Vratya Foundation®
Creating cultural content on India that is Affordable, Accessible and Digestible
The Team
Kush Dhebar
Founder, Director
Kush is an Archaeologist and K-12 Educator who has close to a decade worth of experience in Teaching and Research. He began his professional Journey as Teach For India Fellow in 2011 in Seelampur where he taught 29 3rd Grade students. He attained his PhD in Ancient Indian Culture, History and Archaeology from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. His research interests lie in Archaeology and Anthropology of Sports, Martial Arts and Warfare, Archaeology and Anthropology of Religions, Landscape Archaeology, Art and Architecture, Epigraphy and Palaeography, Linguistics, Numismatics, Art History, Ethnography and Ethno-archaeology, Public Archaeology, Understanding by Design and Pedagogical Models.
Sambhav
Illustrator
Sambhav specializes in Concept, Story Board and Comic Art. He dabbles with 2D/3D Animation and Motion Graphics as well. He has worked on multiple assignments with Patchwork Comics (Michigan), Diamond Comics and Pratilipi Comics. He also worked as a story board artist for Drishyam Studios on the music video of Rangarejiya and worked as a story board artist for movies like Samrat Prithviraj and Jayeshbhai Jordaar.
Kamaljit
Illustrator
Kamaljit is a self-taught Illustrator, Concept Artist and a Video Editor. He likes making realistic and semi realistic characters and landscapes. He is well versed in Adobe Creative Suit and Clip Studio Paint. He has done freelance projects with Vratya Foundation, Alohomora Education Foundation and Virart Studio.
Our Impact
Impact Assessment Brief
300 copies were distributed among the students between the age group of 15-21 years of age. They were asked simple Yes or No questions and descriptive questions. Apart from that, 60 copies were distributed among various subject matter experts and organizations that are in the field of Culture and Education. To understand the commercial viability, some copies were sold on e-commerce platforms, through word of mouth, at Indie Comix Fest and at the Malligi Hotel, Hampi.
Purpose of Vratya Foundation®
Vratya Foundation is a Registered Section 8 Company, with a purpose to foster Cultural Intelligence or Culture Quotient among Indian children and youth through creating Cultural Content and Resources that are Accessible, Affordable and Digestible.
Bisnaga: A Legacy Etched in Stone Brief
Bisnaga is a graphic novel, which was the pilot project of the Vratya Foundation. The book is a story of Hampi and the Vijayanagara Empire from the study of the Sculptures, Architecture and the first-hand Portuguese visitors’ accounts. The Portuguese pronounced and wrote Vijayanagara as Bisnaga and since the story is predominantly based on the sculptural schemes of Hampi, it is titled A Legacy Etched in Stone. The author of this story is Kush Dhebar, who happens to be the Founder and Director of Vratya Foundation too. Kush has done his PhD on the sculptures of Vijayanagara Monuments in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The lead illustrator of the book is Kamaljeet Singh, who is a self-taught artist.
Our Partners
