"Knowledge in Exile" is a poignant non-fiction film that critiques the colonial legacy of India's education system through abstract visual storytelling. The film uses the process of pottery as a central metaphor, comparing a child’s mind to raw clay. As the potter’s hands mold the clay, the film explores how a child’s natural curiosity and creativity are shaped—and often constrained—by the rigid structures of formal education. The spinning wheel becomes a visual parallel to the cyclical, factory-like mechanisms of modern schooling, where students are treated as products rather than individuals.

Cinematic comparisons between classrooms and industrial factories are interspersed with voiceovers highlighting symbolic references to conformity, suppression, and lost potential. Excerpts from Shashi Tharoor’s speech critique the current system, discussing its roots and its failure to foster critical thinking or innovation. The narrative shifts toward hope, suggesting reforms that prioritize holistic and child-centric education.

Through evocative visuals and a powerful soundscape, "Knowledge in Exile" calls for a reimagined system that nurtures children’s individuality and creativity, blending traditional wisdom with modern knowledge. The film urges society to break free from colonial-era constraints and embrace an education system designed for liberation, not subjugation.