Bhaskar Kulkarni was a government worker who was sent to Bihar in the 1960s to help formulate strategies to sustain the economy of the Mithila region after devastating floods. While he was there, Kulkarni observed women practicing Madhubani art in the form of murals on their houses, and was thoroughly impressed with it.

Kulkarni assembled a group of artists, including Madhubani legends like Baua Devi and Mahasundari Devi, and provided them with supplies and publicity. He also encouraged them to make a crucial shift in medium and transfer their designs from the walls of their houses to paper that could be transported across India. His work also extended to facilitating their travel and exhibitions, and even helping them sell their work nationally and internationally. Thanks to the work of him and his team of artists, Madhubani began to gain worldwide recognition, and it became a viable source of financial independence for women across Bihar.

Bhaskar Kulkarni's recognition for his work came in the form of governmental grants and institutional recognition rather than any actual awards. However, many members of his team of artists went on to receive awards and international acclaim for their work. Five of these artists (Baua Devi, Mahasundari Devi, Godawari Dutta, Sita Devi, and Jagdamba Devi) even received the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian honors in India. These artists also showered praise on Bhaskar Kulkarni in interviews and memoirs and credited him as being the catalyst for the rise in awareness about Madhubani art.