Why India Needs More Artists, Not Just More Achievers

One of the hardest things to watch in India today is how little time children have to discover who they are. With the current academic culture, most schools end at 5 pm, and by the time the child returns home, eats, finishes homework, and prepares for the next day, there is no time left for anything else. No space for art, no space for movement, no space for imagination, exploration or joy.

This is the root of the problem. Children in regular schools cannot fully invest in extracurricular activities, hobbies, or passions. There is no room for creativity, personality development, or simply being a child. We keep speaking about India becoming a global superpower, but we do not nurture the things that truly build a powerful society. We are raising generations that are exhausted, stressed, rule abiding, and comfort pursuing. There is a scarcity of artists, innovators, risk takers and cultural thinkers because there is no fertile soil for them to grow in.

To be able to attend a school that prioritises art, sport and holistic development is a luxury. Only a tiny percentage of families can afford that. The rest must squeeze every dream into whatever small pockets of time remain after homework, exams and tuition classes.

The Indian government rarely speaks about investing in arts and culture. The national conversation mainly revolves around IT, AI and cricket. But without a strong artistic foundation, without spaces where children learn to express, imagine, think differently and take risks, the soul of a society weakens. You cannot have innovation without imagination. You cannot have excellence without inspiration.

At Kritya, we see this struggle every day. Our students from India wake up at 5 am to attend classes because our schedule runs on US timings. They join class before sunrise, squeezing in practice amidst their already stressful academic schedules. They do it because they truly want to learn. They do it because they know they will not get this kind of training anywhere else. Their dedication breaks my heart and inspires me at the same time. It also shows how deeply flawed the system is. If a child has to wake up at 5 am just to pursue dance, something is wrong with the balance we have created as a society.

If children want to dedicate themselves to art or sport seriously, homeschooling, distance education, or online schooling can be a wonderful option. That is what I eventually chose for myself because the regular academic structure did not allow me to grow as an artist. It gave me the mental space, time and emotional freedom to build my craft. But this kind of choice is not always accessible to most families, either financially or socially.

Sometimes I wish I could adopt every child who shows potential and bring them all to Kritya, give them a healthy environment where their artistry could bloom. But the truth is that I myself am living paycheck to paycheck. Like most independent artists, I make things work on sheer passion, faith, community support, and unimaginable amounts of effort. We do what we do because these traditions matter. Because these children matter. Because art must survive.

This December, during our Giving Tuesday and End of Year fundraiser, I am asking for your help.

If Kritya has touched you in any way, if you believe in our mission, if you want to see more children access the arts, if you want to help build the next generation of dancers, musicians and creative thinkers, please consider donating.

Your contribution helps us:

• Sponsor training for children who cannot afford it

• Create performance opportunities for young dancers

• Build community programming in India and the US

• Sustain the Kritya Ensemble

• Keep our workshops, showcases and education initiatives alive

• Plant the seeds for a future Kritya Conservatory

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference.

Help us nurture artistry where it is most needed. Help us give children the chance to dream beyond the limits of their school schedule and circumstances.

Thank you for believing in us and for standing with Kritya. Together we can create the kind of world where art is not an afterthought, but a source of strength, identity and possibility.