One cannot think of many things common between renowned painter Maqbool Fida Husain and Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. But obviously they found enough to emerge from a meeting at her residence yesterday full of praise for each other.Husain, who has earlier painted Bollywood stars Madhuri Dixit and Tabu on his canvas, announced within minutes that he found Mayawati ‘‘a beautiful woman with an expressive face’’ and would ‘‘love to make her portrait’’. Today, the CM returned the compliment in kind by banning plastic cups for tea in government offices in the state and replacing them with kullars (earthen cups) as suggested by Husain.The painter, who was on a two-day visit to Lucknow over the weekend, went bearing a precious gift to Mayawati: It was a painting of Lord Buddha with an elephant. The symbolism couldn’t have been more obvious; if elephant is the official BSP symbol, Lord Buddha is looked upon as a saviour of Dalits.Later, Husain said he felt the much-publicised Ambedkar Memorial, a pet project of Mayawati, was beautiful.The painter even offered to work as a cultural ambassador for UP to highlight its tourism potential. ‘‘This state has a great variety in food, culture, etiquette and language, and merely one quality cannot be showcased. I will do for Uttar Pradesh what I am doing for Kerala at present,’’ he said.Husain had an action-filled two days in the city. From a dinner with the elite of the city and a visit to the Residency to pay homage to martyrs of the Mutiny to the inauguration of a painting workshop on the tourism potential of Uttar Pradesh and an interaction with young painters of the city, the painter did it all. He also found time for roadside chaat.His visit also marked the release of his autobiography, Husain ki Kahaani — Apni Zubani, by noted vocalist Girija Devi. At a glittering function, Girija Devi said: ‘‘Mera aur Husain saheb ka saat number ka naata hai. Main saat suron mein gaati hoon aur yeh saat rangon se chitra banate hain’’ (My relationship with Husain revolves around number 7. I sing with seven notes and he makes paintings with seven colours).’’
