As part of the 'What Is Love?' initiative, fifteen women with intellectual disabilities residing in a state shelter for such women participated in a five-month art and healing program. This program was organized by the Society for Child Development.
During the project, the women used ceramics, textiles, and painting to explore their emotions, memories, and self-awareness. Madhumita Puri, founder of the Society for Child Development, noted that the experience began with a simple idea of individuality, stating: 'Love begins with knowing yourself, and then accepting that personality.'
Under the guidance of artists Suparna Arora (ceramics), Shalini Dutt (textiles), and Sujatha Das (painting), the participants were given space for creativity. Instead of following predetermined ideas, the artists provided materials—clay, fabric, and color—allowing the process to develop around each participant.
Initially, many women kept to themselves, not making contact. However, thanks to gentle encouragement, one of them, Guddu, once picked up a brush. The program was conceived as a pilot project involving 15 women, three artists, and institutional staff.
Madhumita Puri, who has over thirty years of experience working in the disability sector, aimed to go beyond traditional approaches, wanting artists to guide the women through creative engagement rather than correction or expectations. The program's name, 'What Is Love? A Journey to Find the Self,' reflected a belief in the deep connection between love and identity.
Shalini Dutt, who works with textiles, admitted that while the invitation was exciting, she felt nervous because she had not previously worked on a project of this nature with adult women, many of whom had experienced abandonment.
Suparna Arora, a potter with nearly thirty years of experience, also felt initial hesitation but realized that the lack of pressure—when the women were not asked to create perfect objects—allowed them to open up. The women came up with brilliant forms themselves, such as elephant figurines or images resembling shrimp based on agricultural memories.
One of the strong themes that emerged during the project was the topic of identity. Moments when the women wore bright lipstick despite short haircuts became a powerful act of adornment. This led to the idea of creating masks with hair: first, they molded clay faces, and then used fabric and yarn to imitate hair. As they were allowed to do their hair as they wished, the creativity became freer and cathartic.
The group included young women aged 18 to 20. The story of Preeti, who initially refused to weave because she thought she couldn't do it well, but later proudly displayed her finished work, became an example of transformation. Shalu, who is deaf and non-verbal, demonstrated leadership qualities by helping Guddu work on her potter's wheel.
Paravathi, one of the older participants, provided stability in the group, caring for others like an older sister. The process was not always smooth; there were arguments, for instance, because one participant was working on another's frame, but there were also moments of joy when everyone started singing Bollywood songs together.
After five months of work, the created items—ceramics, textiles, and paintings—were presented at the India Habitat Centre from March 28 to March 31, 2026. For Madhumita, this exhibition provided the women with a public space for their creativity and showed the world lives that often go unnoticed. She confirmed her initial hypothesis that there is more beneath the surface.
The team believes that the 'What Is Love?' model can be adapted for other institutions, such as community centers and other shelters. The initiative is important because it challenges the common perception of people with intellectual disabilities, suggesting that they should be seen as creators and individuals with their own taste, memory, and imagination. Art, essentially, only requires space for self-expression.