Sunday 5 August 2012

ARTIST WHO RENOUNCED INDIAN CITIZENSHIP:M.F.HUSSAIN

Born on 17th September 1915 Maqbool Fida Husain commonly known as M.F.Husain is a famous Painter who renounced his Indian citizenship. He was conferred Qatar Nationality. All through his life, he enjoyed national as well as international fame. He was India's greatest and one of the most celebrated  artists.

Trouble began for Mr.Husain when a hindi monthly magazine published his paintings in which he depicted Hindu goddess undressed in nude form. The Hindi magazine Vichar Mimansa published these paintings in 1996 with title "M.F.Husain: A Painter or a Butcher" . The paintings in question were actually made in 1970 though the controversy around them started in 1996. Following this many cases were filed against him in many courts. He was intimidated constantly by the Hindu Nationalist Groups from 1996,many of his works were sabotaged and his art galleries razed down. Overall 900 cases were registered against him and he also received many death threats   Though the Delhi High Court dismissed these cases in 2004 he was charged with hurting the sentiments of people in 2006. From then he spent most of his time in exile. He spent his summer time in London and most of the remaining days in Doha the capital city of Qatar. 


He desperately wanted to return to India but his qualms of being killed by fanatical groups held him from his return. Consequently he applied for Qatar nationality,received it in February 2010 and surrendered his Indian passport. Though he discontinued his Indian Citizenship he did not want to snap ties with his birth country and  applied for an Overseas Citizenship Identity. He died on 9th June 2011 by a heart attack.

His admirers put forwarded a request to the Government to confer him Bharat Ratna India's highest civilian award. Bal Thackeray on day of his demise said "He only slipped up on the depiction of Hindu gods and goddesses. Otherwise, he was happy and content in his field. If his demise is a loss for modern art, then so be it. May his Allah give him peace."

This flamboyant artist, who rose from a humble background,whose refusal to wear footwear became his signature trademark needs to appreciated for his prodigious talent and creativity he portrayed.

These are some of his famous paintings 

Tuesday 24 January 2012

SAVIOR'S FROM A COLOSSAL INFERNO

We all hear stories about police being the goon in the uniform, about the injustice served by them, about the abuse of power, about corruption in the form of bribes taken by them. Here is a story depicting a positive image of the police of our country.



2ND FEBRUARY 2010

On 2nd February 2010, due to a short circuit, fire erupted in a local Hospital in Hyderabad. Fire broke out in the fourth floor of the Park Hospital and soon started spreading throughout. As flames spread all of a sudden, there was confusion all round sending everyone into a state of panic. Hospital staff, patients and their attendants were screaming for help through the windows.There were around 170 people including 20 doctors and nurses  ensnared inside the hospital.



 People climbed to top floor as the exit door in the 4th floor too was burning in fire. In fact some of them jumped  from the building unable to bear the suffocation. Some of the patients were not in a condition to move while some others were in anesthesia. At this time the Police as if God send, swung into action in an effort to rescue them.



At that time Stephen Ravindra IPS of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, posted as the Chief Security Officer of the Chief Minister received an sms from the local Inspector that a fire broke out in the hospital. He immediately rushed to the spot 
leaving the convoy of the Chief Minister.The fire brigade couldn't reach the spot in time and hence he along with Inspector Malla Reddy and 3 other constables entered the hospital even though the fire was blazing. These 5 cops entered the second floor of the hospital by scaling the drainage pipe, broke the windowpanes and rescued patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).Later when the fire engine arrived the Police used the engine ladder to bring the patients out of the building.The only casualties were two nurses and a patient who died from suffocation. Around 40 people including few doctors an nurses suffered minor injuries and burns.




Timely action from the part of the police helped in avoiding a major catastrophe. At a time when even the fire services personnel were finding it difficult to enter the premises with thick smoke engulfing all the floors, the police officers had the audacity to enter the hospital.A few other patients locked themselves in their respective rooms and refused to open the doors out of overriding fear.some patients hid beneath their beds fearing that there was a terrorist attack. They relented only after much persuasion by the police. The khakis outside made such a meticulous plan that a separate police team cordoned-off the place outside the hospital to facilitate free movement of ambulances and fire tenders. Pitch darkness, billowing smoke and flames nearby could not stand as obstacles for these brave men.





Later the 5 Officers were awarded the Prime Minister's medal for showing exemplary courage.