Project Overview
This project is a multi-sensory time capsule dedicated to preserving the cultural memory of the Bhil and Bhilala tribes of Madhya Pradesh. Known for their vibrant storytelling, ritual practices, and deep connection to the land, these communities hold living knowledge that is at risk of quiet erasure. Rather than treating their heritage as static records, this project seeks to translate it into experiences that can be felt. Through soundscapes, scent, touch, and visual storytelling, we aim to create an archive where the rhythm of a Bhilala harvest song or the earthy fragrance of a Bhil festival become windows into a world often overlooked. Inspired by a decolonial approach to cultural documentation, this work places the community at the center, empowering them to narrate their own stories. It is not merely a record but a living, breathing memory — an invitation to experience tradition as something present, personal, and profoundly human.
Expected Impact
We hope this project will serve as both a safeguard and a spark. For the Bhil and Bhilala communities, it aims to protect cultural memory in ways that feel authentic — keeping songs, scents, stories, and symbols alive in formats that can be passed down and re-experienced by future generations. By making the archive multi-sensory, it transforms cultural preservation from something distant into something visceral and memorable. Beyond the communities themselves, we hope it challenges how people think about documenting indigenous cultures. Instead of filtering them through an outsider’s lens, this project centers their voices, their rhythms, and their emotional truths. Ideally, it will inspire designers, archivists, and institutions to explore more participatory, decolonial approaches to preservation. And for anyone who encounters the time capsule, we hope it leaves them with a deeper respect for the richness of tribal knowledge.
Applicant Background
We are Titikhya and Aarushi, designers and storytellers united by a shared love for India’s indigenous heritage. Our collaboration grew from a deep respect for traditional knowledge and a belief that design can keep these stories alive. Titikhya brings her skill in illustration, visualization, and narrative building, working closely with craft communities in Kachchh and Odisha to co-create meaningful interventions. Aarushi brings empathy and curiosity shaped by her research on the Bhil and Bhilala tribes in Madhya Pradesh. Her work listens to tribal voices, honors their rituals, and transforms insights into inclusive and engaging storytelling tools. Together, we sketch with artisans, trade craft tales over chai, and explore forgotten histories. We see traditions not as relics but as living stories that deserve to be celebrated, shared, and reimagined for today.