India Loses Husain

India’s best known artist Maqbool Fida Husain — who went into self-imposed
exile four years ago following death threats by Hindu fundamentalists incensed
by his controversial paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses — has given up his
Indian citizenship and become a Qatar national.

The 94-year old artist said he did not want to be distracted from his
work at this stage in his life, “At the age of 40, I would have fought them
tooth and nail, but I just wanted to concentrate only on my work. I don’t want
any disturbances.”

Husain said he recognized that his opponents were a tiny vocal minority
and abandoning Indian citizenship did not diminish his Indian identity.
“Ninety-nine percent of Indian people loved me and they still love me. I’m an
Indian-origin painter. I will remain so to my last breath…. What’s citizenship?
It’s just a piece of paper.”