Keelvenmani, 1968 by Still Scape Studio in Chennai

This mixed-media painting is a tribute to the victims of the Keelvenmani Massacre (1968), one of the darkest chapters in India's history of caste violence and agrarian injustice. The artwork reflects the pain of forty-four Dalit agricultural laborers, including women and children, who lost their lives when they were trapped inside a hut that was deliberately set on fire during their struggle for fair wages and dignity. At the center of the composition stands a solitary doorway, symbolizing both hope and entrapment—a threshold that promised escape but instead became a witness to unimaginable loss. Behind it, a mound of intertwined human forms evokes the collective suffering of the victims, emphasizing that each life was part of a larger struggle against systemic oppression. The deep red background represents the flames that consumed the hut, while also symbolizing bloodshed, grief, and the enduring fight for justice. The foreground is covered with paddy grains, a powerful reminder that the victims were agricultural workers whose labor sustained society, yet whose lives were denied equality and basic human rights. The sculptural elements emerging from the grains reinforce the human cost hidden behind the pursuit of economic and social justice. Through symbolism, texture, and color, the painting transforms a historical tragedy into a space of remembrance and reflection. It urges viewers not only to mourn the lives lost but also to confront the realities of caste discrimination, labor exploitation, and the importance of preserving the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of dignity and equality.