Indian painter M.F. hussain passes away in exile
India's most-celebrated living artist Maqbool Fida Husain works on a sketch of Karachi's National stadium during the fifth and final one-day international cricket match between India and Pakistan February 19, 2006. Husain sat on the boundary line seeking to capture the moments in a cricket match that could symbolise peace between India and Pakistan. Husain, who sold a canvas titled "The Last Supper" for $2 million in September, plans to be hard at work through England's forthcoming tour of India, plans to create a collection of about 40 sketches and paintings to be exhibited later this year. REUTERS

Celebrated Indian artist and a well painter Maqbool Fida Husain, after a month long-illness passed away at Royal Brompton Hospital in London on Thursday at the age of 95.

According to medical reports, Husain was being treated for fluids in his lungs. But the exact cause of his death is yet unknown, Munna Zaveri, a close friend of the artist who knew him for over 40 years told Reuters.

Hussain, popularly known as MF was considered the “Picasso of India”. He breathed his last at the Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am local time.

He was in hospital for some time and was supposed to come home on Thursday or on Friday but his condition worsened, Zaveri said.

Husain was in a self-imposed exile since 2006 after some of his paintings of Hindu deities led to life threats and attacks.

Husain's paintings have pleased art lovers but his illustration of nude Hindu goddesses pulled him into controversies and was slapped with legal cases in India.

He accepted Qatari citizenship in 2010 and had been living in Dubai and in London, though he often expressed his desire to return to India.

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