Page 12 - M F Husain The Eternal Master
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beginning was ephemeral as the spectre of financial hardship
descended upon him. The loss of his father’s employment
compelled Husain to return to Indore. But this was only a
brief interlude in his relationship with Bombay. In 1936,
Husain with his portrait of revered singer M. S. Subbulakshmi Husain returned to the vibrant heart of the “maximum city,”
setting foot on its bustling streets once more and beginning
a transformative journey that would shape him, both as a
person and an artist. Bombay, a city teeming with life, became
the crucible in which Husain’s creative spirit would forge its
early identity.
Husain’s humble beginnings in the city saw him
living on the pavements near Grant Road Station. This was
a vibrant neighbourhood with cinema halls, including the
Majestic, Dreamland, and Apsara, intermingling with a
nearby red-light district. Despite his youth and his inability
to earn a living through any skill other than painting, Husain’s
A profile of Husain in Sunday Mirror supplement published on December 10th, 2006 determination and innate talent were his only assets.
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