ALVIDA HUSAIN

ALVIDA      HUSAIN

I   had seen   Husain at the  Maganlal Dresswala’s shop at Marine Drive about 12 years ago, where  I  had gone  with my son to rent a Santa Clause dress for the Christmas  celebrations at his school. Husain was there to select  a peak cap for his car driver. I was so awe struck by his presence  that it did not register in me to at least talk to him. I have been his admirer and have always argued in his favour. Later, again I saw him at the Art Gallery at Flora Fountain where his work on Banaras was at  display. When his  troubles regarding painting Hindu Goddess  in nude started I sympathised with him because those opposing him did not understand his genius and treated him ordinarily , he was so prolific and yet unique and we did not realize his true worth, in his lifetime. By dying in London he has in a way replied to the insults and insinuations we hurled at him, now when his fame and popularity will soar with time  and the world will visit his graveyard in London and of course the many works we will rue our reactionary behaviour.

     I am not an Art critic but I regularly visit the Art Galleries of South Mumbai and do make an effort  to visit when works of imminent painters and Artists are on display. Some years ago works of Picasso were at display at the National gallery near Regal and it was at that time I assessed that it was unfair to call Husain as the Indian Picasso because  though both made contemporary Art  and Husain did make horses probably under the influence of Picasso but Husain’s choice and range of colours and his themes were so very varied. He represented  India in his paintings and his distinct colours and strokes set him apart .His colours are so fascinating that whenever I am near the Taj mahal Hotel at Colaba  I cannot curb the urge to visit the Reception counter and admire the orange-red mural made by Husain. Husain was topical too and expressed his appreciation in paint- Madhuri Dixit, Amitabh Bachhan, Raj Kapoor’s Henna, he painted all.  

     I always thought that his religion was Art and those who were against him should have judged him as an Indian and not as a   Muslim. One Newspaper has aptly titled its front page report on his death— ‘ Husain  lives  in  deathless Art ’.

CANNOT SKIRT THIS ISSUE

CANNOT SKIRT THIS ISSUE













The Badminton World Federation has passed a rule that the Women Badminton players will be required to wear skirts in order to play Badminton at International events. This rule is framed apparently to make Badminton more popular. There has been sharp criticism of this new rule from both, the players as well as those associated with the game. The intent behind such a move is evident from the recent news published in the Asian Age of 23 May the news titled ‘ Wear skirts, earn more money, says world body’ . Paisan Rangsikitpho , deputy President of the governing Badminton World Federation

( B W F ) , said , “ The reason we want the skirt regulation is to promote women’s events which are getting less and less popular”. He further said that the bottom line is “ They could earn more sponsorship and more money”.

Sports as a platform to promote corporate and capitalists Aims has been firmly established for many years. We are witnessing its most profound !! manifestation in the Indian Premier League where sportspersons are bought and sold under a hammer. For the sake of money we have allowed ourselves to be sold as commodities. The culture of ‘ cheer leaders’ associated with glitz and glamour has not only robbed sports of its soul but has made it elitist . Sports were introduced in the society to generate a healthy spirit of togetherness and competitiveness to generate good health and camaraderie it also offered lively entertainment and channelized the violent tendencies of humans. The onset of capitalism and the advent of Television which covers every nook and corner of the world has propelled sports to such a level that it has become a vehicle to promote products and is not only linked to sports gear but to many consumer items. Such is the lure of money that Indian politicians control most of the popular sports in order to further their economic and social clout, bitter electioneering is conducted to maintain their hold and ex sportspersons are relegated to peripheral management as the prime seats are occupied by management experts chosen by the political masters.

It is also reported that the advise to go for skirts was rendered by a marketing firm by the name of ‘Octagon’ which confirms the purpose of the change. What is most hurting is that these marketing firms have embarked to convert sports of skill to a mere skin show where they intend to lure wide ranging customers! to watch the skirts fly rather than appreciate the game. We tend to forget but must remind ourselves that the culture of sports in the communist bloc countries of the era gone by was indeed worthy of emulation which made the communist countries foremost in Olympics for many years. The countries achieved high ranking results in many disciplines with the support of State mechanism and not by the corporate cunning.