Godawari Dutta Biography 
Godawari Dutta is an Indian painter best known as a Mithila artist. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian the Padma Shri in 2019 for her overall contributions towards Indian art. Dutta has seen a lot of struggle in her 87 years but is far from being done. She has been awarded with the National Award in 1980 and conferred the title of “Shilp Guru” by President Pratibha Patil in 2006. She has dedicated her whole life for the revival and promotion of the dying art, Mithila, and also inspires younger generation to take it as profession or passion. She has established a Mithila museum in Japan, and it took 7 years for completion.
She hails from Darbhanga district’s Bahadurpur village, Bihar state. Her association with Mithila art started at a younger age, at around 6 years old. As a child Dutta was afraid she would be rebuked by her mother Subhadra Devi, also a Mithila artist. But when her mother watched her painting, she encouraged and praised her. She advised young Godawari not to become panic and that she should continue the work. Mithila art is mostly handed over to next generation as a tradition, usually from mothers to daughters. She lost her father at the age of 10, and her mother faced a lot of hardships to bring up four children.
Dutta got married in 1947 and soon gave birth to a son. But her husband who went to Nepal deserted her and married someone else. Thus Dutta got settled in Madhubani district. During the establishment of a Mithila museum in Japan, she used to stay 6 months there, and it took 7 years to complete the museum. She has also travelled to Germany. Now she dreams of writing a book on Mithila art form.
Published: January 28, 2019
Updated: January 28, 2019
