MF Hussain passes away

Celebrated Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain, who earned fame and controversy over his paintings, died in a London hospital at on Thursday. He was 96.

Husain was in self-imposed exile since 2006 after Hindu groups threatened him for his paintings of Hindu deities. Husain was a special invitee along with Pablo Picasso at the Sao Paulo Biennial in 1971. Forbes magazine later gave him the title of "Picasso of India".

In 1996 he courted controversy after his paintings of Hindu deities in the nude, originally painted in the 1970s, were interpreted as anti-Hindu. After eight legal cases and death threats in India, he was on a self imposed exile from 2006. In January, 2010, he was offered the citizenship of Qatar, which he accepted.

The painter courted controversy in his lifetime for hurting religious sentiments by painting "Mother India" as a naked woman. Husain’s paintings have often depicted revered Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude, sparking criticism from nationalist parties and activists. A decade ago, radicals even attacked his Mumbai home.

Husain's work drew protests and several court cases were filed against the painter who lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London.

In the past Husain, a Muslim, has received support from moderate, progressive Hindus, and on one occasion a former prime minister intervened to ensure no action was taken against him.

Husain's work shows the balance between the artist's cubist modern style of painting and Indian traditional sensibility and subject matter.

His work usually incorporated many of the artist's most recognisable themes and symbols, traditional forms of ancient Indian miniatures, sculptures, dance and folk art in one frame.

Artist and legend MF Husain dies in London

Maqbool Fida Husain, one of India's best-known artists, died after a heart attack at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London at 2:30 am. local time on Thursday, PTI has reported quoting family sources. He was 95.

Mr Husain moved from India in 2006 after a series of legal cases and death threats over paintings that showed nude Hindu goddesses.  Since then, right-wing groups have vandalized  exhibitions that include his work.

In 2010, he accepted citizenship of Qatar. (Watch: Husain's last interview on giving up Indian citizenship on March 3, 2010)

Mr Husain was among the earliest Indian painters to command huge prices at international auctions. He has received several major national awards like including the Padma Vibhushan.

He also directed a few films. One featured Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit, who he often described as his muse.

Asian markets trade

Asian markets were trading with moderate losses. Chinese Shanghai Composite was trading at 2,740.81, down 9.48 points or 0.34% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 77.89 points or 0.34% to 22,583.74.


Japan's Nikkei 225 Average was trading at 9,421.59, down 27.87 points or 0.29% and Seoul Composite slipped 5.68 points or 0.27% to 2,077.67. Taiwan Weighted was flat at 9,006.21. However, Straits Times gained 5.95 points at 3,108.93

Singapore 6th and New Delhi 38th most expensive Asian city

Singapore, June 9 The strong Singapore dollar has made the island state the sixth most expensive city in Asia for expatriate living, according to an international cost survey agency.

ECA International said prices of goods and services commonly purchased by international assignees have risen at much faster rates in Singapore than in other developed locations in the region.

Comparatively, New Delhi was ranked the 38th most expensive Asian city, with Mumbai rated 43rd, Bangalore 46th, Chennai 47th, Hyderabad 48th, Pune 50th, and Kolkata 51st.

Other South Asian cities in the ratings were Colombo (42), Dhaka (44), Islamabad (52) and Karachi (53).

Elaborating on Singapore, ECA International said goods and services in the city state now cost almost 3 per cent more than in Hong Kong, reversing a year ago trend when these cost 5 per cent more in Hong Kong.

Singapore was now more expensive for international assignees than Hong Kong, New York, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Shanghai.

The city state rose to the 36th spot from 68th in the global ranking in one year, said the company, which provides solutions for firms sending their staff overseas.

Lee Quane, ECA International''s regional director (Asia), said the strong Singapore dollar was the main reason for Singapore''s rise in the ranking over the past 12 months.

The Singapore dollar has risen by more than 10 per cent against the US dollar over the year.Companies bringing staff into Singapore would see allowances increasing, as Singapore continues to rise on the ranking table.

Asia''s most expensive cities are: 1) Tokyo, 2) Nagoya, 3) Yokohama, 4) Kobe, 5) Seoul, 6) Singapore, 7) Hong Kong, 8) Beijing, 9) Shanghai and 10) Busan.

Overall, Tokyo continue to maintain its position as the world''s most expensive city, followed by Oslo, Nagoya, Stavanger in Norway, Yokohoma, Zurich, Angola''s capital Luanda, Geneva, Kobe and the Swiss capital of Bern.

Japan was the only Asian country surveyed where the actual cost of goods in the ECA basket of goods has fallen. But a strong currency and already higher costs for goods mean that the cost of living for assignees is significantly more than in other locations in the top ten ranking.

Nifty flat

Indian equity benchmarks were flat in the opening trade despite fall in global markets. The Nifty has been in a tight range of 5500-5600 since last week. Among frontliners, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, HUL, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda, M&M, BHEL, Reliance Capital, ONGC and SAIL were supporting the market.

However, HCL Tech fell 2%. BPCL lost 2%. Sun Pharma and Ambuja Cements too were down. ICICI Bank, Infosys and L&T were marginally in the red.