Court-ordered auction of 21 Husain works fetches ₹68.5 crore

Police personnel in plain clothes and uniform discreetly paced the premises of auctioneer Pundole’s during the sale, and installed barricades outside its South Mumbai office, after a right wing group demanded a “ban” on the auction and warned of “strong public protest” if their demands were not met

MUMBAI: Two large triptychs measuring 1.6m x 2.2m, a canvas depicting Mahatma Gandhi as an apostle of peace, and another showing a Humphrey Bogart-like figure standing under a street lamp, inspired by the Hollywood classic Casablanca, were among the 21 works of Maqbool Fida Husain that saw a white glove sale on June 12 following a court-ordered auction in Mumbai.

Mumbai, India. June 04, 2025: Twenty-five rare paintings by the late Indian modernist painter M.F. Husain are displayed at the Pundole Gallery in Hamilton House, South Mumbai.Mumbai, India. June 04, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)

The auction, conducted under heavy police presence, fetched a total of ₹68.5 crore, not including Buyer’s premium and GST. The highest-selling works included a triptych that sold for ₹9.5 crore, and the Gandhi-figure canvas that fetched ₹8.5 crore, both of which were acquired by the same person, who was present in the room. The auction also saw sales made via online bids and by telephone callers.

Police personnel in plain clothes and uniform discreetly paced the premises of auctioneer Pundole’s during the sale, and installed barricades outside its South Mumbai office, after a right wing group demanded a “ban” on the auction and warned of “strong public protest” if their demands were not met. The protest, however, was called off, and the auction proceeded smoothly on Thursday.

The collection titled Our Plant Called Earth or OPCE, depicted Husain’s documentation of the 20th century through icons, symbolic figures and significant political events. Made using acrylic on long stretches of canvas that Husain later cut to individual works, they offer an important insight into the varied inspirations that shaped his global, cosmopolitan and culturally secular outlook. Husain also announced his plans to make a total of 100 such works, but abandoned the project eventually.

The artist soon became the object of ire of right wing groups who protested against his depiction of Hindu gods and goddesses. He eventually left India and died in 2011 in self-exile.

Last week, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, which has protested against Husain’s works before as well, submitted a memorandum to the office of the Maharashtra CM, Mumbai Police Commissioner and the District Collector, demanding a ban on the auction, and warned of a “strong public protest” if their demands weren’t met. “The sale exceeded expectations,” said Dadiba Pundole, and added that the works were an important part of India’s cultural history. The money will be deposited with the Mumbai Sheriff, who will then entrust the money to the HC, a court-appointed official, said.