Elsewhere, the world is falling apart -- but elsewhere is another place, not Dubai, where money continues to pour in, where recession is still a word in the dictionary, and where M F Husain, currently India's most famous exile, is in residence.

And Husain -- I call him Husain saab in deference to his age, and his art --is, as always, both a stranger and a mischievous friend, simultaneously aloof and intimate. I have been urged to call him by Vikram Bachhawat whose Emami Chisel Art auction in Kolkata has not been a huge success, but he has managed to sell two Husains for Rs 40-something lakh each. Bachhawat is hoping Husain will endorse the auction. I am less hopeful.

"They have worked very hard," says Husain, somewhat ambiguously, his voice from Dubai strong and clear, not the voice of a 93-year old.

"Husain saab," I urge him, "who are 'they'?"

But Husain has clear ideas about what he wants to say. "This is what I have always wanted, that people should promote artists properly. Art dealers should not be like shopkeepers, people should not buy art like they are buying it from a supermarket shelf. Paintings are an emotion, not a commodity."

India's most quotable artist is still doing what he does best.

Image: In this picture taken on January, 2004, M F Husain poses infront of one of his paintings titled 'Last Supper' at the inauguration of his exhibition.

Photograph: Sebastian D'Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Also read: It's M F Husain @ Rs 100 crore

Next