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Dulari is an unlettered girl from a fishing village in Bihar. Being poor meant that even as a child she had to work: in the fields, cooking for others, selling fish in the market – in short, a life of drudgery from which there seemed no escape.
Until that one magical moment when life seemed suddenly transformed, filing her with hope and giving her something to look forward to. Something that was far away from her present life.
In her words,
Then one day, when I was passing the village pond, a strange thing happened. As I stood and looked, the scene turned into a picture in my mind. It came alive, bright and lively, telling stories. I was happy the whole day, thinking of my picture.
Soon afterwards, when she was employed, as a menial helper – in the house of an artist, Dulari saw the light at the end of the tunnel. She learnt how to draw and paint. Her vision started to get actualized and soon she was on her way to becoming an artist.
Transcribed by Gita Wolf, this book is the story of Dulari, in which she talks in simple and lucid terms of her life and her aspirations. All of it beautifully captured, in the vibrant Madhubani art form. She seamlessly blends modern images, such as, Raju, the icecream seller, children playing cricket, with traditional forms and images.
Vividly illustrated, each page is a powerful visual narrative – women working in the fields, selling fish, cooking, cleaning, drawing and painting. If children will look at the images, they will be thrilled to find many interesting little details hidden within - birds, fish, nests with fledgelings and more.
This book works at several levels. One, it narrates the typical life of a woman in an Indian village. Secondly, it educates, albeit informally, about the vibrant Madhubabi style of folk art, and most important, it conveys a subtle motivational message of hope to children - Follow your dream.
