While the pandemic has snatched the livelihood of billions, a humble artist from Bihar has sought to make the most of it.
Remant Kumar Mishra, an award-winning Madhubani artist came up with the idea of recreating Madhubani designs on face masks. His masks are so beautifully hand painted that they have become all the rage on social media.
It was an author and social worker Advaita Kala who first came across the initiative and stepped in to help Mishra market it. The activist has been helping migrant workers and the less fortunate with basic amenities during the lockdown. She instantly tweeted out the pictures of the masks to garner customers for the artist.
Mishra sells the masks for Rs.50 each which he ships to the customer’s desired location.
From a friend..
Dear Friends ….A poor Madhubani painter in Bihar ….reached out for help …he said that he can send these masks by courier ….each three layered cotton mask costs ₹50/-.
He can be contacted at 9899429912 – Raman Kumar Mishra….🙏 Pls share & support pic.twitter.com/xZZyY9Ifkc— अद्वैता काला #StayHome 😷 (@AdvaitaKala) July 5, 2020
This very post has been soaring across social media and since then the artist has been flooded with messages and phone calls.
The response has been so overwhelming that the peace-loving art maker has ceased to answer the calls and texts. The same was reported by a twitter user to whom Mishra replied promptly saying that he was unable to answer as he had been flooded with calls and orders already and that he would surely get back to each person in time.
sir ji mai phone 📞 mi bhut jabab denha para logo ko mai savi aram say phone karunga kirpya time digyi aj muge total 300 call atend karna par ha hai pic.twitter.com/PCDL3Llwk7
— Remant Kumar mishra Airtist (@remantkumarmish) July 5, 2020
He has reportedly sold 650 masks since Kala’s post.
He is so famous now that even Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has placed her order with him.
These are beautiful! Ordering mine now! Raman Kumar Mishra ji ,बोहोत अच्छे! 👍🏻 https://t.co/RpHEYZKVA1
— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) July 5, 2020
You can connect with Mishra on twitter or WhatsApp @ +91-9899429912.
He recently shared a photo of himself surrounded by other workers, mostly women in which he thanked netizens and Kala for helping him support his own livelihood and those of his assistants from his village.
The artist has been awarded the state award for his works and has also been the recipient of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) Scholarship for indigenous artists and craftspersons.