MADHUBANI, FORESTS OF HONEY: FROM PAINTING NATURE TO PERCEIVING ENVIRONMENT

In the present study, an attempt has been made to measure environmental consciousness among the people of Madhubani district in Bihar, India, famous for its unique art form, the Madhubani paintings which depict nature and the living world. The analysis of different parameters viz. affective dimension, cognitive dimension, dispositional dimension and active dimension shows that the mean of total environmental consciousness score of all occupational groups taken together is 0.62 on a scale of 0 to 1. This score exhibits a diffused level of environmental consciousness. Groups that are engaged in professions that require knowledge and information have shown a much better response in terms of environmental consciousness e.g., government/ private officials, teachers, business/other works and students in comparison to those who are involved in nature-based activities like paintings. A community that has identified nature as an integral part of their art and culture has the potential to improve their pro-environmental behaviour. Initiation of environmental projects and appropriate sensitization can surely bring in a change in their perspective towards nature and make the nature painters of Madhubani leaders for tomorrow in environmental awareness.