Celebrating Shanti Devi: The Guardian of Madhubani Art and Padma Shri Awardee

“It was a day worth pondering,” began Shanti Devi, recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri in 2024, her eyes sparkling with stories from a lifetime dedicated to Mithila art. “You know, this art, what we call Mithila or Madhubani painting, isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s a bridge to our past.”

Honouring tradition and artistry: Shri Shanti Devi receives the prestigious Padma Shri from the President of India, a celebration of Mithila’s Godna heritage and the women artisans who keep it alive.

Padma Shri awardee Shanti Devi Paswan, a stalwart whose life story reflects resilience and dedication. For her, Mithila painting has always been more than just an art—it is a tool of sustainability and empowerment. Since the 1960s, she has witnessed how women, once confined to painting for domestic and religious purposes, found a voice and income through their brushstrokes. The art gave them dignity, financial independence, and a chance to carry forward cultural heritage.

Shanti Devi often emphasizes that the real challenge is not just creating art, but ensuring that artists—especially women—can earn a fair livelihood without being trapped by exploitative intermediaries. Her vision is clear: art must empower artisans first.

This is where initiatives like Maithil.co.in play a crucial role. By directly connecting artisans with buyers, it reduces dependence on middlemen, ensuring that the value of each painting goes back to the creator. For women like Shanti Devi and the many artists she has inspired, such platforms represent the possibility of a sustainable future—where art is not only preserved as heritage but also nurtures communities with dignity and fairness.

Together in craft and community: the Maithil collective of women artisans stands proud in front of a vibrant Mithila motif, carrying forward a living tradition with fair wages, dignity, and heart.

The Sacred Origins of Madhubani Painting

The celebrated artist explained how Madhubani painting traces its ancient roots to legendary tales of King Janaka commissioning artwork for Sita’s wedding and Urmila creating devotional murals. “Whether it’s true or not, it shows how deeply this art is woven into our culture,” Shanti Devi reflected with reverence.

For centuries, Mithila painting remained a sacred domestic tradition known as “bhitti chitra” - intricate wall paintings adorning mud homes during festivals and special occasions. These traditional wall paintings served as spiritual expressions rather than sources of livelihood, created by women using natural pigments from flowers, minerals, and even cow dung.

The 1960s Revolution: From Famine to Artistic Renaissance

The transformative moment arrived during Bihar’s devastating famine of the 1960s. “The famine was terrible,” Shanti Devi recalled with deep emotion. “But out of that hardship came a new beginning for our art.”

Bhaskar Kulkarni: The Pioneer of Paper Paintings:

Shanti Devi spoke with profound respect for Bhaskar Kulkarni, the visionary artist sent by the All India Handicrafts Board. “He was the one who encouraged us, the women who only painted on walls, to try painting on paper instead. It was a huge change!”

Kulkarni’s revolutionary intervention in 1965-1966 marked the historic shift of Madhubani art from walls to paper. His efforts led to these paper paintings being exhibited in Delhi, suddenly elevating rural women artists to national prominence. “That’s when we started to see economic independence,” she said with unmistakable pride.

Raymond Owens: Champion of Fair Trade in Traditional Art:

The conversation turned to Raymond Owens, the American anthropologist who transformed the Mithila painting marketplace in 1977. “Before him, many of our artists were taken advantage of by dealers who paid them next to nothing,” Shanti Devi explained with conviction.

Owens’ groundbreaking fair-trade approach involved paying artists 50-75 rupees per painting instead of exploitative dealers’ rates of 3-5 rupees. In 1980, he established the Ethnic Arts Foundation (EAF), ensuring equitable compensation for Madhubani artists worldwide.

“Mr. Owens understood this problem. In 1977, he helped start a foundation that sold our art internationally and made sure we got a ‘second payment’—a fair share of the profits,” she explained. This initiative proved crucial for both financial empowerment and international recognition of traditional Indian art.

Empowering 20,000 Women Through Godna Art: A Padma Shri Initiative

Shanti Devi, who received India’s fourth-highest civilian honor for her contributions to Godna painting, has trained over 20,000 women artists in this unique Mithila art style. Her work represents the democratization of traditional art, breaking down caste barriers and creating sustainable livelihoods for rural women.

The Godna style, traditionally associated with tattoo art, has been elevated to fine art status through her dedication. Despite facing discrimination due to her Dalit background in Laheriaganj, Madhubani district, she persevered to become a globally recognized artist.

From Village Walls to G20 Summit:

Shanti Devi’s remarkable journey culminated in her artwork being featured at the G20 meeting in New Delhi in 2023. Her paintings have traveled from humble mud walls to prestigious galleries across the United States, Japan, Denmark, Malaysia, Germany, and Hong Kong.

A proud moment for folk art: Madhubani painting from Bihar takes center stage as the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi engages with artisans at Bharat Mandapam’s G20 Crafts Bazaar.

The 2024 Padma Shri awardee, along with her husband Shivan Paswan, represents the continuing evolution of Bihar’s ancient art tradition. Their recognition highlights how traditional Madhubani painting has become a powerful tool for women’s empowerment and cultural preservation.

Sustainable Legacy for Future Generations:

Shanti Devi’s voice resonated with humility and determination as she discussed the future: “Their efforts, and the hard work of all the artists, laid the foundation for us today. Now, my mission is to make sure this art remains a source of sustainable empowerment for everyone. We must ensure this legacy continues.”

Her words embody the resilience that defines Mithila art - a story painted not just with brushes and natural colors, but with the lives of countless women who transformed adversity into artistic triumph. This interview revealed not merely the journey of a master painter, but the transformation of an entire community through traditional art, fair trade practices, and unwavering dedication to cultural heritage preservation.

The evolution from “bhitti chitra” wall paintings to internationally acclaimed Madhubani art demonstrates how ancient traditions can adapt while maintaining their authentic essence, creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural artisan communities across Bihar’s Mithila region.