Husain painting to be auctioned at Christie’s

LONDON: An M F Husain masterpiece will go under the hammer at Christie’s in New York to raise funds for Pratham, a charity dedicated to eradicate primary illiteracy in India.

The painting, titled Woman playing Veena, currently in possession of NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s wife Usha, will be auctioned next March to raise funds for Pratham’s work with children in India, a Pratham spokeswoman said.

“Usha Mittal, a keen collector of art and antiques advised and assisted Pratham in the organisation of our successful auction of Indian art at Christie’s in May this year, which raised a net £1,40,000,” Sangeeta Chawla Joshi, founding trustee and President of Pratham, UK, said.

“I believe that MF Husain’s Woman playing Veena will fetch the utmost value in New York, where Indian art is appreciated and in demand not only by a successful NRI community but increasingly by the international market for Indian art. The proceeds will go towards educating more children in India, who otherwise, may not receive an education,” Usha Mittal said.

Over the last year, Pratham UK has held similar events including the Pratham Indian Art Auction at Christie’s and the London 10K Run and concerts featuring the life and work of Gulzar.