AN EMINENT ARTISTISC TALENT DEPRIVED OF STATE AND NATIONAL HONOURS

AN EMINENT ARTISTISC TALENT DEPRIVED OF STATE AND NATIONAL HONOURS

11-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------The story dates back to 1935, when an artistic talent named Mohini Devi was born on the soil of Bhojpur. Mohini, who once captivated audiences at All India Radio (Akashvani) and music conferences, found her reach confined to a small district in Bihar due to government neglect. It may surprise you to learn that the accomplished Mohini Devi is no ordinary figure; she is a virtuoso of both Kathak dance and folk singing. Having shared the stage with renowned artists at major music conferences across the country during the 1950s, Mohini Devi hardly needs an introduction. A disciple of the legendary Pakhawaj player Shatrunjay Prasad Singh—famously known as Babu Lalan Ji—Mohini Devi began her musical journey as a Kathak dancer. She carved a niche for herself through dance performances at major music conferences in cities like Calcutta, Delhi, Varanasi, Allahabad, Motihari, Ara, and Patna. Today, her artistic journey is best reflected in photographs where she appears alongside luminaries such as Damayanti Joshi, Siddheshwari Devi, Savita Devi, Godai Maharaj, Pandit Siyaram Tiwari, the erudite vocalist Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas, and countless other masters of classical music. Indeed, she features in an All India Radio photograph where the revered late Padma Shri Shanti Jain is seen providing harmonium accompaniment to her singing. She also appears in newspaper clippings recounting how Calcutta was mesmerized by the combination of Mohini Devi’s dance and the tabla mastery of legends like Karamatullah Khan and Godai Maharaj. Now 90 years old, Mohini Devi—who showcased her art both at home and abroad—has long passed the age for chasing awards; yet, the burden of applications and complex bureaucratic procedures has left this talent neglected. It matters little who ultimately received state or national honors, but it is truly saddening that these veterans have been forgotten. Mohini Devi—whom I call *Chachi* (Aunt)—is now frail and lives at home. One of her grandsons recently gathered some old documents, hoping to revive memories, but he is unaware of how complex bureaucratic procedures have effectively stifled the artistic talent of countless individuals in Bihar. When they approached the relevant official regarding the Bihar government's artist pension scheme, they were told a birth certificate was mandatory; the Municipal Corporation, however, stated that a birth certificate from 90 years ago was unavailable.

In those days, women rarely completed their tenth-grade education, so even those school records—which could have served as proof of birth—do not exist. Voter ID cards, PAN cards, and Aadhaar cards are not being accepted as valid proof. Witnessing the plight of the elderly in this manner makes one view the state of Bihar’s musical and cultural landscape with a sense of bitter irony. The Bihar government's Department of Art and Culture is likely unaware that a singer named Mohini Devi exists—an artist whose popularity once illuminated Bihar’s star on the national and international stage. *Chachi*, you are not merely an artist; you are a treasure of the musical world.

When the land of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Emperor Ashoka, Babu Kunwar Singh Ji, Nalanda University, Aryabhata, and Chanakya is trending towards an identity defined by songs like "Kamariya Kare Lapalap Lollipop Lagelu," silence remains the only recourse.

A single owl was enough to ruin the garden;

With owls perched on every branch, what will be the garden's fate?