Maqbool Fida Husain, known as M. F. Husain, was one of the most celebrated and controversial figures in modern Indian art. Born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Husain's journey from painting cinema hoardings in Mumbai to becoming one of India's most recognized and prolific artists was a tribute to his genius and zeal. Often called the "Picasso of India," Husain is famous for his vibrant, expressive works that draw from a deep well of Indian culture, mythology, and history with techniques of modernism.
Husain spent younger years in Mumbai, battling poverty, but it eventually paid off, as he found painting cinema posters beneficial in finding a style characterizing his work. He was deeply influenced by modernism, and in 1947, he was one of the founding members of the Progressive Artists' Group, which included such stalwarts as F.N. Souza and S.H. Raza. This group sought an exit from the academic realism reigning over Indian art then and searched for an experimental and global approach.
From the outset of his career until his death, Husain's oeuvre has focused on the human condition and the cultural identity of India. Key themes in his works are equines in motion, caught dynamically, exuding force and freedom; women with gods and goddesses from Hindu mythology in respectful yet contemporary portrayals; and Mother Teresa, an array of abstract forms to capture the essence of her compassion and spirituality.
He had participated in several important exhibitions within India and abroad, which established him as a leading figure in the international art scenario. His one-man exhibition at the Zurich Gallery in 1952 marked his entry into the global art scene, and representing India at the Venice Biennale in 1953 added to his accolades. He complied with a retrospective that had its central part at Brazil's São Paulo Biennale in 1969, which projected his work to the world.
Some of the most famous and controversial works of Husain belong to the "Bharat Mata" series and of Hindu goddesses like, for instance, *Durga* and *Saraswati*, in the nude. These invited a lot of public protest, court cases, and allegations of blasphemy over the munificent artist. The imbroglio shed light on the issue at the confluence of artistic freedom with religious sensitivity that pervades in Indian society—a battle that shall be played out in self-imposed exile into which his last years had led him.
But, despite all the controversies, the contributions of Husain to Indian art remain very great. His constant motif of the horse, as in the works such as *Horse in Motion*, became one of his signature elements, symbolizing not just power and grace but the spirit of modern India. His series of Mother Teresa, its humanitarian abstractions evoking a very deep sense of emotion and newness of form, received wide acclaim.
The many awards and accolades Hussain has received in regards to his impact on the world of art include the Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India in 1973 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1991. His works have been put up for exhibition at prestigious museums and galleries of the world, for example the Tate Modern in London and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
M.F. Husain passed away in London on June 9, 2011, but his creations continue to inspire and generate much controversy in the world of art, culture, and politics.