BIHAR'S CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN ART

                                               

As a great initiative, the Patna Museum and the Department of Art, Culture & Youth, Govt of Bihar, organized a 3-day (Feb 28 – March 2, 2014) National Seminar in the museum auditorium on the theme, “Contribution of Bihar in the art of India”. As many as 45 scholars comprising historians, archaeologists, museum professionals and research scholars presented their thematic research papers. The inaugural function was graced by some eminent academicians like Dr Ramvachan Rai, Shri Alok Dhanva, Dr H.K. Prasad, Dr C.P.Sinha, Dr Prwez Akhtar and Dr U.C. Dwivedi. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari of Banaras. Basically referring to the archaeological artefacts, he viewed that the country should be oblized to Bihar for reviving the image making of the Indus Valley people after a gap of 1,500 years. The stone statues of the Mauryan period including the famous Didarganj Yakshini, are world famous for their finesse and undiminishing polish.

The other presenters touched upon other aspects of arts like Mthila painting, sujini making, manjusha , sikki pots, Bidri wares, muslins, philosophy, archaeological teasuretroves, literature and many such other achievements of ancient Bihar. Dr Satyendra Jha, talked about the fortification wall of Rajgir, the capital of Jarasandh and claimed it as a pioneer work. Dr Anamika Pathak, while talking about Mithila painting, revealed that there is a Mithila Museum in Japan with over a thousand painting on display. Bageshwar jha tracing the history of paan, said that it came to the earth with Bhagwan Dhanvantari after the churning of ocean by Devas and Danavas. Giving details of different aspects of this pristine vine, he saw a great prospect of earning foreign exchange by exporting paan if its cultivation, processing and preservation undergo latest technological aids.

The hosts assured that all the research papers will be included in a book, slated to be published within three months. I feel privileged not because of just being a Bihari, but even the scholars from other parts of the country were surprised to get introduced to the  breathtaking hoary heritages of Bihar.