‘Daughters of Madhubani’: A Heartwarming Tribute to the Creativity and Dedication of an Artistic Community

“Daughters of Madhubani,” a photobook on Mithila art, by Shreya Jha, is a beautiful, personal journey of a young girl’s love for the rich traditions of her ancestral home in Madhubani, in Northern India.

Shreya’s appreciation for the timeless art form of Madhubani started at a young age when she would visit her maternal ancestral home in Mangrauni. As a child and later as a young adult, she was fascinated by the vibrant colors and nature-inspired designs of Mithila Art, as it is also known.

Through this book, Shreya shares the history of Madhubani art, which comes from the Mithila region of India, and showcases not only the array of exquisite, colorful paintings but also the community that has kept this tradition alive through the centuries.

Through detailed photographs and descriptions, Shreya vividly brings to life the myriad styles of Madhubani artwork, including symbolism and folklores. To see the artists behind the scenes who are working so hard to preserve their craft was poignantly brought out in “Daughters of Madhubani.”

Laced with personal warmth for her family and the community which she has embraced, Shreya’s narrative is a welcome call to preserve ancient art forms for future generations.

It is inspiring to see young people like Shreya embracing this cause — to revive Madhubani art and give it global recognition. As an international school student, with access to a global audience, Shreya has used this as a platform to spread awareness about the paintings of Madhubani, not just in English, but even in Chinese, Spanish and French, through translations of the book.

The artists of Madhubani are an inspiration. Shreya has paid a heartwarming tribute to their immense talent, creativity and dedication. I enjoyed this book immensely.

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Ashwini Devare, a writer and journalist, is the author of the memoir, “Always A Foreigner.”