M.F. Husain: The Brush That Painted India's Soul
“I only paint in India. I could paint with my feet in my country, but nowhere else.”
— Maqbool Fida Husain
In the grand mosaic of India’s post-independence identity, one man dared to take an ancient tradition and drench it in bold colors, wild strokes, and unapologetic symbolism. That man was Maqbool Fida Husain, fondly remembered as M.F. Husain, a painter whose canvas was the soul of Bharat — fierce, fractured, festive, and free.
To the world, he was India’s most celebrated modern artist. To India, he was a cultural ambassador, a visual storyteller, and a devout patriot who carried India’s heritage to the global stage, not in museums — but in the fire of his imagination.
Early Life: Roots of a Restless Visionary
Born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, into a Sulaymani Bohra Muslim family, Husain’s early life was shaped by hardship and longing. His mother, Zunaib, passed away when he was barely a toddler — a void that left a deep emotional imprint, which later surfaced in his recurring portrayal of the Mother Goddess and feminine strength in his art.
Raised by his father Fida Husain, a timekeeper at a textile mill, and later by a stepmother, young Husain found early companionship not in toys, but in colors, calligraphy, and the majestic myths of Hindu epics. Though formal schooling remained incomplete, his spiritual schooling came through life, legends, and landscapes of India.
The Rise of the ‘Barefoot Picasso of India’
Husain’s journey to artistic stardom was anything but conventional. He started as a billboard painter for Mumbai’s booming film industry in the 1930s, working day and night with little pay but boundless passion. It was during this time that he developed his iconic style — bold lines, vivid imagery, and spiritual abstraction.
He soon became a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG) in 1947 — a revolutionary collective of modern Indian artists who sought to break free from colonial aesthetics and celebrate a uniquely Indian modernism. His rise was meteoric, but never detached from the soil he came from.
Art That Echoed the Pulse of India
M.F. Husain’s oeuvre was vast and visceral. He painted horses with wild energy, goddesses with strength and grace, and urban chaos with spiritual clarity. But beneath every brushstroke lay an unmistakable love for India’s diverse traditions — Hinduism, Islam, folklore, cinema, music, and politics.
Notable Works That Embodied National Identity:
- Ramakrishna and Mother Teresa series: Showcased compassion and spirituality beyond religion.
- Mahabharata & Ramayana series: Reinterpreted epics with modern intensity.
- Gaja Gamini & Meenaxi (films he directed): Visual symphonies where art met cinema.
- "Through the Eyes of a Painter": A short film that won a Golden Bear at the 1967 Berlin International Film Festival.
Struggles, Controversies, and Exile
Husain’s love for India was unquestionable — but it came with a heavy price. His depictions of Hindu deities, painted in a modernist style, invited outrage from certain sections of society, who viewed it as sacrilegious. Despite being a champion of interfaith harmony and a fierce nationalist, he faced legal harassment, threats, and vandalism.
In 2006, at the age of 91, he left India — not in defiance, but in heartbreak. He was awarded Qatari citizenship in 2010 but continued to long for his homeland. Till his last breath in London (June 9, 2011), he carried India in his heart, painting her mythologies and melodies.
Legacy: A Timeless Brushstroke on Indian Identity
Despite exile, Husain's spirit never left India. His art remains housed in the hearts of millions — from Lalit Kala Akademi to international museums, his vision of Bharat transcends borders.
His Lasting Contributions:
- Globalized Indian art — placing it on the world stage.
- Inspired generations of young Indian painters, illustrators, and filmmakers.
- Broke down barriers of caste, religion, and language through universal imagery.
- Proved that patriotism can be painted — not just pledged.
Conclusion: The Artist Who Saw India in Every Colour
M.F. Husain was not merely a painter. He was India’s storyteller in colour, a mystic with a brush, and a barefoot prophet of pluralism. His life reminds us that true art disturbs, uplifts, questions, and heals — just as our nation must.
Today, as India continues to define its cultural identity in a rapidly changing world, let us remember Husain not for the controversy, but for the courage to dream aloud on canvas — for daring to paint Bharat in all her chaos, divinity, and glory.