Aye Parbat Rasta De Mujhe, Aye Kaanton Daaman Chhod Do

A maestro of colours and creativity departed his life.

Today, Mr. M. F. Hussain died at the age of 95.

While the world is mourning for such a huge loss, there is some unrest and upheaval in the hearts of many around us.

MF was controversy's favourite child! Due to some of his controversial paintings, Mr. Hussain himself had drawn a lot of aversions towards him. His quite infamous Saraswati painting and naked lady in the form of India also made him undergo into so-called self-imposed exile. The charges that were imposed on him in 2006 for hurting sentiments of people by painting Hindu Gods and Goddesses nude were no doubt pertinent.

But that doesn’t mean we should rake over the ashes now.

Why do people remember all the negative things about others and miss those ones that are real gems in world’s art treasury.

In his more than 70 year long career, it’s not just sacrilegious or blasphemous paintings that he has drawn. He has been a mastermind behind some of the remarkable contributions in art legacy like –

1.Encouraged Indian avant-garde, engaged at an international level by joining Progressive Artists’ Group

2.Fida - An illustrious series of paintings based on his muse, Madhuri Dixit

3.Even more famous series on horses, which later turned into iconic representation of MF’s style

4.His paintings on major cities like Calcutta, Banares, Rome and Beijing

5.A whole series on Mother Teresa

6.A series dedicated to the major nine religions of the world

7.A series depicting the British Raj India

8.‘Portrait of the 20th Century’ – 40 feet high mural - depicting all the major personalities of arts, science, dance, literature, politics etc.

9.Produced and directed a few notable films like Gaj Gamini, Meenaxi: A tale of three cities

10.A series of paintings inspired by the Hindu epic, Mahabharata

11.A large diptych of the battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata 12

12.During her last encounter with MF, only a few hours before his death in London, Shobha De learnt that he is in the middle of his biggest paintings that will show the entire Ramayana on canvas. This was supposed to be his token of love and respect towards India. But...


Salil Tripathi had once said that it is hypocritical to place curbs on Husain's artistic freedom. What's more shameful is that a government that claims to be the secular alternative to Hindu nationalists is threatening to prosecute Husain. This does not do India proud; it adds to India's disgrace.

But all said and done, I think we should let the bygones be bygones. We are humans, and it is a human tendency to commit mistakes. He was charged for his mistakes, and was facing the consequences till the last breath of his life.

Now he is liberated from the confines of world’s doctrine. And, now that he is away from this dogmatic world, let his soul rest in peace. Cursing a departed soul, won’t do much good to anybody.

So, let it be people.

It’s okay.

It’s understood that we have strong emotions and have a right to give our opinions, but understand the situation. Let us all behave like good children and observe a minute’s silence for the prodigy.




P.S:

I remained silent for a few moments, and suddenly my heart started humming these lines:

Door nigaahon se aansoo bahaataa hain koee
Kaise naa jaaoo mai, muz ko bulaataa hain koee
Yaa toote dil ko jod do, yaa saare bandhan tod do
Aye parabat rastaa de muze, aye kaanton daaman chhod do

Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil Mere Kaam ki nahin..