I don't need to be physically in India to feel Indian: MF Husain - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Breaking his silence on his new citizenship of Qatar, celebrated painter MF Husain has said that it is not necessary for him to be physically present in India to feel Indian and no matter where he goes or paints, he will always be known as an Indian painter. "I don't need to be physically in India to feel Indian," said Husain in an interview to NDTV and also sought to clarify to all countrymen: "I have not run away, I am a free citizen. I want to concentrate on my work." "Whether I paint in....or New York, I will remain an Indian painter," he further added. Talking about art, Husain said: "Art is always ahead of time." "A few people don't understand modern art, that's all," he added. Replying to a question regarding freedom in Qatar, he said: "I will have to see if Qatar offered me full freedom to express." "Qatar offered me an opportunity to complete my dream projects," he added. Mentioning about attack on art in India, Husain said: "It's just politics is against me, creativity has always been targeted." "If I were 40, would have fought tooth and nail," Husain, however, added. The 95-year-old Husain has a number of lawsuits against him across the country and has been targeted by the Hindu right groups over the last few years. Husain has been on a self-enforced exile in Dubai since 2006. He was accused of painting Hindu gods and goddesses in a defamatory way. A few days ago, The Hindu reported that Husain did not apply for the nationality but it was conferred on him at the instance of the emirate's ruling family.