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Artist Hussaini on fast unto death

Painting has been a passion for karate expert Shihan Hussaini and when disturbed, the brush comes to his rescue. So, when he was falsely accused of being a Sri Lankan militant and put in Tihar jail for 10 days, he took his brush and gave vent to his feelings. And 127 sketches were born.

After two years, he decided to exhibit these at the Lalit Kala Academi from December 18. Other than sketches done at Tihar, there were paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses, landscapes and also one on former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, done in his blood when she was chief minister.

On December 10, 30 policemen in seven vehicles raided his office and confiscated his paintings and destroyed whatever was left.

"The first thing they asked was the Jayalalitha painting. Then, they asked whether there were paintings against the government or police officers. It is a shameful act instigated by political bigwigs seeking personal vendetta. It is a black day for artists and art lovers. I have every right of creative expression without hurting anyone's sentiments. So far, the police have not intimated me or sought an explanation," he fumed.

On whether the harassment had to do with him belonging to a minority community, he said, "I do not want to think so. See what happened when cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin made a comment about the community. Some police officials asked the boys whether I had done a painting on the Babri masjid demolition. After the demolition, I received threatening calls and many asked me to go to Pakistan! When I am Indian, why am I being asked to go to Pakistan? I do not know why I am being harassed."

The police first refused to comment on why his paintings were seized. Later they said they were obscene and objectionable. They said he had drawn sketches of criminals in Tihar jail and painted them as heroes. "Will the police conduct similar raids on the residences of the mayor and other politicians whose posters are all over the city? Will they tear off their posters like they have torn mine?" Hussaini asked.

In protest against the police action, Hussaini has started a fast-unto-death from Monday. He wanted all his paintings back and the officers who conducted the raid to be suspended. "No one in a secular and democratic country has powers to seize creative works and stop an art exhibition. If I collapse and die, I hold the chief minister (M Karunanidhi) responsible. I wonder how a chief minister who was known as 'kalaignar' - an artist - could do such unpardonable things to a fellow artist. Are we living in a democracy or a dictatorship?" he said.

Hussaini plans to go ahead with his exhibition with the few paintings that remain. He intends to paint more when fasting.

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