Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340
Volume 5, Number 5 (2018):
© Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
www.aryapgcollege.com
Role of Women Entrepreneurs in the Glory of Madhubani Folk Art of Bihar
1. Ekta Sharma & 2. Susan Paul
1. Assistant Professor & 2 Professor
Department of Textile Apparel Designing
Ethelind College of Home Science
Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Email: groverekta1@gmail.com
Abstract
Women are central to the maintenance and vitality of culture in societies worldwide. Their roles in relation to intangible heritage are of particular significance and encompass what may be described as fundamental realms of culture, which are often indispensable in maintaining and transmitting traditional knowledge and cultural identity. There are numerous domains in which women have maintained substantial degree of autonomy, agency and community and from which men have been excluded, or to which they have had only limited access. Most obviously, this has long been true in areas of rituals, song, dance and arts especially ritualistic folk painting including Patachitra, Pichuai, Alpana, Kolam, Warli and Madhubani etc. Women play the main role in renewal, maintaining and passing of these art forms of heritage to future generations and often integrate new forms and techniques, thereby recreating and transforming culture. Madhubani in Bihar, eastern India, has emerged as one of the foremost areas where rural women have been found to possess remarkable skills in painting and crafts that is passed down from generation to generation. Women in the villages have been painting the walls and floors of their homes for centuries, but gained prominence and recognition as artists only during the last thirty years. In the present study, a survey was conducted through an interview schedule to analyze the role of women artisan in spreading the beauty of charismatic Madhubani folk art of Bihar and the major constraints faced by them. The detailed information regarding the background information of respondents including age, educational level, monthly income, type and size of family etc and specific information including type of base materials used, types of colors /dyes, types of motifs/designs used, production and sale of Madhubani paintings were collected and analyzed. Further, problems related to their respective art, government initiation for upliftment of this art and its future prospects were also studied.
It was observed that women artisans of Madhubani art have transformed the charisma of this traditionally restricted folk art from floor to the fabric and now Madhubani paintings have gone beyond the confines of Mithila to touch international heights. However it is a matter of concern that despite the great contribution made by women artisan to bring this traditional art of world fame, they are working hard to gain self-respect and dignity because many middlemen and intermediary institutions such as local collectives, cultural agencies and museums expose the cultural artifacts prepared by women artisans for presenting them as cultural commodities. There is dire need to motivate women artisans to prevent themselves from middlemen and to ensure maximum profit by turning themselves into true entrepreneurs.
Keywords: Artisans, Entrepreneurs Folk Art, Interview Schedule, Madhubani
