The new-look pillars on the bridge over river Chanan. Picture by Amit Kumar

Ulipi Jha, a homemaker in Bhagalpur’s Adampur locality, is on a tight schedule.

The Manjusha artist has a special assignment looming before her — decorate roadside pillars in Banka, around 270km southeast of Patna — before October 7. That is when chief minister Nitish Kumar will come to the district on his Adhikar Yatra. Ulipi, associated with the Bhagalpur-based Disha Gramin Vikas Manch, is working on several pillars in and around the town with 10 more women of the organisation.

This is the not the first time Nitish would be greeted by Manjusha paintings on a visit to Banka. On his Seva Yatra in December last year, several of the projects announced by the chief minister were portrayed through the century-old folk art form at the town hall in Banka. The Telegraph had reported the district administration’s initiative in its December 15, 2011, edition.

Disha Gramin Vikas Manch that promotes Manjusha art and has undertaken this year’s project had decorated the Banka town hall last December as well.

The art form based on the folklore of Bihula-Bishari is common in the area known as Anga Pradesh that comprises the districts of eastern Bihar, the Kosi and Seemanchal regions and Santhal Pargana of neighbouring Jharkhand.

Kiran Devi, an artist from Sahakund in Bhagalpur, said: “Paintings in the Manjusha art form are very simple and the painting structures are very easy. Natural colours from plants and herbs are used in the art form for bright and gorgeous paintings.”

This time, the district administration has aimed to spread the art form among the masses. Banka district magistrate Deepak Anand said: “Portraying Manjusha art on roadside pillars in and around the town is an experiment to spread the art form among the masses. We had already depicted projects in the Manjusha art form at the town hall and the chief minister appreciated it.”

He added: “We are trying to send the message of significance of Manjusha art and its conservation to the masses. In the first phase of the project, we have selected to portray Manjusha art on pillars by the side of two road bridges in and around the town.”

Manoj Kumar Pandey, the secretary of Disha Gramin Vikash Manch, said Ulipi and her group has to complete the assignment of depicting the art form on 588 pillars on the road bridge over river Chanan on the Dhakamore-Banka main road and another 22 pillars on a small road bridge near the town hall.

The district administration is offering a minimum remuneration to the artists involved in the assignment. Usha Devi, an artist from Pakra hamlet in Naugachia, said: “Many people, including outsiders, have to travel by the bridges and the Manjusha paintings on the pillars would attract them. It is easy for the local people to recognise the art form but the initiative will generate curiosity among outsiders and the popularity of the art form will spread.”

Pandey, the Disha Gramin Vikash Manch secretary, said: “The Manjusha art form was on the verge of collapse when it was revived by Nabard. It took up the development of the art form through a project, funded under the Nabard’s rural innovation fund ‘Manjusha Development Project’ and being run by us. The three-year project started in 2011. It aims to develop about 100 master trainers and help economically backward women linked through self-help groups earn a livelihood through the art form.”

He appreciated the Banka district administration’s initiative to popularise the folk art form, while lambasting local politicians for allegedly ignoring it.