These art movements are helping kids from marginalised communities find a voice

Education is the ladder that helps youth climb towards a better future But what happens when the rungs of that ladder are broken by hammers such as caste class and other social barriers that make learning an uphill battleFor many children from marginalised communities in India school isnrsquot always enough to bridge the gaps life throws at them According to the most recent report published by the Ministry of Finance dropout rates at the primary level Standard 15 stands at 19 per cent 52 per cent at the upper primary level Standard 68 and 141 per cent in secondary school Standard 910Akash Dhangar creator HipHop PaathshalaUNICEF India claims that the country has the worldrsquos largest adolescent population with 253 crore individualsmdashevery fifth person is between 10 and 19 years old However children from rural areas slums urban poor families scheduled castes tribal communities and other disadvantaged groups face multiple challenges including poverty lack of access to quality healthcare child marriage poor school attendance and low learning outcomesThis is where the expressive arts come in Spanning painting storytelling music dance theatre and moremdashexpressive arts are increasingly being recognised as powerful tools for healing and empowerment among marginalised children in India In communities where systemic inequalities stifle education and selfexpression arts programmes offer an alternative language helping children reclaim agency over their narrativesDoor Step Schoolrsquos initiative School on Wheels parked outside the Indira Gandhi Institute of Research and Development in Goregaon provides crafts classes to children living on the streets PicAnurag AhireSulbha Bongarde a trainer at the Door Step Schoolmdashan NGO committed to changing the predefined reality of Indiarsquos urban poor by ensuring that every child regardless of socioeconomic background gets access to quality educationmdashnotes ldquoWhen the Door Step School was first established 30 years ago we introduced art and music classes for the children We quickly realised that many children who struggled to communicate fluently lacked confidence in expressing their thoughts or were naturally reserved found solace in art Art became their medium of expressionrdquoBongarde recalls a recent incident where a young student had drawn a picture of a man behind steel bars When she asked him about it he revealed that his father had been arrested and was now in jail Another child had drawn a large bird sheltering a smaller one When Bongarde enquired about its meaning she shared that her mother was pregnant and she feared being abandoned once the new child was born ldquoThrough art these children express their feelings without words allowing us to understand their emotions and provide better supportrdquo she saysLearning through expressive arts transforms education by making it interactive engaging and deeply personal ldquoWe founded the Pehlay Akshar Foundation in 2008 with the aim of providing quality English language education to children in government schoolsrdquo says Radha Goenka the founder of the NGO ldquoIn a country like India where colonial legacies run deep and the legal system primarily operates in Englishmdashwith all Supreme Court and High Court proceedings conducted in English as per the Constitutionmdasheducation in the language remains a weak linkrdquoAccording to the 2011 national census only 102 per cent of the population speaks English This includes all those who use English as a first second or third language 002 per cent of Indians speak English as their first language 657 per cent as a second language and 36 per cent as a third language This is despite English being central to the countryrsquos legal and administrative frameworksNaina Shahri Maru Jeet Sulbha Bongarde Nandini Kochar and Radha GoenkaldquoAt Pehlay Akshar we believe a curriculum is not just about what we teach but how we teach itrdquo she continues To address this the foundation emphasises creative expression as a tool for language learningldquoSpoken language skills develop through continuous interactionrdquo Goenka says ldquoConfidence is key Many children we work with lack confidence in using English so we integrate drama and performance into our teaching methods In June 2024 we began conceptualising a fully Englishlanguage recital which was later staged at the Kala Ghoda Festival on February 1 2025rdquoIqra Shaikh on the set of her short film Hijabi Hacker PicNazaria FoundationFor the production of this recital students from 10 BMC schools in Mumbai were involved in every aspect of the play from crafting props and sets to managing finances marketing the performance and of course acting dancing and singing ldquoThis handson approach ensured they developed a range of crucial skills alongside their language abilitiesrdquo Goenka notesThe playrsquos theme Jungle vs Zoo was chosen for its universal appealmdashanimals resonate with both children and adults ldquoThis theme allowed us to incorporate multiple characters giving more children the opportunity to take the stage speak in English and gain confidence in the processrdquo reflects Goenka In language education especially creative expression fosters confidence and fluency by shifting the focus from rigid grammar rules to active communication equipping them for realworld challengesPreeti Left and Naaz spend evenings post school at Jeet Drawing Classes Pic CourtesyMaru JeetAt the India Art Fair 2025 in Delhi artist Yogesh Barve presents a striking outdoor installation titled I Am Not Your Dalit The work addresses caste discrimination in India drawing inspiration from James Baldwinrsquos I Am Not Your Negro and incorporating Dr BR Ambedkarrsquos writings on law human rights and social justice The running text also includes extracts from Mahatma Phulersquos literary works Savitribai Phulersquos poems on education and the collected works of Periyar EVRBarve employs LED tickers commonplace in public spaces like railway stations and markets as a medium to disseminate Ambedkarrsquos critical ideas Through this he hopes to urge a reevaluation of anticaste activism technology and their intersection in shaping future societiesShaili Shah founder of Crestar Studio believes art nourishes the soul This belief led Crestar to supply over 2000 art kitsmdashwith paints brushes and socialissuethemed cutoutsmdashto various BMC schools across the city every month Pic CourtesyCrestar StudioA central theme in Barversquos artistic philosophy is accessibility ldquoIn my understanding art is a medium that creates common ground and dialogue across societal divisions My LED ticker installation stemmed from the idea of making anticaste literature widely available in public spaces that also demonstrates that education can take various formsrdquo says BarveFor Barve his own experiences in the leather industry and the arts have reinforced his belief that providing marginalised communities with access to education and creative platforms can lead to transformative societal change ldquoIf this community gains access to education just imagine what can be done for human societymdashfor a just societyrdquo Expressive arts in this context serve not just as a means of individual expression but as a powerful instrument for collective awareness and systemic change tying in with Ambedkarrsquos belief that ldquoEducation is a weapon of creation of mental and educational development weapon of eradication of social slavery of economic development of political freedomrdquoStudents of Nariyalwadi BMC School in Santacruz East affiliated with Pehlay Akshar Foundation performed A Tale of Two WorldsmdashWhere the Zoo Meets the Jungle for their Annual Day PicKirti Surve ParadeExpressive arts often tend to help kids discover talents that open doors they never knew existed Maru Jeet is an artist and teacher who hails from the small town of Vartej in Gujarat His studentsrsquo artwork was recently showcased at Crestar Studiorsquos Artfest Odyssey held in Khar on January 26 The charcoal acrylic and watercolour paintings created by children aged 12 to 15 were sold for a total of Rs 30000ldquoGrowing up I was never a confident childrdquo says Shaili Shah founder of Crestar Studio and curator of Artfest Odyssey ldquoBut I always found my voice through art Thatrsquos why I founded Crestarmdashto help children discover their voices build confidence and prioritise mental health through creative expressionrdquo Guided by the belief that art is the food of the soul Crestar recently showcased works by children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds highlighting the power of artistic expression in fostering selfassurance and emotional wellbeingPehlay Akshar Foundationrsquos ethos lies in the belief that integrating performance arts into their teaching methods helps build confidence in children from underprivileged backgrounds PicKirti Surve ParadeldquoI noticed that after 5 pm most children would go home and spend hours glued to their phones or watching television with little productive outputrdquo reflects Jeet Thatrsquos why three years ago I decided to start free art classes for children from humble backgrounds Many of their parents work as domestic helpers some are unemployed and others struggle as singleincome households after losing their husbandsrdquoJeet who currently works with a marketing agency in Vartej has always been passionate about art ldquoSupporting these girls is important to me because I see immense potential in them They have the talent to thrive as artists and changemakers and I donrsquot want their underprivileged backgrounds to hold them backrdquo he explainsAkash Dhangar left popularly known as BBoy Akku the creator of Dharavirsquos first hiphop school HipHop Paathshala believes that the discipline that dance provides helps the children in Dharavi to stay focused and make better life choices File picAshish RajeHowever he notes Vartej is a small village whose orthodox residents frown upon the girls staying back for art classes until 8 pm One of his students 15yearold Preeti Jogdiya from MGM High School in Vartej was criticised by neighbours for being out of the house after darkPreeti notes ldquoDrawing and painting give me a sense of peace After a long day at school and completing tiring household chores art class is my escapemdashitrsquos a place of solitude where I feel at easerdquoYogesh Barversquos own experiences have reinforced his belief that providing marginalised communities with access to education and creative platforms can lead to transformative societal change PicNishad AlamConvincing parents of the viability of art as a career has been another challenge Whenever Jeet encouraged children to consider art professionally their families questioned its feasibility asking ldquoKamaai kitni hogirdquo But those doubts faded when Crestar Studios placed an order for 50 paintings for the exhibition The children completed the works and received their earnings after the fest Preeti earned R12000 and another student Suhani earned R6000 which was a significant help to her family ldquoSuhanirsquos mother called me saying that the money was a blessing as she raises Suhani alone doing odd jobs to make ends meetrdquo Jeet sharesIn a world where not everyone gets an equal shot at opportunity creativity becomes a superpower Nandini Kocharmdashthe cofounder of Nazaria a grassroots organisation dedicated to empowering youth from lowincome backgrounds through education in social justice and training in multimedia arts like visual arts photography filmmaking and journalismmdashnotes ldquoMy cofounder Riddhi and I were both teaching as Teach for India fellows in government schools when we started Nazaria three years ago Both of us have backgrounds in film and have always believed in the power of creative expression but we were confronted with how few spaces the young people that we taught on a regular basis had to express themselvesrdquoArt works created by Maru Jeetrsquos students from Vartej Gujarat were displayed and sold at Crestar Studiorsquos Artfest Odyssey Pic CourtesyCrester StudiosAccording to Kochar these children had very little room to be heard to explore their identities or to see themselves beyond the rigid confines of subjects like English Math Science and Social ScienceldquoHence we started Nazaria with the aim of creating a physical safe space for our studentsrdquo she notes ldquoWe needed a place that was neither school nor homemdashsomewhere kids could be themselves without fear of judgment We wanted to remove the hierarchy fear and rigid assessment methods that dominate formal educationrdquoYazdaan second from left the voice behind Basti ka Heera in the studio Pic CourtesyNazaria FoundationThis ethos led to the inception of a small room called Kahani Labmdasha safe space where stories were shared heard and created Nazariarsquos focus is twofold building social justice consciousness among young people and introducing them to various media forms ldquoNazaria has always been about reframing education as both a mirror and a windowmdasha mirror reflecting a childrsquos lived experiences in relevant and contextualised ways and a window opening them to new perspectivesrdquo notes KocharUnder Nazaria many young artists have flourished One such 17yearold is Yazdaan who comes from a lowincome background household based in Shankarwadi Jogeshwari He was known as a backbencher in school often frustrating teachers and was on the verge of dropping out But at Nazaria he thrived He explored different mediums and eventually created a rap video called Basti Ka Heera which we uploaded on YouTube The rap talks about the invisibility of people from his socioeconomic background and their determination to rise above their circumstances Though he struggled with expressing himself in a formal setting like school he found his voice through rapAnother example is 17yearold Iqra Shaikh notes Kochar ldquoShe was a quiet and shy presence in a traditional classroom setting But at Nazaria we often say that she reminds us you can be both quiet and loud at the same timerdquo Shaikh directed a short film called Hijabi Hacker during Nazariarsquos fourmonth filmmaking programme ReImagine which concluded with a screening of five short films created by teenagers from marginalised communities in Mumbai Her film was a thriller featuring a punkinspired ethical hacker taking on corrupt politiciansmdashan effort to challenge stereotypes ldquoThe film was a huge hit among audiences Since then she has interned as a communications assistant at a local organisation and has started working on professional ad setsrdquo exclaims KocharIn India factors such as low income poor living conditions and domestic violence significantly contribute to neglect and abuse of children A 2021 study published in BMJ Open titled ldquoPrevalence of Child Maltreatment in India and Its Association with Gender Urbanisation and Policyrdquo highlights the growing recognition of adverse childhood experiences ACEs over the past two decades ACEs encompass various forms of maltreatment and household dysfunction that impact children either directly or indirectly The World Health Organisation defines child maltreatment as ldquothe abuse and neglect of children under 18 years of age including physical andor emotional illtreatment sexual abuse and neglect resulting in harmrdquoldquoExpressive arts serve as a mode of emotional literacy especially when we donrsquot have access to language or vocabulary to express our feelingsrdquo says Naina Shahri a counselling psychologist and artsbased therapist since 2019 who runs her own practice in Khar WestEmotional literacy refers to the ability to understand express and regulate onersquos own emotions as well as recognise and respond to the emotions of others ldquoThrough my work with NGOs that cater to empowering children from marginalised backgrounds I realised that some of these children found it difficult to adjust and concentrate in school and also displayed aggressive behaviour Many of these children came from home environments where physical abuse was normalised and they learnt to express discomfort through aggression or even violencerdquo recalls ShahrildquoDifficult childhood experiences can seep into adulthood If the impact of these experiences is not processed it can get internalised and show up in the form of chronic stress and feelings of anxiety shame and isolationrdquo Shahri explains According to her the impact of difficult experiences often deepens with isolation or neglect and early care and intervention is crucialExpressive arts also play a crucial role in transforming the behaviour of children from marginalised communities offering them a constructive outlet for emotions often suppressed due to hardshipldquoItrsquos very easy for young teenagers to go astray especially in an area like Dharavirdquo says Akash Dhangar popularly known as BBoy Akku the creator of Dharavirsquos first hiphop school HipHop Paathshala ldquoI have personally witnessed children engaging in substance abuse drinking alcohol and using profanity because they believe it makes them look lsquocoolrsquordquo says Dhangar who also works as a tour guide hosting tours around DharavildquoMany times I find that these young children from Dharavi carry deep discontent towards their lives and families This often leads them towards drugs alcohol or even a life of crime Dance helps them channel their frustration productively It gives them a sense of purposerdquo he notes ldquoDance is a form of both mental and physical educationrdquo he continues ldquoIt instils discipline through routine and because it is physically demanding you have to push yourselfrdquo Dhangar believes that the discipline that dance provides helps the children to stay focused and make better choicesA 2024 UNICEF report titled Study of Children in Street Situations in India claims that children living on the streets are deprived of basic necessities such as safety access to education and healthcare These children often have limited family support are orphans have left their families or been abandoned and in such situations they are forced by their circumstances to take up odd jobs like ragpicking and begging to sustain themselves Addressing the unique challenges faced by street children and providing them with essential support and protection is crucial to ensuring their wellbeing and safeguarding their basic human rightsThe Door Step Schoolrsquos flagship programme School on Wheels is a mobile classroom designed to reach out to children who live on the streets and lack access to formal education In a spaceconstrained city like Mumbai the School on Wheels which is literally a classroom designed inside a school bus provides an essential learning space without occupying permanent infrastructureldquoMany children who come to us initially exhibit unruly behaviour use inappropriate language and struggle with classroom etiquette because they have lived on the streets and seen many hardships in liferdquo notes Bongarde ldquoWe spend a great deal of time helping them settle down and understand classroom norms and believe you me arts and crafts has really helped us achieve thisrdquo she addsEvery day four classes of twoanda half hours each are conducted at six different School on Wheels catering to 25 outofschool children per session per location ldquoWhile we cover a range of subjects we dedicate a significant portion of the curriculum to arts and crafts which the children absolutely love They are incredibly talentedrdquo shares BongardeSchool drop out rates19 37at the primary level grades 1552 37at the upper primary level grades 6ndash8141 37in secondary school grades 9ndash10Source Ministry of Finance