Well no one remembered the renowned artist and the gem of Mithila before her demise and I got some material on her to write. It took me a week long time.
She was the artist who had taken Mithila Painting on international level and helped this marvelous painting in getting an international recognition. She was one of the most talented and the most awarded Madhubani painting artists among Jagdamba Devi, Sita Devi, Dulari Devi and Godavari Dutta.
She was born on 16th April 1922 in Chatra village of Benipatti block under the Madhubani district. Nature deprived her of the guiding hands of her parents at the age of 5. Thereafter she was cared and looked after by her Uncle Puneet Laal and Aunt Dev Sundari Devi. She got her primary education from government middle school, chatra. She got married at the age of 17 and went to Ranti (her husband’s place) on 17th Feb 1939.
Ranti has always been a place of Madhubani painting Gurus and Madhubani painting artist. 7th standard passed Mahasundari Devi got her first felicitation from “Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir”. She had painted an 8×66 poster depicting the complete struggling life cycle of a Maithil girl in 1976 which was a beautiful memoir. She had always been an inspiration and role model for the women and girls of Mithila. She was an epitome of women’s empowerment. She had always tried her best for the education and empowerment of women and girls & helped a number of women/girls in learning Madhubani painting. She was awarded by three presidents of India. Even Picasso was her fan.
She got her national award in 1981 by Neelam Sanjeev Reddy. She got her second national award in 1987 by President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma on the eve of the 500th birth anniversary of the great poet Tulsidas. She got the “Ship Guru” award by President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil in 2008 and again got the “Padma Shree” award by the same president in 2011.
The Paintings made by Mahasundari Devi are now at various museums like the National Museum of Delhi, Craft Museum of Delhi, Mithila Museum of Japan, and Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. She was the heartbeat of the art lovers of Canada and America. Canadian film producer Mi Elan requested her and used her paintings in his films. She had made paintings on various platforms like on saree in 1970, on wood in 1973, and on sanmaika in 1980. Her each and every painting gives a message to us. She had gone to Japan as a chief guest on the eve of the inauguration of the Mithila Museum of Japan. She had been to various places like France and Mauritius. She had got several awards, some of them are:-
(a) Shreshtha Kalakar Award by Akhil Bhartiya hastashilp Saptah in 1966.
(b) Best Mithila Painting Award by Udyog Vibhag in 1969.
(c) Bihar Rajkiya Shrestha Shilp by Bihar Government in 1970.
(d) Best Kala Award by Udyog Vibhag in 1971.
(e) Rajkiya Shilp first prize by Bihar Government in 1972.
(f) Bihar State Expert Shilp Award by Udyog Vibhag in 1973.
(g) Sarvshrestha Kala Samman by District Administration of Madhubani in 1973.
(h) Shreshta Paramparik Shilp Award by Bihar Government in 1973.
(i) Shrestha Shilpi Award by Chetna Samiti in 1976.
(j) Shrestha Shilpi Award by Udyog Vibhag in 1978-79.
(k) Mahakavi Baba Nagarjun Samman in 1997.
(l) Shreshtha Shilpi Award by Samekit Sehkari Samiti in 1997.
(m) Behtar Sanstha Prabandhan by Mithila Hastashilp in 2007.
(n) Ambedkar Award by District Administration of Madhubani in 2007.
(o) Bihar Artist Award by Bihar Government in 2008.
(p) Umang Mahotsava Award by Bihar Government in 2008.
(q) Bihar Samman by Art & Culture Department of Bihar in 2008.
The gem of madhubani art is now no more. She left us on 4th July, 2013. Her contribution to madhubani art and artists will always be remembered.
Source: Prabhat Khabar
Produced by MithilanchalGroup
