Portrait Of Noted Mithila Artist

Ajit Shah is a renowned Mithila artist with international recognition, hailing from Janakpur, the heart of Mithila art, culture, and literature. His journey in the world of art began at the tender age of 18, and for nearly four decades, he has dedicated himself to the enrichment of folk art.

Born as the third child to Sundar Prasad Sah and Phool Kumari Devi, Ajit's artistic roots trace back to his childhood. He drew immense inspiration from his mother's traditional designs and drawings, which adorned the walls and floors of their home during Hindu rituals. He fondly recalls that his home served as his initial school of art.

During his school years, Ajit actively participated in various art competitions. Initially, he assisted his brothers in managing the family business, but his true calling lay in the world of Mithila art. This decision, however, caused friction between him and his father.

Ajit's father had different aspirations for him, hoping that he would pursue a career as a chartered accountant (CA). In those days, Mithila art was not considered a financially promising profession, leading to his father's disapproval. Their relationship strained for a while as Ajit followed a different path from his father's wishes.

However, as Ajit Shah's name began to shine in the world of art, his father's perspective underwent a remarkable transformation. He came to recognise and appreciate his son's achievements, filling him with immense pride and joy. Today, Janakpur takes great pride in Ajit Shah, its native son, who has achieved international acclaim in the realm of Mithila art.

After his SLC examinations in 1982, his father distributed the ancestral property among all four of his brothers. At that time, Ajit was not even married. He felt a heavy financial burden on his shoulders. He was already facing challenges while continuing his studies. So he decided to utilise his artistic talents to continue his studies. Since then, he has begun his long journey to create paintings, sell them, and teach the art to others. He started drawing artwork on bed sheets and pillow covers as well. He used to earn fifteen to twenty thousand rupees a month even at that time. Although he couldn’t continue his studies regularly, he somehow completed his diploma. In the course of time, he made his artistic career more professional.

Although he was born in Tarai, he developed a special attraction for mountains. Visiting pilgrimages was another hobby for him in his youth. He used to meet Sadhus and interact with them. His family members started pressuring him to get married, fearing that he might become a sage. He married Rina Sah, from Kalaiya in Bara district.

Following his marriage, he and his wife shifted to their new home, which was made from his own earnings. He began the business of Mithila Art from the new house. At the same time, he established the Janakpur Art and Craft Centre and started to offer jobs to a number of socially backward women. Around 35 women used to work and create Mithila arts and handicrafts under the Art and Craft Centre. The women used to prepare the artworks according to his concept and design. In the past, he had faced a lot of pressure to switch to other jobs in the art field.

For the first time, Ajit got the opportunity to travel to Japan in 2002 as an artist to popularise Nepal’s Mithila art. He attended three art exhibitions there. He still feels fortunate that his artwork is being collected by the Kyoto Museum of Japan. He took part in international exhibitions in India, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He participated in the art exhibitions held in Italy, Belgium, Vienna, Austria, and Germany to make Mithila art popular globally. He travelled across Nepal to exhibit his artwork.

He organised more than two dozen art exhibitions in the USA. The Nepali Embassy in Washington, DC, boasts of hanging his paintings on its wall. Twenty-two of his paintings were showcased in the Mithila Art Exhibition held under the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN in New York. He held a couple of art exhibitions in Mexico. Professor Diana Fox of Rhode Island in the US has collected his nine artworks.

Many big hotels in Nepal have purchased Ajit's artwork. The office of then-US President Bill Clinton had bought his art. He has presented his artwork to then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari, then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and New York Mayor Erik Adams.

Ajit has been honoured with several prizes and awards. They include Prabal Janasewa Puraskar from the President of Nepal and Rastriya Pratibha Puraskar in 2073. He was honoured with the Best Entrepreneur Award twice. Maithili Association has honoured him with ‘Mithila Ratna’. The Ambedkar Award was handed over to him in India. The annual calendar of the Global IME Bank in Nepal solely featured his Mithila Arts in 2079 BS.

Creating Mithila's art works and selling them is still the main source of income for his family. His works have improved not only the economic status of his family but also the lives of hundreds of people in Nepal. He imparted Mithila art training to hundreds of art enthusiasts and made more than 120 people self-employed, most of them women.

In addition, Ajit is the master of Mithila handicrafts. He didn’t limit Mithila art to paper but also expanded it to cloth, dresses, household materials, and jewelry. He did some beautiful Mithila artworks for the wrappers, covers, and bags of industrial products of the Udyog Gramme, owned by renowned businessman Upendra Mahato. He has sold tens of thousands of artworks and handicrafts. He has created over two thousand Mithila arts. "I became an art entrepreneur after seeing the plight of Mithila artists. I offered hundreds of jobs to the artists in this field," Ajit says.

Ajit takes great pride in his role in introducing and popularising Mithila art on the global stage. However, he expresses his disappointment in the government's lack of serious efforts to promote this unique art form. He reflects on how, in the past, very few people were aware of Mithila art, but he's pleased that it is gaining recognition now. Ajit believes that his contributions to Mithila art, as well as other Nepali arts, have been fulfilling.

He points out that countries like England and Japan have established their own Mithila art museums, raising the question, "Why doesn't Nepal have a single Mithila art museum? Ajit's vision includes the establishment of a Mithila Art Museum in his hometown, Janakpur. He aspires to inspire and support aspiring artists in this field. He emphasises the immense potential and opportunities available to Mithila artists in the future. He encourages patience and hard work as essential qualities for those seeking success in this artistic field. Mithila art, a renowned folk art from Nepal, holds a promising path for those willing to pursue it diligently.

(The author is a journalist at The Rising Nepal)