Clothing Dreams, Colouring Lives: Jaipur’s “Street Mama” Continues Her Mission Through Art
JAIPUR/NEW DELHI — In a world where success is often measured by wealth and recognition, Manan Chaturvedi chose a different path. Trained as a fashion designer and recognised as an accomplished painter, she could have built a career designing for the privileged. Instead, she devoted her life to children abandoned by society, becoming a mother figure to 127 boys and girls through Jaipur-based Surman Sansthan.
Now, she is once again using art to support that mission. On June 30 and July 1, 2026, Manan will undertake a 24-hour non-stop live painting marathon at Palika Bazar (Gate No. 6), Connaught Place, New Delhi, raising awareness against child labour while generating support for underprivileged children.
One Child Changed Everything
Born in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, Manan grew up in Jaipur, where she completed her education before studying fashion design in Delhi. Even as a child, she was drawn towards helping those in need, often sharing toys, food and clothes with underprivileged children.
The defining moment came unexpectedly while crossing a road in Jaipur. She noticed an abandoned child. Without hesitation, she brought the child home. That single act would eventually shape the course of her life.
In January 1998, she founded Surman Sansthan, which today provides shelter, education, healthcare, nutrition and emotional support to abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable children.
According to the organisation, the home currently cares for around 127 children, while more than 750 children have been reunited with their families over the years through rehabilitation efforts.
A Home Built on Sacrifice
Running such an institution has never been easy.
Whenever resources became scarce, Manan says she sold her jewellery to ensure the children never went hungry. The organisation shifted between rented premises several times, facing financial uncertainty and logistical challenges.
Despite these hardships, Surman Sansthan continued to grow.
The children affectionately call her “Mama”, and she lives alongside them with her own three children, creating what many visitors describe as a large extended family rather than a conventional shelter home.
Beyond Charity: Child Rights Advocacy
Manan’s work extends well beyond providing shelter.
As former Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, she has campaigned extensively against child labour, trafficking and exploitation through public awareness programmes, theatre, educational campaigns and community outreach.
Initiatives such as “Manan – The Voice of Children,” “Angel of Love,” and “Yes I Am” have focused on ensuring that vulnerable children find education, protection and dignity instead of life on the streets.
Her message remains consistent:
Every child deserves a family, an education and the opportunity to dream.
When Art Becomes Activism
Perhaps what distinguishes Manan most is the way she combines creativity with social commitment.
Known among admirers as “Rangreza”—the one who fills life with colours—she uses marathon painting sessions lasting 24, 48 and even 72 hours to raise awareness and generate funds for the children.
Her paintings are created before live audiences and later sold, with proceeds supporting education, healthcare and the daily needs of the children living at Surman Sansthan.
For Manan, every canvas serves a purpose beyond aesthetics—it becomes a source of hope.
Delhi to Witness a 24-Hour Painting Marathon
Beginning on June 30, visitors to Palika Bazar, Gate No. 6, Connaught Place, will witness Manan painting continuously for 24 hours as part of a campaign against child labour and in support of vulnerable children.
The event combines art, public participation and social awareness, encouraging visitors not only to appreciate the creative process but also to contribute to the cause.
Manan credits her husband, senior journalist Surinder Chaturvedi, their three children and her dedicated team for standing beside her throughout this journey.
Recognition and the Road Ahead
Over nearly three decades, Manan’s work has earned several honours, including the Prof. Yeshwantrao Kelkar Youth Award (2011) and the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Award (2017).
Yet, she says her biggest achievement remains seeing abandoned children grow into educated, confident and independent adults.
Surman Sansthan is now working towards building a larger campus on Jaipur’s Sikar Road, envisioned to eventually accommodate up to 1,200 children. The ambitious project continues to depend on public support, donations and proceeds from art exhibitions.
More Than Paintings
For Manan Chaturvedi, painting is not merely an artistic expression—it is a means of changing lives.
Every brushstroke represents another opportunity for a child to receive education, healthcare and a safe home.
As she prepares for another 24-hour painting marathon in Delhi, visitors will witness far more than an endurance performance. They will see an artist who transformed compassion into a lifelong mission.
Her canvases tell stories of resilience, belonging and hope—reminding us that the greatest masterpieces are sometimes created not in galleries, but in the lives we help rebuild.
