Standard of Madhubani paintings falling: Expert Patna: The originality of colour, design, motif and sensitivity of Madhubani paintings is on the verge of extinction. This was the view of Archaeological Survey of India, Kolkata, regional director P K Mishra. Mishra, while delivering a lecture on Mithila archaeology at Bihar Research Society here on Thursday, said nowadays it is the buyers who decide the design and theme of the paintings. People of Mithila are learning the art from trainers in towns and metropolitan cities, not from its experts from Mithila. These trainers themselves do not know the essence and aesthetic beauty of the silk art, he said, adding, in the name of tantric painting, women have ignored the traditions of Mithila and they see it as just a job opportunity. Speaking about the contributors of Madhubani paintings, Mishra said it was promoted by poor women of higher castes. Some women of Brahmin caste such as Sita Devi promoted the Brahmin style of paintings characterized by bright colours. Bawa Devi and her daughter Sarita Devi later made important personal contributions. Another group of women of the Kayasthas like Ganga Devi, Pushpa Kumari, Karpoori Devi, Mahasundari Devi and Godawari Dutta later gave village and religious touch to the paintings, he said. Another group of women, the dalits, joined the group in 1980s. They experimented with paintings on declaring their dwellings and pictorial alphabet began to include lines, waves, circles and snails. Jamuna Devi and Lalita Devi, two famous Dalit women painters, earned both name and money in new style of Madhubani paintings, Mishra said. Justice Mridula Mishra (retired), who is the chairperson of land disputes redressal tribunal, released a research journal on the occasion published by Maithili Sahitya Sansthan. Hetukar Jha, former professor of Patna University, were also present on the occasion.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:33:41 +0000
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