Brush with the law: Husain cynical of Indian government initiative

Dubai: Iconic painter M.F. Husain is sceptical about an Indian government initiative which could pave the way for his return to his homeland.

Husain, 94, fled to Dubai in 2006 following death threats and a string of lawsuits filed by radicals out to target him for depicting Hindu deities in the nude.

Pending cases

Three of these cases have been thrown out by India's highest court, but four are still pending.

Last week, the Indian Home Ministry said it will move the Supreme Court for the early disposal of the remaining cases, but the grand old man of Indian art, who walks barefoot and moves around Dubai in a chauffeur-driven Ferrari, appears far from convinced.

"I haven't heard anything from the government officially in this regard. Mr Chidambaram [Indian Home Minister] has to just pick up the phone and assure me that nothing will happen to me and I will take the first plane back home," he said between sips of coffee at his favourite haunt — the Emirates Tower Hotel.

Husain is regarded as the modern-age Picasso and his creations are consistently sought after by art connoisseurs and buyers. Yet India's biggest art event, the Indian Art Summit, did not feature any of his works this year as organisers feared it would invite a backlash from fundamentalists.

Husain is obviously not amused. "They are talking about protecting me and they can't even protect my work," he said.