She didn’t know it until a few years ago, but Hasti Rajabi’s early life in conservative Iran was preparing her to become an artist advocating the right of women to express themselves freely. “From childhood, I enjoyed art and was always sketching and painting. I was a shy girl and found an outlet for my emotions on paper. I was painting, sketching, and painting for myself,” she says.
Her school understood her talent and encouraged it.
She married early and started a family. “I continued to make handicrafts and different kinds of art through it all,” she says. Rajabi is concerned about the status of women in her home country, which has strict rules for women. Last year, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody after she was arrested for not wearing the hijab properly.
In 2011, when Rajabi’s friend who was studying dentistry in India asked her to come over, the artist bought a plane ticket that would change her life. “I didn’t know anything about India except Bollywood, dances, and the festivals that I watched on TV. But I decided on a night. I came to India. I had to learn English as my mother tongue is Farsi, and we never spoke English,” says Rajabi.
She calls India a magic country, but it was also a blank slate. She studied at Symbiosis for a year but decided to pursue painting instead. “This is where I began to find myself and express my feelings through art,” she says. She never exhibited her art in a gallery before.
A deeply personal exploration
A collection of her works is on display, Rajabi’s first solo show, at Pune’s Vesavar Art Gallery till November 11. Fittingly, the show is called Becoming. “The exhibition is a deeply personal exploration of transformation, emotion, and evolving identity, where each artwork reflects the process of inner growth, healing, and rediscovery,” says Rajabi, who lives in Pune now.
For a long time, art was a way for Rajabi to express a silent language. Even during the terrifying days of the pandemic, she was painting. Then she made a leap. Rajabi started to show my art with the purpose of inspiring and empowering women to express themselves freely and fearlessly. “A difficult situation in a woman’s life, such as a divorce, can bring them down. They feel no control and fear that they are weak. Through my art, I began to send out a message that they are enough,” she says.
Her style is modern and emotional. She works with mixed media, layers, and texture because emotions are never flat. “I love calligraphy as well as the abstract form,” she says. One of the most powerful pieces is The Universe in Her Step. It has a number of women holding hands and dancing. The piece is a celebration of feminine energy and unity. Each figure moves in harmony with the cosmos. Each colour in the work is symbolic; red is for desire and love, green is for renewal and nature, while yellow recalls the glowing sun, marking a beginning.
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Another piece, The Anatomy of Hasti, is a direct reflection of her inner world and journey. The covered eyes in the work speak of moments when she walked through life not knowing what lay ahead. “My message to viewers is that every scar creates a story. This is mine, painted for anyone who has ever turned darkness into light,” she says.
In Iran, meanwhile, Goli Kouhkan, 25, who had been a child bride, is facing execution for killing her abusive husband unless she raises an exorbitant amount by December to pay his family.
“I would like to be a representative of Iranian women, who are suffering in my country,” says Rajabi.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
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