REMEMBERING M.F HUSSAIN

M. F. Hussain’s passing away brought the usual plethora of eulogies from some and unfortunate negative reactions from others. It took my mind back half a century. Way back in the early Nineteen Sixties, I was pursuing a Law Course in the Delhi University. We were a group of three good friends. On one pretext or the other, we would end up the day, and at times, even begin the day, in the Connaught Place. One of our favourite affordable places used to be an open Coffee House run by the employees themselves.

Being daily visitors, we soon started occupying the same table every day. And slowly we realised that the persons on the adjoining table loved their spot as much as we did ours. They were there daily sometimes just 5-6 and at other times almost a dozen. One person from the Group immediately caught our eye. He had a beard and walked bare footed. He is M.F. Hussain, the painter, explained one of our friends. And what does he paint, I asked with an equal measure of ignorance and innocence. Well, mainly horses, explained my knowledgeable friend. This daily sighting continued almost for two years. None of us ever went and tried to talk to him. About what could we have talked to Hussain Sa’b since our knowledge of painting was non existent?

Past to present. The TV channels and the print media have made known so many facts about him during the last one week- if only they had done so earlier!

Many of his photographs and sketches show him with a painting brush in one of his hands. And that brings me back to my Fifth Floor flat. And more precisely to the newly installed safety wire-net door. It was supposed to have been painted, but the contractor disappeared suddenly. Today, while thinking about Hussain Sahib, paint and brushes, I suddenly asked myself, if he could paint master pieces at the age of 95, why can’t I paint a simple door? I soon gathered the half empty paint cans and two brushes and got going. The status at the time of writing this is that I have been able to do only a portion of the gate.

PS. Hear ye all my good friends...Want to help me finish the job?

Come with your ideas...paint and brushes will be provided.