In 2021, Mridu Rai and Dipti Tamang, members of The Confluence Collective (TCC), were honored to receive the prestigious India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) Arts Research Grant for their project Stories from Within. This project is an effort to challenge and transform the current narratives surrounding the Darjeeling Himalayas, aiming to shift the way the region is perceived and understood.
The Stories from Within project brings together eight talented young grantees, each with a unique approach to blending the visual medium with research-based writing. The project provides a platform for these grantees to tell stories rooted in the everyday experiences and realities of the people of the Darjeeling Hills—stories often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream discourses.
This exhibition—an embodiment of years of hard work, collaboration, and exploration—was designed not only to showcase these stories but also to encourage reflection and conversation. The grantees have explored the intricate landscapes, cultures, and histories of the region through various forms, such as projections, zines, and public talks. The final outcome of the project was presented as an interactive exhibition that invited viewers into the lives of the people who inhabit the hills, offering a counter-narrative to the colonial tropes that have often defined the region.
The Confluence Collective is incredibly proud to present Stories from Within, an initiative funded by the India Foundation for the Arts. Through this project, TCC seeks to preserve and archive local stories and histories, providing a platform for these voices to be heard on their own terms. The project highlights the importance of reclaiming narratives from the margins, beyond the constraints of colonial and mainstream portrayals.
The project worked with eight brilliant young grantees, each contributing their unique perspectives and creative visions to the project. The names of the grantees are as follows:
Nangsel Sherpa
Bibhusha Rai
Mingma Lhamu Pakhrin
Nawami Gurung
Ruchi Dyeksang
Ashwin Sharma
Yawan Sharma
Vicky Sharma
Together, these young minds have explored the complexities of the region, using various artistic and research methodologies to tell stories that reflect the lives of people from diverse communities across the Darjeeling Himalayas. The project has been a significant undertaking—an ongoing exploration and a deliberate effort to challenge existing notions of "The Himalayas" as a concept and to provide a nuanced, local perspective on the region.
The final outcome of the Stories from Within project was showcased in two public exhibitions, each accompanied by talk sessions that allowed for deeper engagement with the audience:
29th October 2021 – Rachna Books, Gangtok, Sikkim
31st October 2021 – Cafe Kalimpong, Kalimpong, West Bengal
These events were not only an opportunity to showcase the creative work of our grantees but also to engage the local public in important conversations about the representation of the Darjeeling Himalayas. The talks allowed the audience to hear firsthand from the grantees about their process, challenges, and discoveries, creating a space for dialogue and reflection on the deeper meanings behind the stories shared in the exhibition.
The process of creating Stories from Within was a considerable exploration—one that involved questioning and re-imagining the ways in which the Himalayas have been historically framed and understood. By working with a diverse group of young creatives, the project sought to undo the dominant narratives and offer a more nuanced, local perspective. Through their storytelling, the grantees have made visible the lived realities of communities in the Darjeeling Himalayas, amplifying voices that have long been marginalized or forgotten.
We are deeply excited to share the final outcomes of this collaborative project with the public and to continue the conversations that have begun with the exhibition and talks. The Stories from Within project is just the beginning of an ongoing effort by The Confluence Collective to engage with the complexities of the region’s history, culture, and people—offering a space for new, authentic voices to shape the stories of the Himalayas.
We thank the India Foundation for the Arts for their generous support and the grantees for their passion, dedication, and commitment to this important work.
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