Ranju Yadav: Breaking Boundaries Through Art

A shy and innocent girl, grew up in a conservative background where women were often confined to their homes and discouraged from being vocal or stepping out like men. Ranju Yadav dared to dream and explore the suffering of women through artistic expressions. 

She blossomed into a celebrated Mithila artist from Rajbiraj in Saptari, breaking stereotypes and proving that when women are given exposure and opportunities, they can surpass expectations and become role models for society.

Artist Yadav has been a constant advocate for social change for over 15 years, expressing herself through the vibrant brushstrokes, rich colours, and expressive canvases. Her journey as an artist was profoundly shaped by a cruel incident in a nearby village when she was in grade nine.

A woman was brutally murdered by her family due to dowry issues, an event that deeply hurt and shattered Ranju's young mind. Although her family and relatives stopped her from speaking up, saying she was too young to understand such matters, this incident ignited a passion in her to address the injustices faced by women.

She creates paintings aimed at social change, focussing on issues like the dowry system, untouchability, child marriage, gender-based violence, and more. Her work also encourages women to become self-reliant and independent, which she believes will help combat injustice in society.

Art odyssey

Ranju has been inspired by Mithila art since childhood, enchanted by the artworks her mother, grandmother, and other women in her village created to decorate their homes. Her journey began with beautifying walls of houses and yards with traditional art, much like the Mithila women did for centuries. 

After marrying journalist Amarendra Yadav, she met Mithila artist Ajit Sah, a friend of her husband, who encouraged her to pursue art professionally. Inspired by Sah, she started working on canvases, and for the past 15 years, she has been creating artworks professionally. In 2019, she held her first solo art exhibition, titled ‘Colours of Change’, at the Nepal Art Council, where she displayed 29 of her art works.

The majority of her paintings depicted women’s issues, attracting many public figures, including politicians Madhav Kumar Nepal, Matrika Prasad Yadav, Baburam Bhattarai, and others. Her paintings not only attracted public figures and the general public but also helped spread a positive message. She shared that after the exhibition, she received phone calls from two people who said they decided not to take dowry.

In her words, although she had participated in a few group exhibitions earlier, her first solo exhibition completely changed her professional career. The positive feedback and responses fuelled her passion and opened multiple doors for her to flourish in the field of art.

Fortunately, 2019 became a golden year for her, as she held another solo exhibition at the Swiss Embassy in Nepal. On the Swiss National Day, August 1, she showcased 26 artworks at the embassy. She then participated in over two dozen group exhibitions. 

She was awarded by the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts in the traditional artwork category in 2019 and has received numerous awards for her contributions to art so far.

Before marriage, she wanted to work outside, but her family restricted her. Fortunately, after marriage, she gained the freedom to work at both national and international levels. In 2018, she participated in the Nepal Art Fair in Bangladesh, and in 2019, she attended the SAARC exhibition and workshop in the Maldives. She also exhibited her artworks in international art exhibitions in Myanmar and India. She believes that those who study and produce Mithila art cannot claim true originality, as she considers all Mithila women to be the great artists. Yadav attributes her folk-art skills to the legacy passed down from her elders, asserting that Mithila art is in her blood.

International exposure

Yadav recently completed a 33-day Europe Art Tour, where she held several solo exhibitions in 2024. She was invited by Nepali Samaj Germany to exhibit her Mithila art on Nepal Day, celebrated on April 20 every year in Frankfurt.

 A total of 28 of her artworks were showcased. On this occasion, Yadav also presented a paper on the development of Mithila art in Nepal, her artistic journey, and the impact of her work on social change. She said that around 300 people visited her exhibition in Frankfurt.

Following the exhibition in Germany, Yadav conducted a workshop on Mithila painting in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Denmark held the Mithila Art Workshop, where she taught art to Nepali and Indian children living in Denmark. 

Parents who brought their children to the workshop were also attracted to the art and learnt alongside their children. More than 30 of Yadav’s paintings were exhibited at the workshop venue.

Subsequently, Yadav held a solo exhibition in Helsinki, Finland. The exhibition was arranged by NRNA Finland. A total of 40 Mithila artworks were displayed during the exhibition. Her paintings highlighted Nepali society and culture, particularly Mithila art. 

She also exhibited her works in Berlin, where the Nepal Embassy organised a one-day exhibition featuring 22 of her artworks. Additionally, she exhibited in Bern, Switzerland, and visited Sweden and Estonia as well. Yadav said that European audiences were largely unfamiliar with Mithila art, and her visit helped promote this traditional art form in Europe.

Inspiring plan

Yadav is a dedicated artist who can paint continuously for six hours a day. Her paintings can take anytime from one week to 2-3 months to complete. Societal issues and incidents deeply affect her, and she expresses these emotions through her art.

To further enhance her artistic journey, she is opening an art school and gallery in Lalitpur soon. Her goal is to inspire women through artistic adventures and prove that a small initiative can change the mindset of people.  

Yadav believes that every woman is strong but needs exposure and platforms to manifest their potential.

“While all Mithila women are artists, their work is often confined to decorating their homes and yards. With the right support and opportunities, they too can flourish and become self-reliant," said Yadav. Besides Mithila arts, she also works with pottery and ceramics. 

She has created over 200 paintings and is grateful to her husband, who has helped groom her as an artist. 

“Art is a crucial part of my life. I can’t live without art. I can work continuously for hours without any break. I want to devote myself in this very field in the future,” said Yadav.

(The author is a journalist at The Rising Nepal.)