Taking Madhubani To The Masses
 POONAM GOEL

From the flute- playing Krishna to the fishes depicting the origin of life, from the majestic Durga to the scenic Fontinehas ( a Portuguese colony in Goa ), the three Jha sisters from Madhubani, Bihar, have captured it all Manisha, 30 Bandana, 28 and Puja, 26 have put together an exhibition – currently on at the Lalit Kala Akademi – of Madhubani Paintings that evoke images not only from the traditional

mythology and folklore but also from contemporary social issues. “ Out effort is to revive this dying art from which many people still consider as folk art” says the Baroda – based Manisha, a product of Delhi’s Summerfields School and a practicing architect.” Our family,though based in Delhi, was so deeply rooted in the culture of our village that it was impossible to escape its influence. Subsequent to our childhood initiation into Madhubani art, our training as architects enabled us to be innovative with lines and colours”.

While the three sisters have been careful about not disturbing the original art from they have experimented with diverse mediums like acrylic colours on glass, silk, wood and even glass paint on seashells. It came as a surprise, therefore, when they did not find any takers for their work, especially when they were inspired by some artist friends to exhibit “ our work was rejected by a leading gallery in the city, says Manisha, ‘ but that did not dishearten us. We have since then exhibited at the LKA and India International Centre, In fact, our painting on India’s 50th year of Independence was chosen by AIFACS for its annual show in ‘ 98.

That must have come as a vindication of their talent, because none of the three have ever trained as artists. Though most of their motifs are drawn from their own childhood there’s a lovely villagescape and the recurring Krishna ( we are a religious lot’ says Bandana ) – each sister has intepreated Madhubani according to her own surroundings. Manisha, who’s also armed with a thesis in Vaastu Shastra for instance claims she makes detailed line work, Bandana’s work is bolder and heavily influenced by her stay in Goa, where her bureaucrat- husband was posted for a while.

But their work is not about pretty pictures alone. It’s also for a good cause, as the two sisters will have us believe. “ The proceeds of this show will go to an NGO which works for children of labourers, “ informs Bandana “ When we go to construction sites, “ we realize how neglected these kids are “ Apart from this current obsession to make money for a social cause, they also want to help Madhubani artists back home who “ receive neither the exposure nor the money that they deserve” Hopefully, with this exhibition, the Jha sisters will be able to take a step closer to fulfilling that dream.