Artist Davinder Kaur making social impact through art

In a quiet classroom at BCM School, Ludhiana, where she teaches by day, Davinder Kaur is more than just an art educator, she is a painter with a purpose, using her craft to inspire society and create social change.

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Her story is a vivid tapestry of dedication, talent and a fierce commitment to social change — qualities that once caught the eye of none other than the late President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

It was in 2014, during Dr Kalam’s visit to BCM School in Ludhiana, that Davinder Kaur seized the moment to present him with a hand-drawn portrait, an artwork that resonated so deeply with the former President that he later invited her to his residence.

“When I received the call inviting me to Dr Kalam’s residence, I was overwhelmed. It felt surreal that a humble portrait drawn with admiration had reached the heart of such a great visionary. That moment reaffirmed my belief that art, when created with sincerity, can truly transcend boundaries,” she says.

“Meeting Dr Kalam was not just a personal honour, it was a moment that affirmed the power of art to connect and inspire,” she recalls. Today, her portrait of Dr Kalam stands proudly on display at the Rameshwaram Library, a testament to the bridge she built between art and national legacy.

But Davinder’s work stretches far beyond portraits of leaders. With her brush as her voice, she paints on issues like dowry, child labour, drug addiction, women’s empowerment and education for the girl child. Each canvas is not merely art, it is a conversation, a mirror held up to society.

“Art has the power to question, to comfort and to spark change. I paint not for galleries, but for the people,” says Davinder.

Rather than selling her pieces, Davinder donates her artworks to public places like schools, hospitals, and community centres, believing that visual dialogue in shared spaces can stir greater awareness.

“If even one person stops and reflects on the message, that’s success to me,” she says with a warm smile.In a world often consumed by commercial success, Davinder Kaur chooses a path of social impact.