Art as Empowerment: The Story Of Pragathi

As a child, Sravani Ramachandran was fascinated by colours and their interplay. She began painting and sketching from a young age, but the demands of pursuing an MBA and a corporate career sidetracked her passion. A life-altering accident in 2011 changed everything. Paralyzed from the waist down, Ramachandran could’ve easily succumbed to despair. Instead, she threw herself into an old interest: art.

“I resumed sketching to distract myself from all the pain and uncertainty. But over time, it started doing a lot more for me,” Ramachandran, a resident of Bengaluru, tells Reader’s Digest India. “I had also suffered a head injury that affected my memory and concentration. However, my conscious engagement with art helped me rebuild my confidence and return to work after a year-long break,” she adds.

Sravani Ramachandran, founder of Pragathi. Photo Courtesy: Sravani Ramachandran. 

Ramachandran experimented with various mediums—charcoal, oils, pastels, stipples, oil pastels—and steadily honed her craft. “As I improved, I began sharing my work on social media, and the encouragement I received was very heartening,” she remembers. Soon, she started making and distributing calendars with different themes each year. “When I saw people appreciating and supporting them year after year, it further boosted my confidence. In many ways, art brought back some colour into my life,” she says.

Eventually, Ramachandran got to display her art at the Chitrasanthe Art Exhibition organized by the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, where she met other artists with disabilities. She was touched by how each brought lived realities and experiences to the canvas, creating diversity in the art.

A painting by Sravani Ramachandran. Courtesy: Sravani Ramachandran.

“I met a visually impaired artist who exhibited her work. The fact that someone who has never seen colours still chose to express herself through art deeply moved me,” says Ramachandran. “I also met artists with autism and Down syndrome who created beautiful works despite their challenges. They didn't feel bound by conventional styles or colour choices. Instead, they used bright colours, figurative forms, and intricate details with remarkable freedom and creativity.”

Above all, Ramachandran was inspired by how the artists did not let their afflictions hinder their art. But they lacked a forum. “I realised there weren't many platforms that showcase their talents. Thus, I teamed up with my sister and a few friends to form the non-profit Pragathi,” Ramachandran says. Beginning life as a collective of 12 artists, Pragathi has since blossomed into a thriving community of over 50 artists.

Over the last few years, Pragathi has organized ‘Art from the Heart’, an annual exhibition that exclusively showcases art from differently abled artists. “Having lived with disability myself, I’ve always believed it should never limit expression or opportunity. The idea behind these exhibitions is simple—to give talented artists with disabilities the kind of visibility and platform they deserve,” Ramachandran says.

The first edition of the 'Art from the Heart' exhibition organized by Pragathi. Photo Courtesy: Sravani Ramachandran.

Its fourth edition, held in April this year at the Devaraj Urs Gallery in Bengaluru, featured 53 artists and was attended by over 350 people. The exhibition also makes art more inclusive, gives artists visibility and provides a platform for doing business. This year’s edition saw 69 artworks being sold and multiple commission requests being made.

Ramachandran hopes the exhibitions also help change mindsets. “The minute people see someone with a disability, they feel sorry. It should not be about sympathy, but about looking beyond the disability as the defining identity and celebrating talent,” she asserts.

Ramachandran says Pragathi’s recent collaborations with malls have received encouraging responses, helping their art reach larger, more diverse audiences. While she hopes to connect with corporates for greater reach and bigger support systems, Ramachandran wishes to extend a helping hand to aspiring artists in rural areas.

A showcase by an artist with polio, speech and hearing impairments. The most recent 'Art from the Heart' exhibition featured 53 artists. Photo Courtesy: Sravani Ramachandran.

“Incredible talent resides in villages, but they often remain unseen due to lack of access and visibility. I want to help bring their work to wider audiences,” she hopes, adding, “My dream is for Pragathi to become more than an exhibition platform, but a movement that creates visibility, recognition and livelihood for artists with disabilities.”

On a personal front, Ramachandran says her journey with Pragathi has given her renewed purpose and fulfilment. “After my accident, I struggled with difficult existential questions. I often compared myself to peers who seemed far ahead of me. It was emotionally challenging at times. But starting Pragathi slowly changed my perspective. Perhaps my journey had taken a different path for a reason, to help create better visibility and opportunities for artists with disabilities and encourage people to look beyond limitations. That sense of purpose kept me going,” she says.

Ramachandran’s story shows how stumbling blocks can become stepping stones—not just for those who fell, but for those like them. It also shows how passionate people can unite to fight adversity and exclusion, giving credence to the adage that strength lies in unity.

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