Dear Mr. M F Hussain ...

M F Hussain, also known as the Picasso of India is now the Picasso of Qatar. After being in exile since 2006, he has finally said his adieu to his motherland. 


This event was enthusiastically covered by our media sensing some 'masala'. On one side was the Indian government trying to dissuade the artist from accepting the Qatari citizenship while on the other were the activists, because of whom Mr. Hussain had to leave the country.


On asking as to why did he accept the Qatari citizenship, Mr. Hussain gave the following reasons:-
1. India rejected me. India does not need me. Successive governments have failed to protect me
2. When activists attacked my work, no one came to support me
3. Qatar provides me complete freedom. No one controls my freedom of expression here


Mr. Hussain continues, "90% of Indian people love me. Only 10% are against me."
And, "The cases against me are against my freedom of expression. An artist's self expression. It is my creativity"


Mr. Hussain, I as an Indian truly respect you for your art. I would be more than glad if you could reject the Qatari citizenship and remain Indian. But unfortunately I do not feel truthful to myself by saying this. 


You are the same person who painted 'Bharatmata' in nude. You went on further to paint Goddess Durga and Saraswati in an uncharitable manner. Yes i agree there should be a freedom of expression to each and every individual. I am proud of the fact that my country provides that kind of freedom. But freedom of expression should not be misused. There is a social responsibility on each and every one of us. By hurting the sentiments of 85% of the Indian population, you cannot claim to have the love of our countrymen.


You have now taken citizenship of a country that is not even a democracy and you claim to have full freedom of expression?? I do not mean to be provocative, but if such acts were done against your new home country, I would not even want to think what the result would have been. India has been a tolerant society but it does not mean that you under the name of creativity paint whatever you like.


Be respectful of the sentiments of the people. You are a celebrity and hence a huge social responsiblity lies on your shoulders.


Proud to be an Indian

Racism: Do we Indians deserve it?

The recent attacks on Indian students in Victoria, Australia have caused an outrage across Australia as well as India. Indian media has once again done a good job of sensationalizing a piece of news and has created good amount of awareness.

Before I proceed further, let me get this straight … I deeply condemn the attacks on my fellow countrymen and completely sympathize with the students and families who have suffered due to these attacks in Australia, be it racist or not . In fact, any sort of differentiation or hatred based on religion, caste, creed, economic or educational level, gender, region etc is deeply condemnable.

I do not claim to be an expert on the history of Indian culture and society, but if we look at our society, even today there is rampant distinction and division based on religion, caste, regionalism/ language, economic well being, gender etc.

This division can be seen in every sphere of our lives; be it our social or professional lives. We discriminate between rich and poor, between fair and dark, between male and female, between a Hindu and a Muslim, between a Hindi speaking and non-Hindi speaking and unconsciously between so many other things. Whether it is a Dalit being beaten up for drawing water from a well meant for so called “higher castes” or the more contemporary HR manager not hiring someone because he/ she is not from his/her region/ language. Whether it is some temples in South India not allowing lower caste people to enter or be it the stereotyping of people based on their caste. Whether it is giving preferential treatment to the rich over the poor or it is the hatred in the minds based on religion. The division and distinction is everywhere. Then why do we cry foul when someone else treats us in the same way we treat our own countrymen??

Isn’t it important to first attempt to clean our own home rather than point fingers at the world?

Jai Hind … Proud to be an Indian