New Delhi : Ashoka University, in collaboration with Helen Hamlyn Trust, has launched the InHERIT project to preserve and promote Indian cultural and natural heritage. Going beyond the normative formats such as documentaries on monuments, this student-led initiative is visually archiving and producing videos on memories, technê, and knowledge of various indigenous communities. It aims to build awareness and curiosity among the youth by bringing easily digestible episodes on local culinary practices, textiles, crafts, festivals, dance forms as well as natural artefacts. These episodes also feature experts like eminent historian Rana Safvi, naturalist Yuvan Aves, and MasterChef Season 5 contestant Sadaf Hussain.
For the project, the InHERIT team has travelled across the country, conducting primary research and documenting myriad indigenous traditions, practices, flora and fauna. This includes places such as Nilgiris, Sundarbans, Kaziranga, Mangalore, Paradip, Ramgarh and Jaisalmer. The First Season has episodes on the culinary and natural heritage of India.
“InHERIT aims to serve as a platform where individuals, especially our youth, can gain awareness about the nuances of India’s rich heritage and develop an appreciation for it over time. If it encourages them to return to their own spaces, recognize heritage in their daily lives, share their stories with us, and learn from each other, it would be a testament to its success. The project aspires to leave a lasting impact on its audience through authentic and creative presentations about the essence of India,” said Pramath Raj Sinha, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Ashoka University and Advisor, InHERIT Project.
“Our daily life is shaped by cultural traditions that we often take for granted. These carry deep underlying knowledge and purpose, yet they’re fading because we don’t fully recognize their significance, and because the custodians of these practices are disappearing. Heritage isn’t just something we inherit—it’s something we actively shape. The InHERIT project is about more than just preserving the past; it’s about ensuring that the rich, diverse knowledge systems that have guided us for centuries continue to inform and inspire future generations,” said Dharani Dhavamani, Project Leader, InHERIT.
In the opening episode (Sea of Mustard), Sadaf Hussain and Yuvan Aves discuss their obsession with food and nature, the genesis of cities, and etymology of dishes. The first podcast episode (The Story of Sundarbans) weaves stories about the natural heritage of the largest delta and mangrove forests of the world, featuring researcher Annu Jalais, author & photographer Arati Kumar-Rao, and entrepreneur Rajesh Kumar Shaw.
The upcoming episode is going to focus on the centuries-old culinary tradition of leaf-wrapped cooking, cherished in regions like Mangalore and Assam.
