“On some days I am more of a wolf than a woman, and I am still learning how to stop apologising for my wild side.” This quote by author and poet Nikita Gill clearly describes the emotions projected by 14-year-old Vanshika Shroff’s painting (right pic). Hung amongst multitudinous paintings at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) Museum in Mumbai, it is about a woman breaking free. 

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“Women in our society are often caged within the confines of their home and are not able to become what they aspire to be. At such a trying time, my painting shows a woman’s optimism as she fights back like the wolf,” says the ninth-grader from Aditya Birla World Academy in Mumbai. Accompanying Vanshika were other students from classes IX tp XII, from schools across Mumbai. 

At another corner was a painting of Hanuman and from his heart emerged a tree, whose branches scaled up towards the sky. “It took me three weeks to complete this painting. After all, it is a reflection of my life,” says Ramya Mamikka, a student of Singapore International School and a devotee of Lord Hanuman, who made the painting (top pic). As a child, Ramya was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, having endured a great deal of pain.

Having undergone surgery, she says, “The pain caused by my illness helps me understand life and suffering. It’s a matter of joy to know that my painting is helping others who are not as fortunate as I am.”

Earlier last week, the Art Record hosted by the Concern India Foundation exhibited 55 art pieces that were open for pledging at Rs 10,000 each. For the first time in Mumbai, schoolchildren were given the opportunity to exhibit their talent at a professional level. “Art in India is often under-appreciated and when the Art Record came to us with their idea, we encouraged our students to participate. They could choose their own concept and paint on the basis of their interests. We received 11 entries, all of which are open for pledges,” says Poornima Dukle, an art teacher at the Aditya Birla World Academy School.

Faced with minimal difficulty, the curator Pallavi Sharma says, “The idea was more than welcomed by schools and by the management of the museum, as they believe that a space like a museum should be thrown open to children at a very early age.” 

The evening bustled with laughter as more than 30 paintings were pledged within the first few hours of the event held at the museum. Concern India Foundation has been supporting 300 other NGOs who work with underprivileged children, destitute women and rural youth all over India. “We hope to get all the paintings pledged, but what’s wonderful is that these schoolchildren at such a tender age have their work showcased at one of India’s finest Museums,” says Kavita Shah, the CEO of Concern India Foundation.