Mighty Margins: An exhibition celebrating the resilience of marginalised communities by Ashoka Law for All

Candid vulnerabilities, lived experiences, and the sheer strength of the marginalised communities are the key qualities that connect the pieces in ‘Mighty Margins’ exhibition. This exhibition was curated by Meghana Parik and organised by Ashoka Law for All..All 18 artists and organisations combined are renowned in the field of social justice. The exhibition exhibited works from renowned organisations like SAHMAT and international artists like Veer Munshi and Katayoun Karami, who have exhibited their work across the globe. The exhibition also saw much acclaimed works from artists like Siddhesh Gautam, Ajinkya Dekhane, Shrujana Shridhar, Jose, and Sonaksha. Each of these works explored marginalisation in their own unique way shaped by their personal experiences. These pieces collectively drove home the grave compounding nature of intersectional marginalisation on the basis of gender, caste, disability, and history. Mighty Margins was conceptualised with the view of ‘Everyone a Changemaker’ movement. Also, keeping in mind that social innovations and social movements are borne and led by a community of artists, activists, lawyers, civil society actors, academics, and the marginalised community itself. This exhibition was a celebration of this very fact..Ajinkya Dekhane, Shrujana Shridhar, and Siddhesh’s works educate you on how Dalit rights movement took form and shape. They bring life to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s visions and offer an alternative that the future doesn’t have to be unjust. Poignant pieces like ‘Rama Bhimrao Ambedkar’ by Ajinkya Dekhane explored the sheer resilience of Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar and how she was the driving force behind transformation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar from Bhima to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. ‘Dalit Panthers’ by Shrujana Shridhar was another piece which brought back the happenings of 29 August 1972 to the forefront, where Sadhna Press members were threatened for publishing ‘Black Independence Day’ by Raja Dhale, an account of the sexual harassment suffered by a Buddhist woman in Brahamangaon village in Parbhani district. Shrujana’s artwork celebrates the resilience of ‘the Panthers’ (Raja Dhale, J.V. Pawar and Namadeo Dhasal). On the other hand, Siddhesh Gautam’s piece Dalit Lives Matter drew parallels between Black Rights Movement and Dalit Rights Movement..Pieces by Sonaksha, Jose, Katayoun Karami, and Veer Munshi explored other intersecting forms of marginalisation on the basis of identity, gender, and disability. Katayoun Karami’s ‘The Next Edition’ brings back historical oppression based on gender in Iran, but also drive home the fact that the history hasn’t stopped repeating itself. Sonaksha pieces gave a scope into what inclusion can look like, when people take account of gender, identity, and disability, while Jose’s pieces recounted how COVID-19 response and recovery programmes infringed the rights of marginalised communities..The exhibition also explored projection artwork from Mantis Shrimp Creative x Jasan Waldura. Interactive projections based on data from India Justice Report, Oxfam Report mapped how each Indian state fared when it comes to justice delivery, and other relevant rule of law statistics..The artworks weren’t just limited to paintings, projections, there were also exhibits of zines, columns, and featured comics from Pen Pencil Draw, Justicemakers by Agami, Acode by Digital Empowerment Foundation pertaining to the marginalised communities’ fight against historic grave injustices..The exhibition also hosted a session between Siddhesh Gautam who goes by a popular Instagram handle (@bakeryprasad) and Nikita Sonavane, Founder, Criminal Justice, and Police Accountability Project on activism as pertinent social innovations, and how art has surfaced to be a poignant social innovation when it comes to movement building and furthering everyone a changemaker movement.“The society still follows untouchability in other forms, by restricting marginalised communities to their marginalisation status, and not treating them as equals. There are different nuances even in a particular marginalised community. My community cannot be limited to one blue flag. Our single blue colour can have so many variations, beyond one’s imagination. However, I am very hopeful that a time will come when every human will be treated the same way” -Siddhesh Gautam (@bakeryprasad).“To see a man who belongs to one of the most oppressed communities (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar) in a suit and tie—wants you to push yourself and do better. That is what justice is. Suffering is not a praxis; idea isn’t that everybody suffers. The praxis is that everybody can live the life they want to live. Our idea of justice is aspirational. And through your work, Siddhesh I see what those aspirations and possibilities, even in the light of forces that are working against these very aspirations”- Nikita Sonavane, Founder, Criminal Justice, and Police Accountability Project.“This exhibition was curated with the intention of showcasing that law and justice also ensue outside of courtrooms, and legal doctrines. There is beauty in the candour in which the angst against injustices is channelled through artistic expressions. These artworks are bound to move you. They give you a front seat view into accounts of historic injustices that have plagued communities. The resilience of these communities will amaze you, and inspire you—they are the MIGHTY MARGINS”- Meghana Parik..The poster design and signage were designed by Something Sketchy.