M.F. Hussain

M.F. Husain was born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. Husain developed an interest in art while studying calligraphy. He attended the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art in Mumbai.

In the 1930s, Husain painted billboards for the Bollywood film industry. In Husain’s view, the partition of India and Pakistan was a turning point for India as it gave birth to modern Indian art which resulted in the formation of The Progressive Artist’s Group in Bombay in December 1947.

Despite being raised in a Muslim family, Husain through his paintings captured the essence of beauty in other religious cultures. His paintings hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu nationalists groups which launched a protest against him.