To bring the richness and legacy of India’s incredible heritage to people, especially children, in multiple forms, Pune resident Tania Kamath started The Watering Can Foundation (TWCF), a heritage and culture studio, in 2017.
Tania Kamath |
Their first title was Flashback: Pune. People & Places Around the 1700s, a richly illustrated book that comes with QR codes that can be scanned to watch videos made by children.
The book began as a series of heritage walks for selected school students, with an expert. “After the walk, they sat in a 200-year-old mansion called Vishrambaugwada and sketched what inspired them. Their sketches appeared in the book, along with the art created by the illustrator,” Kamath explains, emphasising that the kids became co-creators of the book.
Since then, TWCF has released two more titles: Flashback: Cricket. Indian Innings And Happenings Over Two Centuries; and Freddy, which delves into the life of Pt Firoz Dastur. Both are richly illustrated and tech-enabled.
Kamath says TWCF works at the intersection of design, publishing and product development. “It allows a lot of experimenting in this space. We started off with books for kids and by the kids and have expanded since,” says the founder and creative director.
A lot of meaningful research went into this and the heritage titles were created in a way that they don’t come across as boring academic history books. “We wanted to steer clear of the jingoism and bias and bring in multiple perspectives,” says Kamath adding that the books have been enjoyed not only by kids, but by adults too.
The heritage titles involve research and care so that they are not seen as boring academic history books. “We wanted to steer clear of the jingoism and bias and bring in multiple perspectives,” says Kamath, adding that the books have been enjoyed not only by kids, but by adults too.
TWCF also hosted an exhibition of Divya Tate’s breathtaking photographs of heritage sites.
“Another exhibition was by Vilas Karandikar, where we exhibited bhatukali (miniature toys) that he has painstakingly collected over three decades,” Kamath says.
Mardani Khel, an ancient martial art form in Maharashtra, was banned during the British Raj. “We wanted the kids to know this and so we invited Vijay Aivale and his troupe to practise and perform,” she adds.
Yukta Mookhey, Miss World 1999 and actress, who has known of TWCF since 2018, shares, “When I met Tania at an event of mardani khel martial arts, I knew I had a way to connect back to the culture that sorely lacked in my growing up years. I feel TWCF is a fabulous container for society in which the values are being held and traditions being shared, as has been in our rich cultural heritage. As a mother, Tania understands what children need and her sincerity is unparalleled. I have yet to meet someone like her who speaks from the heart and walks the path of truth. She is precious to the community and her light needs to shine brighter through the awareness of what she brings. For children of today who are constantly bombarded with an anti dharmic narrative and have no specific daily practices that they follow along with the gadgets and technology in their hand, they are in a very weak position. Therefore, we need organisations that foster the inner growth of these young minds and adults alike. Stories are a great way to warm our hearts and light up the pathway to where the inner wisdom roars and thrives.”
