Kutti Nayar in Ahmedabad, has a painting by MF Husain hanging in his shop. The painting was made especially for him and gifted by Husain.
AHMEDABAD: Even when stock markets plummet, art continues to fetch millions. While the collectors are busy encashing valuable paintings, a tea stall owner in the city doesn't hoard art for money.
Kutti Nayar, the owner of Lucky Tea Stall in the Old City, has a painting by MF Husain hanging in his shop. The painting was made especially for him and gifted by Husain. But no matter what its rate in the art bazaar, Nayar says he will never sell the painting.
Nayar's partner, the late Mohammadbhai, was Husain's friend. The artist has been coming to the shop for the last 40 years. Every time he comes to the city, he makes it a point to sip tea here. On December 25, 1994, he gifted the painting to Lucky's owner.
City-based art dealer Anil Relia, who is also Husain's friend, says: "He made the painting in my house; I had accompanied him when he gifted the painting to Lucky's owner."
Relia says Husain has roots in Ahmedabad. In the Saraspur area here, there are graves of Husain's forefathers. "After paying homage to them, he goes to the stall, which around 1950, was just a shack. Husain used to have bun-maska with tea there.”
Mohammadbhai passed away sometime back and now the stall is being run by Nayar, who has kept his promise to Mohammadbhai that he will never sell the painting. "It's a gift from an old friend," says Nayar.
Talking about Husain's frequent visits, Nayar says: "He will come here all of a sudden, sit here, talk to the waiters and ask for tea. He likes to be on his own. As people realise it's Husain at the shop, and they start gathering around him, he would leave abruptly. We never charge him for tea or snacks."
Relia says the painting, if sold in 1994, would have fetched Rs20 to 25 lakh. "It's worth at least twice that now."
Priceless possession
- The painting’s dimensions are 3x3ft
- Husain's associate and architect Balkrishna Doshi believes it will fetch at least Rs40 lakh
- There are not adequate security arrangements for the painting. The stall's manager Gulambhai says the waiters, who sleep in the stall, take care of the security aspect
- The painting depicts a scene from the Arabian Nights. There are two camels and a castle-like construction in the foreground, and a desert in the backdrop.
- A kalma is written on the painting, which says: “There is only one God and he is Allah, and Mohammad is his prophet.”
- Art dealer Anil Relia says: "The painting reminds of an oasis in the desert. I think Husain must have found Lucky Tea Stall like an oasis of peace."
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