The government might be finally moving to make things easier for India's renowned painter M F Husain to return to his homeland after four years of exile, but the 94-year-old artist is hardly impressed. Nor is he taking seriously the home ministry's efforts to club three pending cases against him so as to ensure their speedy disposal.
``What are they talking about?'' asked Husain in a telephonic conversation with TOI from Dubai. ``The India Art Summit held in August this year did not feature a single work by me. The reason given was that they could not afford to take the `risk'. How will they protect me if they cannot protect my work? How can I trust them?'' (Read full interview in TOI-Crest this Saturday.)
The artist feels that it's not just a question of legal cases against him. That did not force him to leave India. What caused his exile were the threats of physical harm to him by saffron groups. He wondered what would happen to him if he actually returned. ``They can, of course, promise me a bullet-proof car and the works. But, then, did Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi have any less security?''
On its part, the home ministry plans to approach the Supreme Court and request it club the three cases pending in Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra ^ and move for their early disposal. Said Husain's lawyer Akhil Sibal: ``Any positive step by the government is welcome. But we would also like to see a clear message that the government would do everything within the law to prevent his harassment.''
Husain said his case was not unique: ``From Galileo to Pablo Neruda, creativity has been exiled many times. I am not the first one.'' Still, the artist said he was deeply hurt by the way ``a few'' have treated him. ``It's a tremendous hurt. I'm Indian. Why should I beg these people to call me back to my country?''
Protect me? They can’t even protect my art: M F Husain
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