WE INVITE YOU TO EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GROWING RANGE OF PROGRAMMES, COLLABORATIONS, AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES TAKING SHAPE ACROSS THE SCHOOL. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW OUR PODCAST THAT CAPTURES STORIES, REFLECTIONS, AND JOURNEYS THAT EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
Scan the QR Code below or visit isc.asbindia.org
NIRMAN, MEANING CREATION, INVITES VIEWERS TO TRACE THE LAYERED STORY OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURE BY CLOSELY OBSERVING ITS MATERIALS, FORMS, AND INSPIRATIONS.
This exhibition highlights how builders across regions have relied on vernacular knowledge—drawing on materials such as mud, stone, timber, and bamboo—to create structures that respond thoughtfully to place.
From the stilted houses of the Northeast, the carved windows of Rajasthan, the sloping roofs adapted to Himalayan snowfall, or the open verandahs that line coastal homes, each form reveals an interplay of environmental adaptation and cultural expression.
This inquiry invites the viewer to consider how Indian architectural traditions evolved through encounters with the Mughal, Dutch, Portuguese, British, and others. These exchanges have layered new techniques and aesthetics onto existing foundations, resulting in the hybrid and diverse architectural language visible across India today.
www.asbindia.org
Building culture, perspective, and empathy through host country connections
MYSORE PALACE, BUILT BETWEEN 1897 TO 1912. INDO-SARACENIC STYLE, ITS DOMES, ARCHES, AND GRAND HALLS BLEND INDIAN AND EUROPEAN INFLUENCES.
Welcome to the India Sanskriti Center at American School of Bombay
As the India Sanskriti Center’s engagement with the community continues to evolve, its identity is further clarified. A major focus of this year’s work has been to expand collaborative partnerships and ground cultural engagements in authentic relationships. We have seen an increased number of local experts, partner institutions, and philosophically aligned organizations contributing to the experiences that sit at the heart of the Center’s work, fostering a spirit of deep connection and mutual benefit.
Within the school, we have been intentional about strengthening departmental partnerships to ensure sustained collaboration. This means looking both at places to connect to the existing curriculum as well as opportunities to create cornerstone experiences that anchor student learning in the Indian context. Several legacy projects that celebrate Indian heritage, such as crafts, traditional medicine, music, and literature, have broadened how and why students make connections between their learning and their environment. Thank you for your ongoing support of and commitment to this strategic initiative.
Dr. Jennifer Swinehart
Deputy Head of School
BIG IDEA
The India Sanskriti Center emerges as both a physical and virtual space to deepen roots, encourage empathy, and build connections for members of the American School of Bombay community with our host country. The Center will extend local networks, positively influence our curriculum and programs, and promote the development of global citizenship mindsets for students and adults alike. Through experiences ranging from introductory to immersive, the India Sanskriti Center will expand knowledge and nurture attitudes that celebrate India’s rich heritage, culture, and languages.
2025–2026 PROGRAM UPDATES
Architecture, as an overarching theme for the academic year, was integrated into classrooms across grades and into the community at large. We hosted walks, experiences with external experts and unit-based interventions where relevant. In our programming approach, we focused on building meaningful, sustainable relationships with local partners—key contributors to the city’s cultural landscape, including Citizens’ Archive of India, Art and Wonderment, Alt Eff Film Festival, Gillo Theatre Company, Kahani Tree Children’s Book Store, Art Deco Mumbai, Bhau Daji Lad Museum and more.
2025–2026 India Sanskriti Center Collaborations
ICOMMONS
In alignment with this year’s Book Week theme, Read India, Love India, we collaborated with iCommons to curate meaningful literary engagements. This included interactions with local authors, a play performance and the setting up of a pop-up bookstore in partnership with a local children’s bookshop, a first at ASB.
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our ongoing partnership with Community and Social Responsibility continued to deepen through multiple initiatives. We hosted a year-long Middle School club where students worked with museum educators and archivists to learn oral history skills and document stories from the ASB community. We also collaborated on podcast episodes highlighting CSR journeys through individual student projects and stories from the community.
DESIGN TECHNOLGY
We worked closely with the Middle and High School Design Technology through the year, curating field trips and expert interactions to explore Architecture, Urban Planning and Design. We also worked closely during SOLVE to curate a rich series of workshops and engagements centered on this year’s theme of Connected Compassionate Communities.
SCIENCE
We hosted a day-long Middle School film festival in partnership with the international environmental film festival, ALT EFF, creating an interdisciplinary platform for learning and discussion.
PERFORMING ARTS
We hosted a professional theatre production at school for Grades 1 to 3, marking the first time a professional play was staged for elementary students at ASB. We also collaborated on the ASIAC Music Festival, bringing local musicians and experts into the school community. Additionally, we hosted author and musician Pratyush Gupta, who engaged Grade 3 students through an awardwinning book, ‘Swarpeti’ on Hindustani classical music.
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
We ran a year-long parent club, Discovery Mumbai, designed to explore the city through curated walks focused on heritage and intangible cultural practices.
STAFF ENGAGEMENT
We curated regular opportunities for staff to attend theatre performances and film screenings, take part in curated walks, and attend an indigenous food festival.
WELLBEING
As part of our wellbeing initiatives, we continued to grow an edible garden of local flora, encouraging care and connection with nature and traditional medicine.
SECONDARY SCHOOL CAMPUS SPACES
At the Secondary School Campus, we began expanding the Sanskriti Centre’s reach by creatively using existing spaces for displays and interactive experiences.
