While urban children get an opportunity to cultivate art, rural children often remain unaware of art and literature, let alone pursue it
India is renowned for its rich artistic heritage, with various art forms depicting cultures and traditions throughout history. In the state of Bihar, the Mithila painting style, frescoes, and Aripan have become synonymous with artistic expression. Mithila painting, also known as Madhubani painting, has garnered worldwide acclaim for its distinctive style and artistry across Asia. This ancient art form thrives in the regions of Darbhanga, Purnia, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani in Bihar, and Nepal, where both men and women vividly recreate the cultural essence of Mithilanchal through their intricate paintings, depicting ancient epics, natural scenes, and socio-cultural themes.
While the inclusion of painting in school curricula has allowed children to develop skills in artistry, creativity, logic, and imagination, there remains a lack of awareness about painting in government schools. Particularly in rural areas, boys and girls often lack the necessary knowledge about art and craft education and potential careers. Recognizing this gap, the Bihar government has declared Saturdays as Bagless Days, which have helped raise awareness and interest in art and crafts among children. However, in a society divided by caste, religion, gender, and other factors, marginalized individuals face challenges not only in social and economic development but also in cultural enrichment.
In an era of expensive education, the question arises as to how children from financially struggling families can access and learn folk art, folk culture, painting, dance, and music. Renowned painters often seem distant and unattainable to those on the margins, making it difficult for them to find time for artistic pursuits. Furthermore, without financial support, many talented artists find it challenging to develop their skills. Despite these obstacles, a group of young individuals is kindling the flame of art and painting in the rural areas of Bihar.
In the Ahiyapur-Muradpur Dalit-Mahadalit Basti, situated 10 kilometres from Muzaffarpur headquarters, girls from underprivileged backgrounds, including Suruchi, Chandni, Amandeep, Megha, Anoop Priya, Rakhi, Vaishnavi, Neha, and others, are using their paintbrushes to vividly express the sorrows, childhood experiences, poverty, discrimination, and gender biases they face. These girls study in government schools and have embraced painting as both a career and a means of self-expression. Despite their low social and economic status, they are determined to bring their feelings, moods, desperation, and helplessness to life on canvas. Their aspirations find support at the nearby Artifact Art Studio, where they learn painting free of cost for two days a week since 2018.Sujit Kumar, a talented young painter who grew up in a Dalit family, has played a pivotal role in empowering these girls and giving them a new dimension to their artistic endeavours. Having experienced the challenges of poverty firsthand, Sujit chose painting as a medium to express his sorrows and struggles. After completing his studies in a government school, he obtained a bachelor's degree from the Art and Craft College in Patna, followed by a master's degree from Tripura Central University. Inspired by the hardships faced by the Dalit-Mahadalit slums, Sujit embarked on a mission to educate and bring about change in the lives of girl children through folk art, painting, and drama. Through art studios, he has nurtured the artistic abilities of approximately 50 underprivileged children since 2018. Sujit believes that painting enables these children to gain a unique understanding of education, health, society, culture, nature, and art.
Several of these children have showcased their talent in various art exhibitions and festivals. Notably, Jaya Pramar, Neha Kumari, Megha, Chandni Kumari, and others are currently preparing for entrance examinations in Arts.
Sujit, using his own pocket money, has taken on the responsibility of teaching these children the intricacies of art, despite his own modest earnings from teaching painting at a private school. He believes that by nurturing their interest in art from a young age, the lives of children from marginalized and neglected families can be improved.
While urban families demonstrate an awareness of art and actively cultivate it at home, rural families often remain unaware of the advantages and disadvantages of art and literature. It is essential to acknowledge that every individual possesses some form of art, whether it be writing, painting, drama, music, or others. To promote art in rural areas, schools play a crucial role.
The Bihar government's efforts to kindle the flame of art in schools on Bagless Days have been commendable. It is imperative for the Department of Art and Culture to focus on honing the skills of these budding artists at the local level, ensuring that one day, these children will bring pride to the nation through their artistic contributions.
(The writer is an expert on issues of rural India. Views are personal)
Charkha Features
