because no religion encourages vandalism and barbarism.
Further, most of the renowned artists have condemned the government’s inefficiency to contain the anti-social element. Says Sharmila Tagore in Husain’s context: He is a free bird. He doesn’t want to be imprisoned by 20 guards, she said. All he wants is the atmosphere to work in peace and harmony. Who can guarantee that he gets that?
Film maker Shyam Benegal has said that artists should not be penalised. He also very rightly pointed out the following: “You can give me all the security you like, but it is to defend me from people who should be prevented in the first place, he said. Why should I have to live in captivity? Why aren’t you looking for those indulging in the politics of intimidation?
But all said and done India has lost a living legend, which is very sad.
We should be encouraging voices of peace. Year after year we see harmony in the work of God. This year also Milad un Nabi and Holi have come in close succession. Let us realise this and live in harmony, making way for peace and love.
Eid e Milad un Nabi and Holi Mubarak to everyone!