Maqbool Fida Husain was born in Maharashtra and never had any formal training in art. His natural aptitude and love for drawing led him to learn the art of calligraphy in which he practiced the Kulfic khat with its geometric forms. His career in art began as apprentice to a film hoarding painter. He was noticed for the first time in 1947 when he won an award at the annual exhibition of the Bombay Art Society. By 1955 he became one of India’s leading artists and was awarded the Padma Shri. Later in 1973 Husain was awarded the Padma Bhushan, in 1989 the Padma Vibhushan and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986. His work and the artist himself have been felicitated on several national and international fora.