Mumbai: Datri Foundation was born out of passion for India's rich heritage, culture and ancient, traditional knowledge systems. Shedding light on the Foundation's motive, Katyayani Agarwal — Founder, Datri Foundation, said, “The endeavour is to conserve, revive, save and also disseminate information about the invaluable wealth of India and empowering the communities especially the women involved in them. Reviving, restoring, skilling, empowering families, communities and regions.”
The other members of the core committee of the Foundation are Chetna Khanna, Alok Agarwal, Vaibhav Dalmiya and Kartikeya Agarwal.
From supporting lesser known performing arts and traditions to keeping our heritage alive, the Foundation has been doing its bit in whatever way possible. During the Covid pandemic, the Foundation has been helping artistes, skill centres by providing them with monetary assistance during the pandemic. “We have created an Oxygen Concentrator Library in Pune and Mumbai, where we lend the machine to anybody who needs it free of charge for as many days as required. We have distributed tablets to underprivileged school going children to help them with their online classes,” Agarwal shared.
The Foundation has been implemented various initiatives to provide aid to those belonging to performing arts. Speaking about their activities Agarwal says there will be a two-day online seminar on August 13 and 14 “to disseminate the knowledge about Sanjhi art in aid of all artists associated with the art”. This is being done in collaboration with and is funded by IGNCA, ministry of Culture Govt of India.
Post this, they will be conducting an online art auction for the Baul singers of West Bengal August 21. This will be followed up with training workshops for women to teach them the craft of making handmade paper and products.
On of the most important projects supported by Datri Foundation is the revival and development of the 700-year-old village of Kazipura, near Aurangabad. An INTACH project, the village has a very rich history linked to Mohammed Bin Tuglaq and the craft of handmade paper.
