Founders
A group of young art and heritage enthusiasts with a shared passion for preserving India’s cultural treasures. We are committed to documenting vernacular architecture, heritage sites, and ancient temples, while also providing a platform for lesser-known artists to thrive. By blending tradition with modern technology, we aim to protect and promote India’s diverse art forms for generations to come.
Avitesh Vaishnavi Nayak
Founder, Indic Art & Heritage Foundation
Awards
2024 – A3F Literary Award for book “Adarsh Gram”
2022 – SMEBIZZ MSME Star Award for Social Work
2020 – Young Achiever Award in Architecture” – A3 foundation, Chandigarh.
2018 – “1st runner up” – Photography competition WADe ASIA.
Professor Nayak is a loving faculty member, known for her engaging teaching style and dynamic nature. With over 20 research papers to her name, she demonstrates versatility in her work. Her strong desire to contribute to society and the nation is evident in her various pursuits.Currently, Prof. Nayak is delving into Puranas to explore the mythology of Indic culture and intelligence. In 2023, she showcased her research through an exhibition featuring mandala artwork.
Active in her professional community, Prof. Nayak serves on the executive committee of The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Haryana chapter and ASSOCHAM GEM as marketing chair of Haryana chapter. Her dedication to social causes led to her nomination as a member of the ‘Disha’ committee in her native district, Bulandshahr. This district-level committee, established by the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, oversees the implementation of various government welfare schemes. It is chaired by a Member of Parliament and includes local MLAs and the District Magistrate, along with three prominent civil society members.
Prof. Nayak’s unique perspective on her surroundings earned her an award at WADE for photography. She also co-authored “Adarsh Gram: Reimagining Rural India,” which she considers a life-changing experience.
Puneet Mishra
Co-founder
Puneet Mishra is a fervent advocate for art, heritage, and architecture, seamlessly blending his profound appreciation for cultural legacy with extensive professional expertise. With a career spanning over a decade, Puneet has contributed significantly to various architectural and urban planning projects across India. His journey as an architect presented him with exciting opportunities to engage with campus design projects, including prestigious academic institutions like IIT Delhi, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Hyderabad, and the National Institutes of Technology in Jaipur and Agartala. He has also handled large-scale housing projects for the Defense Ministry, where he excelled in detailed design and coordination with multidisciplinary teams. These projects honed his skills in architectural design and related services.
Subsequently, after completing his master’s degree in city planning from India’s premier institute, IIT Kharagpur, his professional transition into urban planning saw him managing large-scale infrastructure and urban planning projects for both government and private clients, deepening his understanding of urban development and public engagement. He has also been engaged as a guest faculty member and Associate Professor at different institutions, where he has combined his industry knowledge with a passion for teaching, inspiring the next generation of architects and planners. Continuing with his desire for excellence, he has joined IIT Roorkee as a PhD researcher to further his work in the field of urban planning and sustainable development.
While Puneet’s professional journey has shaped his knowledge and skills in architecture, urban planning, and academia, it is his unwavering passion for art, culture, and heritage that truly drives his outlook on the world. His commitment to preserving and promoting India’s rich cultural legacy is at the heart of his work. Puneet’s diverse experience, coupled with his deep-rooted passion, makes him an invaluable force in our organization, where he continues to inspire with his creativity, expertise, and visionary outlook.
Aditi Padhi
Co- founder
Formerly an academic at Sushant University Associate Prof. Aditi Padhi has 20 years of multinational and multidisciplinary, industry experience as an Architect/ Urban designer. She is a founding Partner at MAP Architects, a sustainability driven design collective. Aditi has a Masters in Architecture from Tulane University, New Orleans , LA, USA, an MBA from Brandeis University, Boston, MA, USA, and a diploma in Social Entrepreneurship from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. Aditi’s own project in sacrilizing landscapes has been recognized by centre of excellence Telangana. Aditi’s practice bridges GIS, BIM, financial modeling, and market analytics for sustainable responsive architecture and strategic smart city initiatives. She explores the intersectional design spaces of multi-disciplinary technology, ecology and social sciences in her professional and pedagogical philosophy.
Nippon Dash
Co-founder
Nippon Dash is a seasoned business leader and social entrepreneur with a strong track record in technology, digital strategy, and community engagement. Currently serving as General Manager and Head of Ecommerce at Samsung India, Nippon leads innovation in online retail for smartphones and other mobility categories.
With prior leadership roles at organizations like BCG and Flipkart, he brings strategic depth and execution excellence to every initiative. Nippon holds an MBA in Business and Management from the University of Strathclyde and a B.Tech from Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha.
Beyond the corporate sphere, Nippon played a key role in Civil20 (C20), one of the official engagement groups of India’s G20 presidency in 2023. His contribution focused on leading outreach activities of G20 to the people at large in India making India’s G20 Presidency a people’s movement and connecting global civil society to Indian communities.
Originally from Odisha, Nippon is deeply committed to empowering underrepresented communities and fostering inclusive development through innovation and collective action. As an avid art lover and collector of Indic art forms, Nippon has organised national level art shows showcasing India’s civilizational values.
