M. F. Hussain and his Air-India creations

M. F. Hussain was arguably one of India's and the world's greatest contemporary artists. Very little more can be written about him that is not already widely known. So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this little known story about the artist and Air-India.

Right from the Tata days, two of their enterprises, Air-India International and The Taj group of Hotels, had a tradition of encouraging art and culture. The airline kept this tradition alive even after nationalisation in 1953.

The story goes that whenever an accomplished, and even emerging artist or performer wanted to travel, the Taj stepped up to provide subsidised or free hotel accommodation and Air-India provided the air tickets. Out of gratitude, these artists would lavish the two corporations with gifts of their art, and both of these built extensive art collections running into thousands of paintings. these would adorn the walls of their various properties, and also be used in promotional material.

One of the works Hussain did for Air-India is depicted in a unique travel poster. It shows aspects of Indian life and culture we are intimately familiar with. Also visible is Hussain's trademark style. The poster is actually a set of wooden puppets cut out and arranged in a particular sequence. On the top, you have the Gita Updesh depiction, and see Hussain's horses in full colour and vitality. Lord Krishna is the charioteer, and Prince Arjuna with his arms folded, is riding into battle. The middle right has the bull with all his strength, and has many images merged into one; another trademark feature of Hussain's style. Most interesting is the bottom row with three figures of two drummers and a dancer, in gay abandon.

Now, by happenstance, Nargis Wadia (nee Khambata) presented me with the lovely photograph shown below. This is the Air-India reservation office at 7, Rue de Chantepoulet in Geneva. [read more about Nargis, and her innings at Air-India in my blog of 23 July 2016]

Travel poster #28. c.1953-58.
Artist: M. F. Hussain

This photograph taken around mid-late 1955 shows the tastefully decorated Air-India International booking office in Geneva. Seated on the sofa in the sari is young Nargis who was on vacation in Europe at the time. Now look at the murals on the walls, and guess what: Hussain again! Yes, the murals on the walls were done by the master himself. The same wooden puppet cut-out treatment as in the poster. Notice the group on the right, two drummers and a dancer. Also, the second group from the left, partly obscured by the pillar has horses, and a chariot. now look at the poster again. Amazing.

It is difficult to put in words how pleasing this hobby is for me, and how grateful I am to the kindness of well-wishers who come forward to bless me with stories of this airline, and endow the collection with irreplaceable artifacts. Air-India is the stuff legends are made of.

Air-India International reservation office at 7, Rue de Chantepoulet in Geneva.  (c.mid-late 1955)
The mural is by M. F. Hussain, one of the greatest contemporary artists in the world.
Please pardon the fold in the center of the photograph.