The project started in December 2003 when we felt the need to intervene in the deteriorating condition of the Bharatapuzha, (River Nila) in Kerala, India. What was once the life line of Kerala is today a decaying, depleting river. It is out of concern for River Nila, the erosion of the river banks, the dilution of its culture, neglect and diminishing of its resources, that the initiative was started.
We wanted to provide a common platform for those who are concerned about rivers in general and River Nila in particular. As part of the initiative we networked with various musicians, folklorists, ritualists and craftspersons in the locality to document rare rituals, art forms, handicrafts and bring in a sustainable income. This initiative alone has won more than 15 national and international recognitions.

This is an initiative to identify local story tellers who are passionate, knowledgeable and seek information about their locality. Their interests vary from legends to folklore to history to current affairs. They are people with specific interest in art, crafts or biodiversity, to name a few. These story tellers are identified through crowd-sourcing campaigns, both online and offline.
Story tellers could be students, teachers, policemen, lawyers, housewives, electricians or plumbers! It doesn't matter who they are, but what matters is how passionate and knowledgeable they are about their area. The knack to converse effectively in English is a must. Currently they hold meetings twice a month to share new stories collected, and they will soon be working closely with the Open Street Map communities.

This was started in 2006 with the idea of bringing attention to the musicians of Mulayankaavu near Angadipuram in Kerala. Due to various caste practices, these musicians were side-lined. In partnership with Njaralathu Hari Govindan, we set up an initiative called Musical trail that showcases the musical tradition on the banks of River Nila.
The initiative received a lot of attention from national and international media and travellers. Renowned publications like Deccan Herald, The Hindu, Outlook Travellers, Outlook Business, The Guardian (UK), BBC World, Conde Nast Traveller featured these musicians for the first time. This experiment led to Hari Govindan launching a permanent campus for music as a memorial for his father...