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Dileep Kumar

We wish to congratulate Dileep for winning the 2009 State Award for Traditional Paintings, which was presented to him by the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar.

"Hi, I am Dileep Kumar and I come from the Madhubani district of Bihar. I am the eldest of four siblings. My family has been in the tradition of Madhubani art for many years now. My grandmother was a great artist. She has been a great source of inspiration for me as well as for my entire family.

"I grew up seeing this art and it was so natural to follow suit. In 2001, I joined my family full time in Madhubani painting. My first tryst with this art was when I was hardly ten years. I would return from school and create a painting or two whenever I had time. It was fun because Madhubani art is a freehand art. There is no set rules or criteria, and that makes you free from any bondage of style. This is what I like about Madhubani art.

"I started participating in exhibitions with my father. Earlier, when I had just started, I would normally paint at home but now that I have grown I have replaced my father. At times, whenever my father is busy, I go alone to participate in exhibitions. I am happy that my parents trust me. I think my father knows that eventually he would have to pass the responsibilities onto my shoulders. I hope I will be able to live up to his expectations.

"Now I am studying my first year BA doing history honors. I really don't know what future holds for me but I definitely want to be connected to this enchanting art."

Mithila (in Bihar) is a scholastic and cultural center in India that traces its lineage of arts from epic times. Mithila paintings – alternately called Madhubani paintings – are a folk tradition in northern Bihar. Artisans depict traditional designs and events from mythology on the floors and walls of their houses using crushed wet rice and natural colors. Today Mithila paintings are drawn on a canvas of handmade paper or pure mulberry silk fabric using natural colors and fabric dyes. Brushes, sharpened reeds and pen nibs are used.