We need no rocket science to understand how famous the Mithila style of art is all over India. The intricate details, especially in the Madhubani style of folk painting, has gained immense popularity throughout the country, after scores of trains under Indian Railways have been overhauled with the same engravings as visible on the entrance of the Madhubani railway station.
However, with recent development, it seems that art designs have attracted the attention of people outside India as well. Mesmerized by the beauty of India’s Mithila based folk paintings, the Japanese have sent an official request to the Piyush Goyal-led Railway Ministry to send a team of such artists so that the same can be implemented on their trains.
According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, the Mithila paintings on the Indian trains have left a very positive impression upon other countries. As such, Japan has requested the Indian Railways to send a team of artists in order to receive the same grandeur for their own trains. An official from the Railways Ministry told Financial Express that a team can be sent to Japan as well.
For those unaware, the Mithila or Madhubani art form, famous worldwide, belongs primarily to the Mithila region in the state of Bihar. Only the previous year, this beautiful art found its way to the Indian Railways, when the iconic Sampark Kranti Express was decorated with these paintings, gaining immense popularity throughout the country. Even stations like Madhubani, Patna Junction, Danapur station etc. have been decorated with these beautiful paintings. Following the fame gained by Sampark Kranti Express, the paintings were also engraved on trains like the Rajdhani Express, Humsafar Express etc.
Only a couple of years back, Indian Railways was well known throughout the country, but for other reasons. Rampant corruption, dilapidated stations, frequent delays, and an uncooperative bureaucracy had made the Indian Railways a laughing stock not only in India but even around the world.
However, with the advent of ministers like Suresh Prabhu and Piyush Goyal, the Indian Railways has been completely overhauled as an extremely efficient unit. From efficient services round the clock, to better hospitality, to even aesthetically impressive stations, the Indian Railways has found a new lease of life under the incumbent NDA government. As such, it doesn’t come as a surprise if even countries like Japan feel impressed with our artistic decorations of trains, and we have only Indian Railways and the incumbent Railways Minister, Piyush Goyal to thank for that.