Image for Raza may return to I

New Delhi: Leading modernist painter H.S. Raza, whose geometric abstracts set auction records, plans by 2010 end to return to birthplace India from France where he has been living for the past six decades.
“I hope to come back... I hope to sell my houses in France and wind up everything and return by December or beginning of next year,” Raza, the Indian artist who had popularised the bindu worldwide said.

The master artist was in the capital recently to unveil a limited edition collection of seven artworks in canvas prints that he had autographed and numbered with support by the embassy of France.
Born in Madhya Pradesh, Raza, 88, who went to France on a government scholarship and subsequently married French artist Janine Mongillat, currently lives and works in Paris and Gorbio in South France. “My long stay in France has been wonderful and all through the 60 years spent in France, I have retained my Indian citizenship and passport and have been coming to India every year to spend two or three months,” says the painter.
While eminent painter M.F. Husain a contemporary member of the Progressive artists’ group that he had co-founded in the 50s accepted citizenship of Qatar, Raza says he would not do likewise and will return to India. “Husain is a dear old friend of mine and an excellent painter. He has already made a decision and I won’t comment on that. It is now up to the government of India to take it up further.” Raza says he has been influenced by many European painters.    —PTI