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•Tell me about you contemporaries. Now, you have seen three generations of Indian artists and art is now big. People make a lot of money. These paintings, all of them together, is the GDP of a small African nation. Some little story, some memory. Tell us something about Raza, Souza, Anjolie, Husain.

I think modern Indian art is indebted to M.F. Husain. One may not like his later work but without him the beginning may not have been made. Presently he is in exile, which makes me ashamed of my own culture. That we have made such a great man live abroad.

•And would you say that he should come back. He should not be afraid.

It’s not the state that has expelled him, it is our culture. My brother spoke to the prime minister about Husain and the PM said, ‘I have not expelled him. For me, he is most welcome.’ That is the problem. State is not a party to it, the mob culture is.

•So after this wonderful work, what new frontiers are you going to conquer?

Someone asked me this question: After this work, what’s next? I said, ‘If I know it, I will do it today.’ One thing is that this is not to continue for long, I have to refresh it and soon drop it and find something new. Something different.

•Well I think that is the wonderful spirit that keeps you going keeps you young forever. Such an inspiration to all the rest of us not as young as you. Thank you very much. Such a wonderful experience to have you on the show.

Thank you.

(The transcript was prepared by Debesh Banerjee)

editor@expressindia.com