Patna, April 15: State industries minister Shyam Rajak has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for popularising Madhubani painting in Hannover.
Rajak, known to be among the staunchest supporters of chief minister Nitish Kumar, said: "Our stall at Hannover Messe is witnessing a huge turnout of people, most of who want to know more about Madhubani painting, its origins etc. Narendra Modi had gifted a Madhubani painting, which is the art form of Bihar, to Hannover mayor Stefan Schostok on Sunday. The same has become popular after this. Talking to official representatives at the fair, I have got to know that they are receiving lots of queries for the Madhubani painting."
The five-day Hannover Messe, said to be among the largest industrial trade fairs in the world, was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 13. Earlier that day, Modi gifted Schostok a Madhubani painting on canvas, "The Tree of Life", made by Bihar-born artist Baua Devi, now a New Delhi resident.
"There are visitors who have shown interest in investing in the art forms of Bihar, especially the Madhubani paintings. If they show serious interest, the state government would definitely help them in all ways. I am in touch with the state's delegation round-the-clock and the reviews have been impressive on the whole," Rajak told The Telegraph.
Rajak's reaction is in contrast with how the JDU had reacted earlier, saying it could become a political plank in the Assembly poll campaign. "Now, the Prime Minister will keep mentioning it in his election speeches in Bihar, especially in the Mithila region," a JDU leader had said.
Four state government officials - industries department principal secretary Tripurari Sharan, industries director Shailesh Thakur, Biada managing director Anshuli Arya and development commissioner S.K. Negi - are responsible for the Bihar kiosk at Hannover Messe, which will end on April 17.
Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, is a centuries-old tradition of women of the region who used to paint on the walls of mud-houses on occasions of festivals and marriages.
In the early 1970s, late L.N. Mishra gave exposure to Mithila painting. Now it is also done on cloth, hand-made paper and canvas. The colours used are derived from plants. The art form has got quite popular over the years and has become synonymous with Bihar. The paintings mostly depict nature and Hindu religious images and the themes generally revolve around Hindu deities.
Reacting to the same, Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav thanked the Prime Minister for the same. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done something for which the whole state is thankful to him. He did not forget Bihar and it shows his seriousness and love for the state. We all should be thankful to him," Nand Kishore said.
Rajak added that the sugar industry in the state was expected to get a boost after its participation in the fair. "Many businessmen have approached the Bihar kiosk and asked about the sugar industry and also expressed a desire to invest. The participation has been worthwhile indeed," Rajak said.
