Over decades, Ahmedabad has nurtured artists: Mallika Sarabhai

Ahmedabad has always lived in a productive tension between memory and invention. It is a city of pols and start-ups, of handloom and high design, of prayer and protest. That duality has been its strength. Today, however, I feel we stand at an inflection point. We are more prosperous, more visible, more globally connected than ever before — but also, at times, more fragmented. The real question is not whether Ahmedabad will modernise; it already has. The question is whether it will modernise without losing its moral and cultural centre.

Institutions like Darpana Academy of Performing Arts were born in a time when art was inseparable from public purpose. That spirit was shaped profoundly by the presence of Mahatma Gandhi and visionaries like Vikram Sarabhai, who believed experimentation must walk hand-in-hand with ethics. Art, science and industry were not isolated silos; they were part of a shared civic imagination. Contemporary Ahmedabad still carries that legacy — but it must consciously choose to live it.

Over the decades, the city has nurtured artists by offering strong institutions, patronage, and an audience that understands rigour. At the same time, it has challenged us — pushing us to ask who we speak for and why. Increasingly, however, we must guard against confusing cultural consumption with cultural commitment. Being seen at an event is not the same as truly engaging with it. The arts require presence, listening and participation — not just attendance.

As our magnificent old city gains global recognition for its architecture, we must remember that heritage is not only brick and lime. It is language, craft, food traditions, neighbourhood solidarities, shared festivals, and everyday compassion. If we conserve buildings but lose our sense of collective responsibility, we will have preserved shells, not spirit.

Yet I remain hopeful. I see among young people a renewed concern for sustainability, equity, and social impact. There is a growing awareness that success without responsibility is hollow. On this Foundation Day, perhaps the most urgent conversation Ahmedabad must have with itself is this: Can we see ourselves not as fragments — divided by caste, religion or private ambition — but as part of one interconnected ecosystem? A city is not a collection of ‘own ships’; it is a shared voyage.

Ahmedabad’s greatest strength has always been its ability to balance enterprise with empathy. If we can reclaim that balance — combining innovation with inclusion, prosperity with compassion — then its future will not only be modern, but meaningful.