For city-based socialite and entrepreneur Sabina Sanghvi, Husain was like a family member.
Renowned artist Maqbool Fida Husain, 95, who passed away in a London hospital in the wee hours of Thursday, was remembered fondly by Puneities.
For city-based socialite and entrepreneur Sabina Sanghvi, Husain was like a family member. “He was a father figure to us. He came and stayed with us for an entire month in 1991. He was working on a large painting for the Bajaj office. My husband and I actually developed a love for colours because of him. He would love going to Vaishali restaurant at FC Road. He was an ardent Madhuri Dixit fan. We, therefore, ended up watching her film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun five times with him.
Sanghvi remembers her daughter Shibani, who was very small then, crawling all over the place and even spoiling Husain’s paintings. “Husain never lost his cool. He was a wonderful human being who lived the life to the fullest. I have a few of his paintings, which will remind us of him.”
Similarly, city-based luxury stylist Diviya Agarwal who used to call Husain, ‘Uncle H’ told DNA on Thursday that the artist’s demise had come as a shock to her. “He was family. We used to call him ‘Uncle H’. I have been to London many times with him and I have one of his creations at my home, which came as a wedding gift to me in 1993. He was a spectacular human being, apart from being a great artist. He believed in simple living and was always willing to help others. His life is very inspiring for every art lover.”
Likewise, several city artists have been inspired by Husain. Artist Prakash Bal Joshi, who is presently in Bangalore, told DNA: “MF Husain was a mascot for Indian art. His images were developed from Indian culture. His journey from a billboard painter to a world class artist was awe-inspiring. His visual language was bold and symbolised our diverse culture. Though some of his art created a lot of controversy, he has left behind a legacy.”
Artist Anwar Husain, who met Husain at an art exhibition in Pandharpur, also has some fond memories of the master. “It is a great loss to the art fraternity. He was an artist who represented the diversity of the Indian culture. It is sad that he passed away outside India,” Anwar Husain said.
Mumbai-based artist Ravi Mandlik said that it was shameful and sad that Husain could not return India. “Whenever any Indian visited him, he expressed a wish to return home. Husain was full of energy and had completed a large scale painting just two months ago,” Mandlik said.
According to Kolhapur artist Ajay Dalvi, Husain used angular and bold lines and simplified decorations, but never lost his Indian-ness. “He made paintings on a large scale. His death is an immense loss to the country,” Dalvi said.
— With inputs from Mohsin Mulla
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