‘My life has just begun’

MF Husain turns 94 today. Speaking to Shubha Shetty-Saha from Dubai, the energetic painter paused to reflect on his eventful life

How old are you really feeling?
I feel 40 — and I feel I have 40 more years of living to do. (Laughs) My life has just begun. I think what has helped me is the fact that I realise that I am not the only talented person around here. I truly believe that each of us has been blessed with the faculty, it’s just that you need to discover it. What I have done in my life can be easily achieved. God is not partial.

Then why have very few achieved the milestones you have?
I think that’s because most are yet to discover what they are. We tend to spend our lives taking ourselves for granted. The first rule is to find yourself — don’t make the error of spending too much time finding others. What I have achieved is thanks to 80 per cent hard work, 10 per cent how you conduct yourself and the remaining is finding true friends who will stand by you no matter what. It’s up to you to find and keep those true friends. No one can teach you how to, but there are millions of ways to find those who love you for what you are. My hard work is something I am truly proud of. Even today at 94, I am on my toes, wanting to do more.
 
What would you say are the turning points in your life?
When I was one and a half years old, my mother passed away. It’s a loss I am still to come to terms with. A mother is the most important person in your life and I am still trying to find glimpses of her in the people I meet, like Mother Teresa, Madhuri Dixit…my quest for my mother continues. The other two turning points were when my wife passed away and when I met my partner, Maria.
 
Talking of your mother, do you regret not being able to come back to your motherland?
I realised early on in life that the world is full of obstacles. No point in crying; you have to concentrate on jumping over those hurdles. Perhaps, if there are hurdles, you are on the right path. Even though I truly miss not being in India, I see it as a minor part of my struggle. I am amazed at the love and affection that I still get from people back home, that my presence might not really be needed.
 
What keeps you going?
Someone had once said, ‘never complain and never explain’. I believe in this. If you work hard and remain true to yourself, you will not find any reason to sulk and talk badly about people who are against you — and you are also not answerable to anybody. Those who are jealous of you will suffer on their own, you don’t have to make it your problem.

What are the plans for your 94th birthday?
I will be in New York, painting a 45 feet canvas especially for the day. (Laughing) So you see, you haven’t heard the last of me yet.