Hussain, who earned both fame and wrath for his paintings, died in London on Thursday. He was 95. Popularly known as MF and regarded as “Picasso of India”, the artist breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am local time.
The President, Vice President, Prime Minister and people from all walks of life condoled the death of Hussain
In a message, the President Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil said, his death would create a void in the world of art and creativity.
The Vice President Mr.Mohammad Hamid Ansari described Husain as a legend of art of our times.
The Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in his message described Hussain’s death as a national loss.
Information and broadcasting Minister Ms Ambika Soni said Mr Hussain’s love for India has never died down.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said, damage may have been caused to modern art due to his demise. MNS chief Raj Thackeray said Husain was a national asset and his contribution to the field of Indian art can never be ignored.
In her message, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said that the world of art has lost its doyen in the death of Hussain.
In its condolence message, the Communist Party of India said Hussain demise is a great loss not only to the sphere of fine arts but to the entire diverse culture fabric of India.
Several Chief Ministers and film personalities from Bollywood and art world and other fields also paid tribute to the renowned painter.
Family sources said, Hussain had been keeping “indifferent health” for the last one-and-a-half month. Born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur, Hussain did his schooling from Indore.
In 1935, he moved to Bombay and joined the Sir J. J. School of Art. He started off by painting cinema hoardings and came into the limelight as painter in the late 1940s.