New Delhi, August 27: Indian Railway has reformed itself in every possible way with initiating digital technology making things feasible for passengers to create a clean place of transportation. In a recent move, the Indian Railway has covered the entire exterior train of Bihar Sampark Kranti Express with traditional Mithila artwork, also known as Madhubani art, thus making it a visual treat.
Practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar in India, Madhubani art is characterized by eye-catching geometric patterns. The painting is done with fingers, twigs, matchsticks, and brushes using natural dyes and pigments.
The Bihar Sampark Kranti Express is the first to get such a comprehensive makeover showcasing traditional artwork. This is part of a bigger experiment to promote the local art and culture on a larger canvas and showcase nuances of artwork to the public. It took four days for a batch of 30 local women artists to paint a coach.
The train consists of 9 coaches, which comprise a pantry car, 4 AC coaches, 3 Sleeper Class Coaches, and one General Compartment, as of now.
Incidentally, the Madhubani station, under the Samastipur division, was declared the 2nd best at an All India Railway Station Beautification contest held recently. The walls of Patna Junction have also been decorated with Madhubani paintings to popularize the art and culture of Mithilanchal. The Railways is anticipating the response of the public. If it is positive, it will consider applying this move on other trains as well.
Well, if the pictures of the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express are anything to go by, this ‘Art on Wheels’ project by the Railways is sure to be a visual treat.