Maqbool Fida Husain, a famous painter from India, has been offered Qatar nationality and he has applied for it. He has said “I, the Indian origin painter M. F. Husain at 95, have been honoured by Qatar nationality.”
M. F. Husain has attracted controversy for his paintings. Exhibitions having his paintings were disrupted. There were many court cases against him. His life was in danger. For many years he lived abroad. He was not in exile because the government did not banish him.
Now some people in India feel it is a shame that M. F. Husain is giving up Indian citizenship. Home Secretary G. K. Pillai offered protection to M. F. Husain. Some say M. F. Husain is free to settle down in Qatar and it is about money.
In India many times victims cry, criminals laugh. Those who call for murder are not arrested. Hooligans and vandals go scot free. If there is opposition to some book by a group the book is banned unless another group that is against the ban shows greater strength. There is no difference between BJP and Congress. Many cases against M. F. Husain were filed after Congress came to power at Centre in 2004.
It is unheard of any Arab country offering nationality to any man from another country though women become nationals when they marry a national of that country. Palestinians have remained refugees in many countries since 1948. Qatar offering nationality to M. F. Husain is an exception.
Let M. F. Husain be happy wherever he is.
