Ruchie Kothari, Joint Director – Academics, Anant Fellowship, Ahmedabad

The Anant Fellowship in Sustainability and Built Environment is a transformative programme, unique in its ability to empower individuals to address the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Working closely with our fellows, we can attest to this programme’s impact on their lives and careers. What makes the Fellowship unique is its interdisciplinary approach or focus on leadership and the stories of the fellows themselves – stories of personal growth and meaningful impact.

During the Anant Fellowship, architects and artists from India – Nikita Sarkar, Hesha Shah, Divnoor Kaur and Sadhya Bhatnagar – were able to build on their passion for working with traditional Indian practices. Guided by various experts, they came together to create the Sustainable Indigenous Centre for Collaborative Arts (SICCA), an art consultancy working to promote and archive Indigenous arts and architecture practices across India. This was a direct outcome of the experiential learning track of the Anant Fellowship – the Live Action Project. 

In another instance, Fellows Samuel Olawuwo and Olaoye Philip from Nigeria, Namrata Sah from India and Uswa Amjad from Pakistan came together to work with Journeyman International (Rwanda) to design a safe house in Zimbabwe for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. The Fellowship provided them the opportunity to leverage their collective skills as doctors, public health officers and architects. It also gave them a unique chance to work across four countries, enriching their approach with diverse perspectives and experiences. 

Similarly, Fellows Sadam Ashraf, a civil engineer from India and Rafsana Yeamin, an architect from Bangladesh, found common ground while working with marginalised, low-income communities. With the expertise of their mentors at Anant, they proposed setting up a social enterprise on urban waste management and waste-pickers livelihoods to address climate risks. This shift from a technical to a nuanced community-centric and design-thinking approach has led them to explore new pathways in their professions.

Our Fellows go on to pursue diverse and impactful careers that align with their passion for sustainability and social impact. They lead innovative architectural and urban design practices, focusing on community-centred and environmentally conscious projects. Many have joined international think tanks, government organisations and consultancies to drive policy and programmes addressing the ‘wicked’ problems of our times. Several alumni have started their own ventures while others have pursued advanced degrees such as master’s or PhD programmes in reputed national and international institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Kozhikode, University of Pennsylvania, Royal College of Art, Monash University and many more. 

Anant National University has also launched the MSc in Sustainability and Built Environment as a second-year extension to the flagship Fellowship programme. This has allowed our fellows to explore a subject specialisation through research, technical expertise and critical thinking.  

What ties these stories together is the Anant Fellowship’s holistic approach. The curriculum is designed to challenge assumptions, foster collaboration and nurture leadership. Fellows learn as much from each other as they do from the faculty, creating a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning environment. While exposed to global best practices, they are encouraged to grapple with local challenges, ensuring that their solutions are innovative and contextually relevant. They leave the programme as better professionals and individuals equipped to lead with empathy and purpose.

Witnessing this transformation is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work at Anant National University. The Anant Fellowship is not just an educational programme but a journey that redefines the possibilities for individuals and the communities they serve. For anyone who seeks to create a lasting impact in the built environment, this Fellowship is a unique and unparalleled opportunity.

Also read: Anant student Shreenath Lohana’s journey: From virtual campus to global success