Artivism

A forum to enable meaningful exchange between grassroots-folk artists and state government administrators; designed not only to surface the lived realities, generational knowledge, and cultural contributions of artist communities, but also to sensitise the bureaucracy to their needs, rights, and systemic exclusions. The samwaads create space for collective dialogue, grievance redressal, and policy-level engagement.

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So far, we have facilitated over 20 such samwaads across states leading to tangible outcomes such as official identification for over 10,000 folk artists and artisans, improved access to entitlements like healthcare and education, and critical conversations around natural resource rights and cultural preservation.​​​

Storytelling is as old as humanity itself, a way to entertain, educate, and pass down intergenerational knowledge. This digital storytelling series, hosted by activist Shiv Nayal, brings together stories from across cultures, movements and time periods.

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Blending folklore, history, and social commentary, the project aims to nurture imagination, spark dialogue, and revive the timeless power of oral storytelling, especially for younger audiences. With over 35 years of experience in child rights, Shivji brings deep care and wisdom to every tale.

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A forum that centres music as politics, memory, and healing - situated in Mehrauli, one of Delhi’s oldest living settlements, where centuries of coexistence are echoing through Sufi shrines, Mughal ruins, and everyday streets. A place where cultural syncretism quietly endures, Mehrauli is offering the perfect ground for an intervention rooted in collective memory and radical love.

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We gather to sing of love, loss, longing, and belonging - to hold space for dialogue, reflection, and the quiet power of connection.
At Ek Potlee Ret Ki, music is not just expression, it is resistance: a way to challenge dominant narratives and reclaim space through sound.

A powerful journey of artistic and personal reclamation by master puppeteer Ramlal Bhatt. The project revives the traditional string puppetry of the Natt community, an art form he once personally rejected due to the caste-based stigma attached to it. Through storytelling, travel, and mentorship, Ramlal reconnects with his roots, documents community knowledge, and brings forgotten puppets and narratives back to life.

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This project also carries forward the final research vision of the late activist-thespian Tripurari Sharma, whose work on Amar Singh Rathore forms the narrative heart of the performance.

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A groundbreaking YouTube series where Ramlal Bhatt’s puppets take centre stage as sharp-tongued storytellers, unpacking erased histories, complex social structures, and urgent political questions. With wit, poignancy, and a gender non-conforming persona, the puppets host bold conversations with a wide range of guests, from grassroots artists to policymakers.

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Ab Bolegi Katputhli reimagines traditional puppetry as a space for dissent, reflection, and dialogue; amplifying voices and stories that are too often ignored, misunderstood, or silenced.

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