Mumbai's art scene is witnessing a growing concern regarding the safety and preservation of a significant piece of public art: the mural by the renowned Indian artist M.F. Husain, located at the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) headquarters, called Yogakshema Building, in Nariman Point.

Husain, a founding member of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, created several murals in prominent buildings in Mumbai. These included works for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Hindustan Unilever in Churchgate. His mural at the LIC building is a notable example of the artist's contribution to integrating art with public architecture.

The mural, like other glass mosaic murals in Mumbai, reflects a time when architects frequently commissioned artists to create such works for building facades. These artistic interventions added a unique dimension to the city's architectural landscape.

However, the security of Husain's mural at the LIC building is currently under scrutiny. Details surrounding the specific threats to the artwork have not been disclosed. It raises concerns about the long-term preservation of public art in Mumbai. The issue highlights the challenges of maintaining and protecting artistic creations that are part of the city's heritage.

In a similar case, a large mural by Husain, "The History of Medicine," which was created in 1963 for the World Health Organization (WHO) building in Delhi, faced demolition in 2019 when the building was declared structurally unsafe. However, the mural was carefully saved by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which cut it into six panels and stored it in a climate-controlled facility. In September 2025, after six years in storage, the mural was reinstalled in the lobby of the new WHO building.

The successful preservation and reinstallation of the WHO mural serves as a hopeful precedent for protecting Husain's work at the LIC headquarters in Mumbai. The collaborative effort between the WHO, NBCC, and INTACH demonstrates the potential for government and organizations to save important pieces of art.

The fate of Husain's mural at the LIC building remains uncertain. It is a reminder of the need for proactive measures to safeguard public art and ensure its survival for future generations. The art world and concerned citizens are closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes the preservation of this cultural treasure.