Was M F Husain right in accepting Qatari citizenship?

Yes, he has every right to… Poets, painters and other creative people have oftentimes led lives at odds with traditional values and moral standards. While this always riles the moral brigade, their acts have not necessarily transgressed the laws of the land, although detractors pretend otherwise.

‘Creative licence’ is the prerogative of artistes, as long as they don’t blatantly flout the nation’s laws. But in surcharged times when rabble rousers seek flimsy ruses to rake up irrelevant issues that earn them 15 minutes’ fame in local, national or international periodicals, it’s easy to step on such people’s toes. Given MF’s penchant for painting Hindu gods and goddesses in their natural glory, falling foul of the moral brigade was inevitable. The slew of cases and charges that then piled up were also inescapable.

The primary prerequisite for most artistes to practise their vocation is peace of mind, solitude – which increasingly became a luxury for Husain in India. Travelling abroad to escape detractors was the best thing Husain could do under the circumstances. Husain was in self-imposed exile since 2006.^[1] Away from the heat and hubris of critics, he could paint in peace. Although an Indian citizen, Maqbool Fida Husain ended up spending the past few years in Dubai and London.

The scenario changed after Qatar granted MF citizenship, which he accepted subsequently. Although critics may cry themselves hoarse about MF betraying India, the fact remains that Husain is now a PIO (person of Indian origin),^[2] having surrendered his passport, since India doesn’t recognise dual citizenship. That the Indian ethos will always course through MF’s veins is clear from his son Owais Husain’s words: “He will continue to miss his real home, wherever he is. You can take M F Husain out of India. But you can’t takeIndia out of M F Husain.” ^[3]

- Aman Gupta