NEW DELHI: A mural painted for Tibetan Uprising Day earlier this month has sparked an evolving public art movement in Aruna Nagar, better known as Majnu Ka Tilla, a Tibetan refugee colony in North Delhi.What began as a single artwork near Gate No. 2, beside the Tibetan Children’s Village school pick-up point, has transformed a neglected stretch into a vibrant, cleaner space for residents, students and visitors. Walls have turned into canvases, carrying stories of identity, history and belonging.The initiative is led by Khadhok – Tibetan Artists’ Collective, founded by Lea, Tashi and Melak, in collaboration with Students for a Free Tibet Delhi. The first mural was supported by the International Campaign for Tibet, with the project expanding through community donations, volunteers and local encouragement.Ten artists, including Lobsang Soepa, Tenzin Olden, Cactus Tserma and Tenzin Tselha, worked across the site, painting scenes that connect past and present.“Thousands of people come to Majnu ka Tila every day… but most don’t know why there is a Tibetan colony here,” said Lea Taake, co-founder of Khadhok, who came from Germany to study in Dharamshala. “Through these murals, we want to make Tibetan history visible to everyone who passes by.”The non-profit project continues to grow, using public art to tell Tibetan stories while supporting contemporary Tibetan and Himalayan artists in Delhi.
