Indian PM meets UAE-based 'Modi portraits' painter

Abu Dhabi - "I was not expecting this.whatever I had thought turned out to be wrong.the PM is a very down to earth person," said a very excited Akbar Saheb.

The Dubai-based Indian artist Akbar Saheb's seven minutes with Narendra Modi are going to last him a lifetime.
On Monday, Saheb got a chance to meet the Indian prime minister after being called in at the last minute for a meeting arranged by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The meeting lasted for seven minutes and was held at the Emirates Palace Hotel.
"The moment Modi saw me, he hugged me and smiled," said Saheb while talking to Khaleej Times.  
"I was not expecting this.whatever I had thought turned out to be wrong.the PM is a very down to earth person," said a very excited Saheb. "I am a very lucky person to have met him."  
Saheb presented his "Mother's Blessings" painting to Modi which is dedicated to Modi's mother.   The artist has created a series of 12 portraits of Modi, reflecting on his achievements and the promises he's made to India's over 1.2 billion citizens.
A self-taught artist, Akbar Saheb, 50, who originally hails from Udupi in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka, makes a living as an illustrator for a Dubai ad agency. His passion, however, is painting, and over the years he says he has created some 700 works of art.  
Saheb had sent the request to meet the prime minister two days ago.  
"We spoke in Hindi, and he said that he knew a lot about me and my work," said Saheb.   "I also took his autograph but I have to ask someone to explain because my Hindi is not too good."  
For a few hours in the morning Saheb almost thought he would not be able to meet Modi.
"I got a call in the morning suddenly and by the time I left, there was a lot of traffic on the way to Abu Dhabi," he explained.  
"I did not reach on time and by then Modi was in another meeting. I was finally able to meet him at 2.30pm," added Saheb.
Saheb has planned a series of paintings on Modi. He plans to exhibit his earlier collection in Delhi and Ahmedabad soon. Tweeting about Saheb's gesture, @narendramodi said: "When I read about Akbar Saheb's painting, Mother Blessings, dedicated to my mother, I was really keen to meet him. I got to do so today. I am very thankful to Akbar Saheb for this very touching gesture. It was great meeting him."  
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

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