Our Story

Roots and Colours was born from a deeply personal place. When I lost my older brother to cancer, art became a way for me to cope—something I turned to when words weren't enough. Coloring and drawing helped me process emotions I didn't know how to name. That experience inspired me to create something for other children, especially those in rural parts of India, who might need a quiet space to feel, express, and heal.

The idea is simple: free coloring books filled with scenes from everyday village life—rice fields, Jallikattu bulls, temple towers, Kurinji flowers, local festivals—all printed on recycled paper. The pages include both Tamil and English captions so kids can build early literacy in a way that feels natural and fun. Every drawing is made to be colored freely, encouraging self-expression and pride in their surroundings.

Roots and Colours is designed to be low-cost, eco-friendly, and easy to share with schools and families who may not have access to creative materials. It blends emotional support with cultural connection, turning simple drawings into tools for learning, storytelling, and belonging. At its heart, this project is about giving kids the same safe space that art once gave me

The Problem

Rural Tamil Nadu children face overlapping barriers: 58% of homes lack internet, only 35% of schools have working computer labs, and many families can't afford educational materials. Most learning resources feel disconnected from village life—using examples that don't reflect rice fields, temple festivals, or kolam designs.

The Design

Roots and Colours features 20 pages of Tamil Nadu village scenes: rice fields, Jallikattu bulls, temple towers, Kurinji flowers, local festivals. Each book includes crayons and is printed on recycled paper.

Left pages: Black-and-white sketches with Tamil-English captions for vocabulary building.

Right pages: Creative prompts asking children to design or reimagine concepts—encouraging critical thinking beyond passive coloring.

Cost per book: ₹18–22 ($0.22–$0.27), including crayons

Why It Works

Research validates the approach. Oxford's Blavatnik School found a 15% improvement in emotional control among 10,000 Tamil Nadu students through art programs. NalandaWay and ASER Centre showed that low resource students perform better with hands-on, locally relatable activities.

The bilingual format supports India's National Education Policy 2020 emphasis on mother-tongue learning. Beyond academics, art provides therapeutic value for children facing grief, poverty, or social exclusion.

Distribution Strategy

Phase 1: 200 books across 3 villages (pilot + feedback collection)

Phase 2: 5,000 books across 20 villages (proven model + partnerships)

Phase 3: 20,000+ books statewide (NGO collaboration + CSR funding)