New Delhi: On a warm winter afternoon at the National Gallery of Modern Art on Monday, colour spilled across the lawns as children with special needs painted freely — pink skies, orange trees and even Lord Hanuman in unconventional shades. There were no rules, no templates and no insistence on “correct” colours — only expression. The open-air workshop brought together children with diverse developmental and learning needs, supported by special educators and art mentors who guided gently, sometimes joining a quick run-and-chase before returning to the canvas. This was the fourth edition of Srijan, an art and craft workshop for Divyang artists organised by Citizens for Welfare State and Special Olympics Bharat in collaboration with NGMA, as part of World Disability Week. The event featured artist-led sessions, student performances and participation from govt representatives and officials from Special Olympics Bharat. At one workstation, a mentor encouraged children to add a tilak to their Hanuman paintings. Tiny fingers dipped into blue, green and brown paint — hesitant at first, then confident. “I only marked a few dots. The children are drawing their own version of Lord Hanuman,” said artist mentor Shalini Yadav. “They are choosing their colours independently — greens, browns, the colours of the earth. They are leading this, not us.” A total of 450 children from nine institutions took part. Each group worked with an assigned artist who demonstrated strokes on a large canvas. Some children mirrored the mentor’s work; others followed their own imagination. Among them was 18-year-old Anurag Rana, a student with Down syndrome from Aathak Prayas Special School in Ghaziabad, proudly holding a bright floral painting. Another participant, Manas Mehra, also living with Down syndrome, painted water and sky in broad strokes. Sixteen-year-old Anandya Panda, who has a hearing impairment, sketched a portrait of the Prime Minister. Mallika Nadda, chairperson of Special Olympics Bharat, said the initiative aimed to build long-term skill pathways. “Many of these children have won medals — but what job opportunities wait for them?” she said. “With workshops like this, we want their talent to translate into livelihood.” She added that the organisation planned to purchase select artworks created during the workshop. Union and Delhi govt ministers attended the opening ceremony. NGMA director general Sanjeev Kishor Goutam said the gallery hoped to continue hosting similar initiatives. “When we give space for expression, we build confidence. Inclusive cultural platforms like this remind society of the immense potential within every individual,” he said.
