[4] She was a forerunner in bringing Madhubani art, originating in her state of Bihar, to national attention in India.
[6] Her imagery drew from traditional Mithila / Madhubani motifs, including figures from mythology and the natural world, but later incorporated scenes from places that she had traveled to, including the World Trade Center, Arlington National Cemetery, and skylines from New York City.
[3][4][7] She was an artist-in-residence at India's National Handicrafts and Handloom Museum, Delhi, where her work was popular in political circles, and particularly amongst former prime ministers such as Indira Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
[6] In 1978, she was commissioned to create a series of murals at the Akbar Hotel in New Delhi, a project on which she spent over a year.
[10] In addition, she taught Madhubani art to local residents, especially young women, and lobbied for government grants to teach painting.