In a post colonized India with the frenzy around machine made goods, our original art and culture drowned in their noise. Now, it is not just the duty but a moral obligation for any educational institution to reinstate the beauty of our very own art and culture. It will not only revive the old artworks but also help young talent to hone their skills and find a voice of their own in the creative field.

On 8th June, 2021 we at JD Institute of Fashion Technology took the liberty to actuate the design buds of our students. We wanted to motivate every individual to explore and have hands-on experience on the traditional art form of India. Hence we conducted a thorough session with National Awardee Ms Manisha Jha on Madhubani Paintings.

She is an architect, interior designer, planner and an author who established Madhubani art center, in New- Delhi in the year of 1998 and is collector of more than 3000 Madhubani paintings from 1970 till today. She has authored two books on Mithila paintings titled, “Likhiya”, and Mithila paintings depicting Madhushravani- the monsoon festival of Bihar published by Indira Gandhi national center for the arts, New Delhi and Madhubani art center, respectively. She has also illustrated a book titled “ Paltu and Gharelu ” published by room to read.She has worked with several multinational companies like Godfrey Philips, Nestle, Peter England , General electrics, USA, BBDO Asia and many more.

Ms Manisha Jha has had more than 150 exhibitions and workshops on Mithila paintings in India and in countries like USA, Mauritius, France, Canada, Vienna, Austria, Australia and Belgium. Her works are in the forever collection of Indira Gandhi national center for the arts, Essl. Museum Austria, Albertina museum Vienna, International Folk Art Market USA and several private collectors all over the world. She is actively working with more than 500 women artists from different villages of Madhubani district in Bihar.

Her diverse experience helped students to gain in depth insights on what goes under the making of an artwork like Madhubani, what is its history, how a rural artwork gained international recognition, how Madhubani painting saved forests and how certain artisans have been working on it since ages.

The session evoked interest among the students to know and learn more about such artworks of India and vowed to use their privileges to bring such artwork under limelight and give artisans their due credit.