Meet the 2025 GRANTEES
H A R U N A L R A S H I D
Harun Al Rashid is an artist based in Howrah, West Bengal. His practice grows from lived experience, memory, and the realities faced by marginalized communities today. Rooted in his cultural and familial history, his work responds to rising Islamophobia, caste violence, and the quiet erasure of identities. Using drawing, archival material, and personal testimony, Harun reflects on the gap between what is promised and what is lived. His practice is an act of remembering holding space for those unheard and unseen. Through gentle yet firm resistance, he continues to explore forms that speak of dignity, justice, and the refusal to forget.
A S H L I N S A R A P A U L
Ashlin (they/she) is a visual storyteller who works with graphic narratives, comics, and zines. They are combining textile and sculptural explorations as part of a mixed-media graphic anthology, documenting experiences of gender biases in healthcare and accessibility to public toilets, particularly by assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals and queer people. They facilitate community conversations and workshops on collective bookmaking to initiate the retelling of personal and unheard stories. They developed their practice as a project coordinator under India Foundation for the Arts (IFA). Ashlin completed MFA History of Art from Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, and MA English from EFLU Hyderabad.
A B H I D H A N I P H A D E
Abhidha Niphade, lawyer and founder of the ARUNA Education Foundation, works at the intersection of feminist legal studies, grassroots justice, and women’s agency in rural Maharashtra. Through ARUNA, she trains rural women as paralegals, community educators, and micro-entrepreneurs through stitching and quilting, integrating legal literacy with economic independence. As a Rafunaama Grantee, she will develop ARUNA Co-Create, a feminist textile-art initiative that transforms women lived experiences into tactile narratives. Through justice-themed textile artworks and participatory stitching circles with women from the informal sector, she explores activism through art, creating a collective archive of care, repair, and resilience.
SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION
A B H I S H E K K U M A R
Abhishek Kumar is a dedicated sportsperson and active learner with 6 years of experience in Archery. He has represented the Delhi team at the National level and is a National Medalist. Along with sports, he trains children in archery and believes in developing confidence, discipline, and positive thinking through sports. He is currently pursuing Graduation in Hindi Mass Media from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (Second Year). Abhishek aims to balance education and sports while contributing positively to society.
H A R I O M S R I V A S T A V
Hariom Srivastav is a young community educator, social worker, and emerging social entrepreneur who works as a bridge between communities, students, and organizations. His journey began with Yellow Streets, which he considers the foundation of his growth and learning. At Yellow Streets, he developed his skills in teaching, facilitation, curriculum development, and community coordination, and gained a deep understanding of social work and youth engagement. Alongside education, he explored the artistic field through Rafooghar, where he worked as a facilitator and enhanced his training in creative learning and hand embroidery. He believes art and storytelling are powerful tools for awareness and social change. With experience in project implementation, documentation, creative writing, and community programs, his work focuses on education, communication, artistic exploration, and building strong community relationships.
