Uma Chandan
Uma Chandan(Born 28 September 1996) is a madhubani artist, social entrepreneur, cultural preservationist, and co-founder of Madhubani Paints, an initiative dedicated to preserving Bihar’s traditional Madhubani art while creating sustainable livelihood and economic opportunities for women artisans.
| Uma Chandan | |
|---|---|
 Uma Chandan.jpg | |
| Born | 1996-09-28 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Indian |
| 🏫 Education | B.F.Tech from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Mumbai |
| 💼 Occupation | Co-founder |
| 🏢 Organisation | Madhubani Paints |
| umachandan_ | |
| umachandan | |
Early Life
Uma Chandan is an Indian artist, designer, and social entrepreneur from Bihar, best known as the co-founder of Madhubani Paints, a social enterprise that preserves the traditional Madhubani (Mithila) painting art form by applying it to contemporary hand-painted textiles, garments, sustainable fashion, and lifestyle products while empowering hundreds of rural women artisans through home-based employment, skill development, fair wages, and economic independence. A B.F.Tech (Apparel Manufacturing) graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Mumbai, she brings over a decade of experience in apparel, textiles, handicrafts, exports, and buying houses to blend traditional techniques with modern design sensibilities.[1]
Co-founding Madhubani Paints alongside National Award-winning Madhubani artist Asha Jha, Chandan has focused the enterprise on supporting rural craft clusters in Bihar, providing stable livelihoods to women artisans who maintain family responsibilities while earning sustainably through authentic hand-painted work rooted in Mithila heritage. The initiative emphasizes ethical production, environmental responsibility, and cultural preservation, expanding the reach of Madhubani art to global platforms without compromising its artistic integrity.In December 2025, Madhubani Paints received the Amazon Smbhav Award in the Employment Catalyst category for its contributions to job creation, artisan livelihoods, and inclusive growth in the handmade economy. Chandan described the recognition as a tribute to the artisans, particularly rural women whose dedication preserves India's cultural heritage, stating, “This recognition is a tribute to our artisans, especially the women in rural regions, whose skill and dedication help preserve India’s cultural heritage. Our mission has been to create livelihoods and a sense of pride.”[2]
Career
Chandan has professional experience in the apparel, textile, handicraft, export and buying-house sectors. Her professional background in apparel manufacturing and textiles later informed her work in adapting traditional Madhubani painting for contemporary products.
She also received practical exposure to Madhubani painting from her mother, learning traditional techniques, motifs and forms associated with Mithila art.
Madhubani Paints
Chandan co-founded Madhubani Paints with her mother, Asha Jha. The enterprise developed from the family's involvement with Madhubani painting and was formalised as a structured venture with an online presence around 2017.[3]
As co-founder, Chandan has worked on integrating traditional Madhubani painting with contemporary fashion and lifestyle products. Madhubani Paints produces hand-painted textiles and apparel, including sarees, stoles, dupattas, lehengas, kurtas and other lifestyle products.[4]
The enterprise works with rural women artisans in Bihar and provides home-based employment, skill development and income opportunities. According to the source, more than 300 women artisans in Darbhanga and surrounding areas are involved with the initiative.
The organisation's work combines traditional Madhubani motifs and techniques with contemporary fabrics and designs. Its stated objectives include cultural preservation, artisan livelihoods and expanding the reach of Mithila art to wider markets.
Recognition
Madhubani Paints received the Amazon Smbhav Award 2025 in the Employment Catalyst category. The award recognised the enterprise's employment-oriented model and its work with rural women artisans. She was invited as a guest on Betta Breakthrough Podcast where she talks about Madhubani Arts, Her Struggles and Impact of Women in Bihar.[5]
Chandan has associated the recognition with the contribution of the artisans working with Madhubani Paints and the broader objective of creating sustainable livelihoods while preserving India's traditional artistic heritage.
Personal Life
Uma Chandan is the daughter of artist Asha Jha and Kulendra Narayan Jha. Her sisters are Kriti Chandan, Priti Chandan, Divyani Chandan and Shatakshi Chandan. The family has been associated with the promotion and practice of Madhubani art.
References
- ↑ https://www.campusvarta.com/article/nift-mumbai-alum-venture-madhubani-paints-wins-amazon-smbhav-award-2025-in-employment-catalyst-category
- ↑ https://www.bweducation.com/article/madhubani-paints-wins-amazon-smbhav-award-583289
- ↑ https://yourstory.com/herstory/2025/12/asha-jha-five-daughters-are-taking-madhubani-art-to-the-world
- ↑ https://www.madhubanipaints.com/
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt44797862/
