Shri Shivan Paswan was born on March 4, 1956, in Bihar, India. As a member of the oppressed Dalit Dusadh community, he faced social discrimination and poverty throughout his childhood. Despite this adversity, he remained committed to his education, and completed 10th grade before moving on to artistic pursuits.

Paswan became a pioneering practitioner of Godna art, a style historically practiced by lower-caste individuals in Bihar. While Godna art tended to be kept in the dark in favor of its more mainstream counterpart, Madhubani, Paswan's masterful artwork gained international acclaim and is displayed in galleries across the globe. By broadening the themes explored in his pieces to include scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata (which were typically reserved for higher-caste Madhubani artists) he unlocked a new realm of potential and creativity for Godna artists.

Paswan not only had an outstanding impact on the art world, he also passed on the traditions of Godna and Madhubani art by mentoring 20,000+ individuals in the practice of these art forms. His achievements did not go unnoticed; in fact, in 2024, Paswan and his wife, Shanti Devi, became the first Godna artists to receive the Padma Shri Civilian Award.