<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>T<strong>he Artist Who Lost His Country</strong><br>Maqbool Fida Husain, aged 95, passed away this week at London's Royal Brompton Hospital. Popularly known as "MF", he was called the Picasso of India. The barefooted painter was born in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, on 17 September, 1915. It was with calligraphy that he set out on the road as a painter. At first, it was billboards in Bollywood. He then went on to become part of the Progressive Artists Group led by F.N. Souza in the 1940s. He made his mark on the world stage with his 1952 Zurich debut; and went on to become one of the country's highest paid painters. His first film Through the Eyes of a Painter bagged the Golden Bear Award in 1967 at the Berlin Film Festival. He also made two in Hindi: Gaja Gamini — Madhuri Dixit was his muse; and Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities.<br><br>During the 1990s, he upset the Hindu right wing parties after his depiction of goddesses in the buff; it did not matter at all to them that these were paintings done way back in the 1970s. He had been living in exile in Dubai since 2006. Last year, he had accepted the citizenship of Qatar.<br><br>It was his dream to come to India and breathe his last. The powers-that-be — who seek votes on the secular platform — did nothing to help Husain whose last rites were performed in London. India should hang its head in shame.<br><br>Husain put Indian contemporary art on the world stage. He was one of India's best selling artists. The painting Battle of Ganga and Yamuna: Mahabharata 12 set a record in 2008, when it fetched $1.6 million. <br><br>More recently, three of his paintings were auctioned at Rs 2.32 crore. Ironically, his works are doubly precious now. <br><br><br></p>
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<td><strong>OFF THE SADDLE: Max India executive chairman Analjit Singh (left), and DMK MP Kanimozhi (BW pic by Sanjay Sakaria</strong></td>
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<p><br><strong>Analjit Singh Makes Way</strong><br>The New Delhi-based Max India has a new managing director, Rahul Khosla. He replaces founder Analjit Singh, who held the post till date. Prior to joining Max, the 51-year-old Khosla was group head of products for Visa in Asia Pacific. Singh will continue to be the executive chairman of Max India, but he is said to be not keen on an active role. He is seen making a foray into the hospitality sector in his private capacity. He has roped in Ranvir Bhandari, who was previously vice- president (north) for ITC Hotels and general manager of The Maurya, New Delhi.<br><br><strong>Wrong And Missed Calls</strong><br>The Delhi High Court once again threw out the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV's managing director, Sharad Kumar. Justice Ajit Bharihoke, who broke tradition of not appearing during the summer vacation, said: "… prima facie show the complicity of the petitioners in the conspiracy and their having received illegal gratification of Rs 200 crore in the account of the company controlled by them, namely Kalaignar TV". Denying bail, he pointed out that the duo being in control of Kalaignar TV were in a position to influence witnesses of the company. Kanimozhi will have to bear the hospitality of Tihar jail until the Supreme Court decides on her bail plea. She will move the highest court in the land. <br><br><strong>All Eyes On Tatas</strong><br>On 18 June, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will host industrialists in an attempt to get them to invest in the state. It would have been just another interaction, but for the state government's decision to take back the 997.11 acres lying with the Tatas and vendors in Singur through an Ordinance. Of course, the Tatas would be compensated. But the suddenness of the move is sure to make potential investors jittery; its legality is also under the scanner. Banerjee was clearly playing to her constituency, but she could have waited till the date of her appointment with India Inc.'s heavyweights. Will Ratan Tata show up for Banerjee's do or not? It will be a show-stopper either way.<br><br>(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 20-06-2011)</p>