From Potential to Possibilities: The Making of a Mountain Collective

“I didn’t want to leave the hills to find work. I wanted to create something here, with my art, and for others like me”

​Harshita, from Peora, rural Nainital, discovered her love for art early, sparked by her cousin, an art teacher. Harshita would sneak into her cousin’s room to admire her work. Though caught and scolded, the memory remained etched as the beginning of a quiet dream.

​At school, Harshita was the go-to person for anything creative. However, pressured by society and her family’s concerns about her future, she chose science. “People used to say, ‘You’ll end up grazing goats if you study arts’,” she recalls. But for her graduation, Harshita chose to study fine arts. Her parents were initially resistant, fearing she wouldn’t find stable work. With her aunt and uncle’s support, they reconsidered, seeing government teaching jobs as possibilities. While studying, she briefly explored selling her art but hesitated, unsure how to start.

In 2023, she attended Business ki Udaan, a month-long workshop by Margshala and Aarohi focused on youth entrepreneurship. “For the first time, I felt I was not behind others. I’m walking with them, thinking about my passion and calling, she adds.” The workshop gave her the clarity and confidence to pursue selling her art seriously.

Around this time, she met Neeraj and Pankaj, peer learners who became her sounding board. Together, they named her enterprise Kumaoni Chitrakala Sangrah, blending Kumaon, art, and the idea of ‘collective’ - “It’s a space for art and people like me who want to stay rooted,” she says. The friendships she built during Business ki Udaan have become a core part of her journey.

Harshita tested her idea by setting up a stall at the Himalayan Haat, organised by Aarohi, a well-established local NGO by using ₹5,000 of her savings. “In 10 days, I made all the products for the 5-day exhibition. I wanted every visitor to find something of value, from ₹10 to ₹500.” She sold out in three days, earning five times her investment. This success validated her idea but also revealed the need for more artists and business skills to grow the collective.

Harshita at her first art stall at Aarohi’s Himalayan Haat

Later, Harshita joined Margshala’s Swarozgar Fellowship program for early-stage youth entrepreneurs, where over 9 months, she built her entrepreneurial skills and received guidance in areas like networking, pricing, and visioning.

​Today, Kumaoni Chitrakala Sangrah operates with the principle of giving a platform to independent artists, while earning a 25% commission to ensure sustainability. Harshita is also piloting a learn-and-earn model, where young artists gain both skills and income. “I’ve realised my ability to represent. I can speak, I’m confident. Many youth don’t feel that way, maybe I can help others like me find their voice, too, without having to leave their homes.”

She adds, “I haven’t told my parents about my enterprise yet, they believe I’ll find a job right after my master's. I believe in my potential and want to show them that this, too, is a path to livelihood. They’ve worked hard to educate me and my sister, and I want to ease that burden. I’ll tell them when the time is right.”

Harshita hosted a fun painting workshop for children at an exhibition

Written by Rijuta Dutt