Mahasundari Devi Biography 
Mahasundari Devi was an Indian artist from Madhubani, Bihar, and accomplished Madhubani (Mithila Painting) painter. Devi was also known for her expertise in clay, paper mache, sujani, and Sikk. In 2011, she was honoured with Padma Shri award by the Government of India. She was awarded the Tulsi Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1995, for her overall contributions towards the field of Indian art. She completed her last work in 2011, two years prior to her death in 2013, aged 91. Her legacy is followed by her daughter-in-law who is also an award winning Madhubani painter.
Devi was a resident of Ranti village located in Madhubani, Bihar. She was born on April 15, 1922. Devi was "barely literate", she belongs to an era when education was not given due importance among female members of family. Devi learnt the art from her aunt Dev Sundari devi and later started practising it. She was only a child then. She belonged to the society where ‘Parda’ system was compulsory among many Hindu communities. She left her parda in 1961 in her late 30s.
She founded a "cooperative society" called Mithila Hastashilp Kalakar Audyogki Sahyog Samiti. Its main aim was to support artists who practise madhubani and other forms of handicrafts, thus promoting many dying arts in wide scale. In 1982 her efforts were honoured by President of India. She continued her mission and taught many women also. Doyenne of Mithila painting and Madhubani art was fully engaged in the art till her late 80s. She received Padma Shri as a late honour at the age of 89, just before her death, almost at the same time when she completed her last painting.
Published: October 16, 2018
Updated: October 16, 2018
