As I walked towards the Artist Village within the campus of DPS, Mihan, standing sentinel at its entrance was the Tree of Life, conceptualised by renowned Chhattisgarh artist Sushil Sakhuja. Gazing at it spellbound, I wondered if this was the fabled kalpavriksha … the wish-fulfilling tree. Was I in paradise? I realised then that I was on a journey of discovery that would redefine the confines of schooling and elevate it to wholesome education.
The Artist Village is the dream child of Tulika Kedia, the school’s pro-vice chairman and president, who is intimately involved with indigenous arts, and with world education. She has harnessed her dual passions to create a haven of culture where dance, music and art flourish together under the auspices of education — an education liberated from conventional rigidity and spruced with the vitality of arts!
Inaugurated in 2019 by world-famous arts advisor, writer, and curator Sushma Bahl, the Artist Village houses specially designed studios for art, dance, music, pottery, and a breathtakingly alluring 300-seats amphitheatre. Brings instantly to mind Gurudev Tagore’s Santiniketan. This school integrates the international ALT (Approaches to Learning) skills into its curriculum to equip young learners with thinking, communication, self management, research, and social skills among other competencies.
Art has an uncanny ability to elicit empathy and emotion. Sadly in this digital age, children have been so infused with information that some of the finer nuances of ‘feeling’ have been gravely neglected. In a world dominated by digital gadgets and gizmos, children urgently need to be lured away from their bubbles of passivity and isolation.
The Artist Village addresses this need by providing children with creative recreation. Fortunately in India, we need only to delve into our vast reservoir of rich cultural heritage for inspiration. The Artist Village allows children the privilege to express, consolidate creativity, confidence, and encourage catharsis. Modern day psychologists speak of art as a stress buster. However, our folk artists manifested this wisdom centuries ago. Dance, art, and music are all much sought-after therapies. Engaging in the creative arts promotes a sense of creation and accomplishment; encourages team spirit, develops leadership skills; instills foresight; improves visual learning, motor skills, and most importantly enables children to develop a sense of identity, boost self-confidence, and connect them to their own and to cultures of the world. It propels them to “feel” and thus animates and humanises education.
The school’s department of Visual and Performing Arts enables children to find their true calling. by inviting accomplished artisans from across the country to mentor them in various art forms and transform into a hub for art workshops.
The school gallery proudly showcases students’ creations. The music room reverberates not just with popular tunes but also with the experimentations of the school band with body percussion, fusion music, and a variety of instruments. While nimble footed dancers enjoy and excel at Indian and Western dance forms, students try their hand at the potter’s wheel.
Clearly, the Artist Village is the veritable Pied Piper… enticing children to attend school. The laughter and mirth is unmistakable. Sounds like Paradise to me!
