Adieu to you
Adieu to you Maqbool Fida Hussain breathed his last In distant London, far far away from his homeland. I bow my head in his memory… And at the same time I hang my head in shame. Hussain, all of 95 years, was an Indian. His paintings portrayed the life and times of India, Its history too, in its myriad colours. He lived an Indian, every bit of it. But, He couldn’t die an Indian… We didn’t let him die an Indian… We didn’t want him in his own country And die here, this nonagenarian. Obituaries will flow out in hundreds From VIPs and VVIPs, Discussions will abound in TV studios, Editorials and lead articles will be aplenty All extolling his brilliance, his creativity, his originality. All will condole the demise of a celebrated artist All crocodiles will crowd the media rooms today As though Hussain was never let down. But then Why did no one want him in India? Why did the media keep quiet? Why did the Civil Society put the ostrich to shame? Where did the political voices disappear? Where did the secularists vanish? Whatever happened to the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution Which proclaimed a Secular Republic Which stressed the right to freedom of speech and expression? Why did the Courts of Law not take suo motu notice of the threat to the life of this 95-year-old man? What did the government do to secure for Hussain his right to freedom of expression and right to life? We will never get any answers from anyone, bar the meaningless eulogies. Pray, tell me, With what face will the Members of Parliament Pay homage to Hussain, a member of their tribe, Who couldn’t set his bare feet on his mother earth? The same bare feet which walked the corridors of Parliament After having been nominated by the President of India For his countless contributions to national life… Conferred Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan And What did the very same State Do To let him walk his beloved earth? No, no one did anything, For, Hussain was politically inconvenient for everyone Collectively, They let him die in a foreign land. Today, They will issue the mandatory messages I bow my head to Maqbool Fida Hussain. And I hang my head in shame For I too didn’t raise my voice for his cause…
And
And heave a sigh of relief.
