MF Husain

Painter, Film maker

Born: 17th September 1915, Pandharpur, Maharashtra

Died: 9th June 2011, London

MF Husain lived in Bangalore for several years. During my early college days, one of my friends, Adil, said he was related to him in some way, and was hoping that we would get a chance to go to his house, which would give me a chance to get his autograph. Time went by and this never did happen.

Years later, in about 2000, I was on a Jet Airways flight between Bangalore and Hyderabad. Jet Airways had just started in-flight shopping, and I was glancing through the first issue of the shopping magazine. MF Husain's Gaja Gamini reprints, limited edition and numbered, autographed by him, was listed. Decided to buy!

It was a big investment that took most of a month's salary, and thinking back, it was made not so much for the art as for the original autograph! Not one, not two, not three, but eight!

Gaja Gamini, set of 8 reprints, each signed by MF Husain in pencil

Pic: Wikimedia Commons