21 Social Statements Drawn in Sand by Indian Artists

Rangoli is an old Indian form of drawing for special festivals. It is meant to welcome the deities into the home and is an offering of good luck.

Rangoli is usually designed in repeating patterns of flowers and geometric shapes. However, these designers, took the medium of sand/flour, used in Rangoli, and drew social statements. Some artists point out the destruction of smoking, while others react to the current state of women’s rights in India. This is a stunning way for the average Indian to express their frustration, hope, despair, and future in our own created medium of art.

We’ve interpreted these drawings the best we could, but several are left blank. We would love to hear your thoughts.

Science takes down superstition

“Are you listening to me, the Rupee weeps” – As the Indian currency wavers against the dollar, fear has been taking over the domestic markets. The image shows a man pulling a rope around the rupee in an effort to stabilize the currency.

Smoking kills your soul – Drawing by Trupti Aacharekar

“Don’t kill your daughter, love her” – Thousands of female unborn babies are killed at birth because having a girl will not benefit a family. This holds true in rural communities, which are poor, and need their children to work, not be a burden. Many see their daughters as burdens and not benefits to society.

“A girl who studies is progress, that is very good to hear. But will anyone save her from the vulture?”

“Severe punishment is important” – As a girl sits in the corner and cries from an assault or rape, the ghost, her rapist, haunts her forever. He deserves a severe punishment, death. Hanging in India is the most common form of a death sentence.

“Violence – When will it stop” – A girl can be violated at any age, but when will these horrors stop? In the white writing, different ages are mentioned, “4 years old”, “9 years old”, “65 years old”, yet violence sees no difference in ages – by Ashok Metri