Rang De Neela: Healing by infusing art with medical care to increase health literacy

Central to Shaikh’s paintings are Dr Yajnik and his wife Pallavi Yajnik, depicted as contemplative figures while artist Kamble symbolizes an eight-year-old boy’s journey to recovery as a money plant—flourishing with care, just as patients did under Dr. Bawaskar’s skilled hand.

Zara Shaikh’s artwork ‘A Tale of Dual Burden’ based on Dr Yajnik’s research.

These paintings are a unique part of Rang De Neela‘s innovative project ‘Healing Journeys’. A health education initiative where Art Meets Health, Ami Shah, founder of Rang De Neela, aims to bring to life these stories through a collection of 100 artworks in collaboration with medical experts.

“Artists capture various stories on their canvas and the effort is to use the medium to change their attitudes towards health,” said Shah, an engineer who collaborated with Rang de Neela‘s co-founder Dr Rajiv Kovil, diabetologist and obesity physician for this ambitious project.

It was in April 2022 that Shah launched Rang De Neela to enhance health literacy and sense of well-being through art. Rang De Neela started with rural workshops where artists and doctors collaborated to create art, bridging two worlds that rarely intersect. The workshops allowed artists to discuss their health concerns with doctors, while medical professionals gained a newfound appreciation for the emotional and cultural depth of art.

Another event was the “Walk of Confidence,” where patients who had undergone lower limb amputations due to diabetes walked the ramp alongside doctors. This moment not only highlighted the tradition of saree weaving but also delivered a vital health message: to manage diabetes effectively, avoid complications, and live well despite disabilities. Last year, Shah encouraged the use of puppetry to communicate health information.

This year, the initiative has launched its most ambitious project yet— Healing Journeys, a collection of 100 inspiring stories of recovery and resilience, all brought to life on canvas.  “Individuals who have personally battled heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other illnesses are sharing their stories about how they went from pain to cure. Our goal is to take these stories and turn them into exquisite artwork,” Shah said.

In Pune presently to encourage doctors to support the project, Shah told The Indian Express that so far 40 stories have been recorded and 28 canvases completed. “The aim is to use the arts as a medium of communication to help people and communities become more health-literate and change their attitudes towards health,” Shah said.

She also added that they wanted to honour and commemorate the vital role that care-givers play and encourage people dealing with comparable health issues by providing them with courage and hope, drawing from the experiences of others.

“By offering the medical perspective, doctors enhance these stories and hence Healing Journeys is more than just an artistic endeavour,” she said. These canvases will be on display at several art galleries, hospitals, and other forums. “Eventually we want to display these canvases at an Arts and Health Museum,” she added.