Tapestry at Kolkata’s Indian Museum gives voice to 354 survivors of violence

The endeavour aims to empower women and draw attention to the violence they face

A woman on a sewing machine and another with a headscarf working on a laptop – these are two images Hafeeza Khan, 28, sewed on a piece of cloth. This was Ms. Khan’s idea of freedom and empowerment.

Shamima Mirja, a single mother who had never picked up a paintbrush in her life, drew a painting with birds flying in the backdrop of white clouds and a blue sky. 

The artworks of Ms. Khan and Ms. Mirja are part of a stunning 41-foot-long and 8-foot-high tapestry. In all, 354 survivors of violence are displaying their art work at Kolkata’s Indian Museum, the oldest museum in the country.

They have drawn, painted, written and embroidered their dreams on coloured fabrics.

Towards one end of the tapestry, there are just words – “friendship,” “kalpana [imagination]”, “samman [respect]” in Hindi and “khawab [dream]” and “nijaat [relief]” in Urdu.

Alam Aara, an elderly woman, has written a message in Urdu on the tapestry, which roughly means that a person may find it difficult to take on challenges if she is alone, but if a group of people come together, then it becomes much easier.

The intricate tapestry is so full of images, paintings and words that it took a few minutes for Ms. Alara and also Ms. Khan and Ms. Mirja to locate their works.