Thiruvananthapuram: Celebrated painter M F Hussain, once said, "If Kashmir is all about men and mountains" then Kerala "is all about women and nature".

Living up to the artiste's observation in letter and spirit his series on "God's own country", was brought out on April 11 by Kerala Tourism, with its texts by communication expert Shashi Tarur. The work was the result of Kerala's invitation to Hussain in 2000, accepting which, he had toured the length and breadth of the state and produced the fascinating work.

In the series, named 'Kalyanikuttiyute Keralam', the dazzling fluent brush of Hussain tries to recapture the splendid beauty of Kerala and unique features of its social life through the eyes of an emblematic Malayali woman who blends tradition and modernity in her persona.

Kerala Assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman released a volume of his series on April 11. Speaking on the occasion, state Tourism Minister K V Thomas said that state would shortly organise an exhibition of the original in New Delhi shortly.

A glance through the series makes it clear that Hussain was not just lured by the nature at its best. His discerning eyes have sought to probe the inner-realties of Malayali life too.

For, one piece of a village market shows women in the position of economic power. Yet another, shows young and old sharing home life shedding insight into strong family bonds Malayalis zealously preserve despite onslaught of modernity.

PTI