Who is the Indian who bought Husain's Rs 119 cr painting?

Fri, 21 March 2025

09:55

Kiran Nadar

Philanthropist Kiran Nadar has bought MF Husain's 'Untitled (Gram Yatra)' painting for Rs 119 crore. The painting was hidden in Norway for decades before Christie's auctioned it at New York's Rockefeller Centre on Wednesday.

According to a report in The Economic Times, the painting was auctioned to an 'unnamed institution' which is none other than the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA).

While Nadar was unavailable for comment, chairman of RPG Enterprises, Harsh Goenka confirmed that Kiran had indeed bought the painting and wrote on 'X': "Indian modern art gets its due! M F Husain's Gram Yatra (1954) breaks the Rs 100 crore barriers, selling for $13.8M to Kiran Nadar."

According to Christie's "The Husain painting, is 'magnum opus, a cornerstone of his oeuvre celebrating the diversity and dynamism of a newly independent India'."

The 1954 painting that left India the year it was completed comprises 13 unique panels that occupy almost 14 feet across a single canvas, Untitled (Gram Yatra) also known as the 'Volodarsky Husain'. It is not only one of the largest but also one of the most significant paintings of Husain.

Kiran Nadar is an Indian philanthropist and wife of HCL founder and Chairman, Shiv Nadar. She is known for her contribution to Indian art world through her personal collections of works by prominent Indian and international artists.

She runs Kiran Nadar Museum of Art dedicated to promote modern and contemporary art of India.

Report: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com

TOP STORIES

Pak nationals who overstay in India can face 3 yrs in jail

According to the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which came into effect on April 4, overstaying, violating visa conditions, or trespassing in restricted areas could lead to three years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

PIX: Krunal shines as RCB beat DC to go top of IPL

Krunal Pandya recorded his first fifty in IPL since 2016, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru pull off a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.

Indian woman trying to return to husband in Pak stopped

A Meerut woman, married to a Pakistani national, was denied entry to Pakistan at the Wagah border after she presented her Indian passport. She was accompanied by her two children who hold Pakistani citizenship. The authorities permitted...

Anytime, anywhere: Navy's message days after Pahalgam attack

The visuals show the BrahMos anti-ship and anti-surface cruise missiles being launched from a fleet of warships, including Kolkata-class destroyers and Nilgiri and Krivak-class frigates, reaffirming the Navys operational prowess.

'In a way the India-Pakistan war is already on'

'Pakistan cannot sustain a war with India for more than four days. They are in such dire straits. At best they can sustain war for one week.'