The Prime Minister has gifted Baua Devi’s paintings to many foreign dignitaries
Sanjeev Kumar
The 76 years old Baua Devi was born in a village called Simri. The place is very famous for the Mithila paintings. She has dedicated her life for Mithila painting genre since her childhood, when she was 13 years old. After marriage she excelled more as a painter as where she was married (a village called Jitawarpur) was a forte of this art. Before her achievement, two more people from this village had been awarded with Padma Shri. She has also received the training of master exponents such as Sita Devi, Padma Shri Mahasundari Devi, Karpuri Devi, and Jamuna Devi since adolescent. A mother of seven (now 6), Baua Devi leads a happy life.
One of the specialities of the Mithila painting is that the artist sings while painting. It is originally an art form related to Kohbar. The houses of newly married couples are decorated through it. The walls are painted with it. But later it was also made on Kagad (handmade paper, made from the chaff
separated from grains and grass). Baua Devi names Bhaskar Khulkarni as the exponent who brought Mithila painting to the global stage. It was he who led the paintings on Kagad when it was exhibited it first time in Delhi. Apart from Kohbar, Mithala paintings also represent Tantra, love per formatives of Radha-Krishna and affection of Sita-Ram.
Buau Devi has visited many foreign countries like Japan, France, Spain, Germany and others. As a rare honour to Baua Devi, the Prime Minister has gifted her paintings to many foreign dignitaries. She has received many awards so far. Her famous paintings also played a key role behind the
development of her village.
Key Contribution :?Popularising Mithila paintings
