A Manjusha painting in Bhagalpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bhagalpur, Aug. 19: The age-old Manjusha painting, a folk art of Anga Pradesh or east Bihar, is set to get a boost. Visva-Bharati University in Bengal would send a team of artists to the district to study the art form.

The team will experiment with Manjusha motifs through Batik painting.

“Nabard and Bhagalpur-based non-government organisation Disha have started to revive the art form under the rural innovation fund (RIF) programme,” said Nabin Roy, district development manager, Nabard, Bhagalpur.

He added: “The design department of Visva-Bharati University will publish a book documenting the revival efforts.”

The university will also introduce two papers on Manjusha art in the curriculum of the design department.

Roy said: “Nabard has been supporting a project under the RIF programme to revive Manjusha art since 2008. Various aims of the project have been achieved. An interactive session was organised between Manjusha artists and practitioners of other folk art forms, like Mithila painting, earlier at Darbhanga. A second session was organised earlier this month at Visva- Bharati University in co-ordination with the design department.”

Master trainers and 25 artists attended the meet from August 11.

On the first day, the students of the university learnt the nuances of the art form and also spoke about the research undertaken by them. The focus of the discussion was on the scope for diversification without alteration to the basic tenets.

Experts claimed that Manjusha art has the potential for diversification through an exploration of its tradition.

The next day, the artists discussed other aspects of the art form. They also demonstrated their process to the students.

Students from the university, along with some visiting scholars from Sri Lanka, took part in the painting event. Later, they also interacted with the artists.

An exhibition of Manjusha paintings and artefacts was organised at Nandan Art Gallery in Santiniketan.

“Distinguished guests, after interacting with the artists, appreciated Manjusha art and lauded Nabard and Disha’s efforts for the revival of the art form,” Roy said.

He added that delegates from Sri Lanka promised to host an exhibition in their country next year.

Experts, too, have welcomed the development and have termed it a positive sign for the old folk art.

“The short but fruitful visit gave opportunities to Manjusha artists from various villages and blocks of Bhagalpur to reinforce the belief that many innovations can be done with the art form. This revival movement has the potential to become sustainable in days to come,” said Sashi Shanker, an expert in Manjusha art.