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It wasn’t just an exhibition, but a showcase of how people recovering from mental health problems can channel their creativity to earn a living with dignity. And CT was there to celebrate their creations along with Roopa Ganguly and Swastika Mukherjee .
Organised by a city non-profit that has been working with people with psychosocial disabilities for three decades now, the exhibition gave us a chance to interact with the artists and the guests. It even inspired actor-MLA Roopa Ganguly to try a hand at block printing . “I really wanted to try block printing myself and was instantly drawn to the fish motif and the indigo shade. For a first attempt, I’m happy with the result,” she said.

The creations on display included block-printed fabrics, ceramic pieces, and handmade jewellery , and Swastika was all praise for the minds behind them. “By supporting the beautiful, handcrafted products created by artists battling mental health issues, we can all contribute to empowering them on their journey back to confidence and independence,” she said.


For too long, society has looked at those recovering from mental illness through a lens of deficit. At our studio, we throw that metric out of the window. It’s about reclaiming one’s sense of self through creation – Ratnaboli Ray, founder of Anjali, a mental health rights organization and the brain behind the studio



Seeing people who once struggled with psychological challenges regain confidence, rebuild their lives and earn with dignity is inspiring. The effort that goes into restoring that confidence is laudable – Roopa Ganguly, actor-MLA



What we saw:
Swastika Mukherjee was on a video call with her daughter ( Anwesha Sen) and was showing her bed covers from the exhibition to choose. “My daughter has recently moved to London and is busy setting up her new home. She’s very particular about the colour palette of her furniture and upholstery, unlike us, who would happily spread any bedcover we have at home! Since I’ll be visiting her soon, I thought it’s better to let Mani ( Anwesha) choose what she likes. I’d hate to buy something only for her to say it doesn’t match the look of her home. Better to be sure than sorry later,” said Swastika with a smile.
Roopa has been drawing well since her childhood. “I was fascinated by the beautiful blocks and vibrant colours, and I really wanted to try block printing myself. I was instantly drawn to the fish motif and the indigo shade. I’m quite particular about details, so I made sure everything was positioned symmetrically. Even while placing the borders, I carefully measured both sides to keep them perfectly balanced. The little pink leaf motif adds a nice contrast and breaks the monotony of the indigo. For a first attempt, I’m quite happy with how it has turned out,” shared Roopa.