NEW :: ISC WEBSITE
Explore the newly launched website.
WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE ISC WEBSITE, A DEDICATED SPACE TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CENTER’S EVOLVING JOURNEY AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF ASB’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
This platform will serve as a virtual window into our exhibitions, provide updates on ongoing programs, and grow into an archive of work that explores and celebrates our host country.
We invite the ASB community to visit and engage with the site often. Whether you’re exploring a current exhibition from afar or catching up on past events, we hope this space becomes a meaningful way for you to stay connected with the India Sanskriti Center and the vibrant and dynamic culture of India.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO BEGIN EXPLORING ISC.ASBINDIA.ORG
EXHIBITION :: SPRING 2025
Tales in Textiles— Dyeing, Embroidery, Printing, & Weaving
TALES IN TEXTILES INVITES YOU TO LOOK BEYOND THE FABRIC TO DISCOVER THE LAYERED HISTORIES, LIVED EXPERIENCES, AND EVOLVING NARRATIVES THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE ARTISTRY OF INDIAN TEXTILES TODAY.
This exhibition highlights the intricate craftsmanship passed down through generations, connecting us to the traditions flourishing across India’s many states.
From the vibrant handlooms of Gujarat to the luxurious silks of Varanasi, from the delicate embroidery of Kashmir to the bold block prints of Rajasthan, each region preserves a legacy intricately woven with its history, rituals, and landscapes. Through DYEING , EMBROIDERY , PRINTING and WEAVING , this exhibition traces how textile traditions serve as storytellers— echoing the past while threading new meanings into India’s contemporary cultural fabric.
Motifs lie at the heart of this storytelling. Whether the paisley (ambi), sacred florals, or geometric symmetry, these symbols have journeyed through time, carrying histories of migration, devotion, and resistance. Each textile speaks its own language, shaped by the hands of artisans who have safeguarded these traditions for centuries.
Beyond their aesthetic beauty, these textiles are repositories of identity and cultural memory.
www.asbindia.org
Building culture, perspective, and empathy through host country connections
Using a bamboo or date-palm stick as a pen (kalam), the artisan carefully outlines motifs with natural dyes. Kalamkari is a painted and block-printed textile art from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Welcome to the India Sanskriti Center at American School of Bombay
Now entering its second year of operations, the American School of Bombay’s India Sanskriti Center is a key pillar of our strategic agenda in establishing host country connections within our community. As the India Sanskriti Center’s physical space has evolved into a truly flexible and integrated exhibition area, even more impactful have been the many ways it has supported the teaching and learning programs for Elementary, Middle, and High School students.
Our school’s commitment to providing opportunities for students, staff, and parents to explore the many facets of Indian culture and, in the process, to learn about their own unique identity remains steadfast. We believe that the India Sanskriti Center is a meaningful and important window into this exploration, encouraging and inspiring each of us to be curious, open-minded, and reflective. Thank you for engaging with this current exhibition and to supporting the work of the India Sanskriti Center in the months and years ahead.
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.
Dr. Jennifer Swinehart Deputy Head of School
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the India Sanskriti Center has focused on catalyzing inter-departmental collaborations to the forefront through the lens of host-country connections.
COMMUNITY
& SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
The Grade 4/5 Multi-age students engaged in a CSR project with students from NGO partner Mumbai Mobile Creche. This collaboration was shaped in response to the NGO’s interest in exploring puppetry, with students taking a deep dive into the world of Avatars from Indian Mythology and puppet-making techniques.
SCIENCE
Grade 8 science students explored the cultural history and scientific properties of organic dyes used in Indian textile traditions, with classes focusing on the science behind dyes—their sources, reactions, and applications—and highlighting how natural dyes have long been central to Indian textile practices. The Grade 8 students then took the lead in sharing their learning with Grade 6 and 7 peers. Together, students dyed fabrics using iconic dyes from India like Indigo and Madar and experimented with techniques such as batik and tie-dye (bandhani).
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
Grade 4/5 Multi-age students immersed themselves in research and hands-on explorations around the study of motifs found in Indian textiles. Building on their discoveries, they used an iPad-based design app to translate motifs into digital models, which were then brought to life through 3D printing. This interdisciplinary experience bridged cultural understanding with design thinking and technology.
WELLBEING AND NUTRITION
Our horticulture department planted a patch of medicinal plants in our garden. Rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, the focus was on species commonly used in Ayurveda, such as the Blue Pea flower and Hibiscus. We explored how to dry these blooms safely for consumption to prepare herbal teas. This growing effort aims to deepen our community’s understanding of the relationship between plants, well-being, and traditional medicinal practices.
PERFORMING ARTS
Middle and High School band students explored Indian music-inspired compositions as part of their school concert repertoire. This journey was enriched by visits from expert musicians who introduced students to traditional instruments, rhythmic structures, and the cultural roots of the pieces they were performing. In Elementary School, students continued exploring Indian performing arts through songs in Indic languages.
ASIAC ARTS FESTIVAL, MIDDLE SCHOOL
ASB hosted this year’s ASIAC Arts Festival, shaping a rich, locally-rooted experience for participants. With the festival theme centered around light, we curated a series of immersive activities that offered students meaningful connections to the cultural landscape of Mumbai. This included a guided street walk through a heritage locality in the city, exploring its architecture, stories, and street art, local museum visits to engage with light-based art installations and gain inspiration from contemporary and traditional expressions of the theme, and the creation of kandils—colorful sky lanterns traditionally used during Diwali in Maharashtra.
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS
Across the Elementary School, several concept-based interventions have been rooted in the Indian cultural context and aligned with each grade’s Unit of Inquiry. These have been closely tied to the Sanskriti Center’s ongoing exhibition and curricular explorations throughout the year. We have identified core concepts within the curriculum—such as production processes, identity, community, and sustainability—and invited experts to facilitate workshops and share their experiences.
PARENT COMMUNITY
A group of parents participated in a curated trip to Baroda, an experience designed to offer an authentic glimpse into the region’s vibrant traditions. Centered around the festive season of Garba, participants had the opportunity to connect with Baroda’s unique artistic and historical identity through a range of experiences that included visits to heritage sites, local artisan studios, and cultural performances.
