Mahashweta Devi
Founder
Mahashweta Devi was a legendary writer and activist who devoted her life to amplifying the voices of India’s most marginalised communities, particularly the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). In 1998, she co‑founded the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT‑RAG), a key platform that challenged the colonial stigma of the Criminal Tribes Act and demanded justice for affected communities.
Her activism extended far beyond writing. Mahashweta Devi lived and worked closely with tribal communities such as the Kheria Sabars, helping them organise self‑help societies and advocate for their social and legal rights—earning her the title “Mother of the Sabars.” She also worked closely with the Chhara community of Ahmedabad.
Her commitment to justice was deeply intertwined with literature and the performing arts. She inspired and supported the formation of Budhan Theatre in Ahmedabad, which used street theatre to protest police brutality and social exclusion. Honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Padma Vibhushan, her legacy transformed the DNT struggle into a national human rights movement.
Dr. Ganesh N. Devy
Founder
Dr. Ganesh N. Devy is a distinguished cultural activist, linguist, and scholar who resigned from his academic career in 1996 to work for the rights of India’s most marginalised communities. In 1998, he co‑founded the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT‑RAG) with Mahashweta Devi, playing a pivotal role in dismantling the colonial stigma attached to the Criminal Tribes Act.
His work has influenced national policy, including his role as Chairperson of the Technical Advisory Group on DNTs, Government of India, where he consistently advocated for constitutional recognition and separate census enumeration for DNT communities.
Central to his vision is Budhan Theatre, which he co‑founded as a cultural strategy for empowerment and resistance. Named after Budhan Sabar, the theatre group provides a platform for the Chhara community to reclaim identity and challenge systemic discrimination through performance. By nurturing traditional performance skills among Chhara youth, Dr. Devy helped transform a community once labelled as “born criminals” into a recognised centre of creative expression and social activism.
Dakxin Chhara
Founder
Dakxin Chhara is a filmmaker, playwright, and social activist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, belonging to the Chhara Denotified Tribe. His work is rooted in challenging historical stigma and systemic discrimination faced by Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), using art as a tool for resistance and transformation.
He is the Co‑founder and Artistic Director of Budhan Theatre, a pioneering community‑based theatre collective that has created platforms for self‑representation for over two decades. Under his leadership, the group has produced more than 50 plays and numerous films addressing custodial violence, caste discrimination, and social injustice.
Dakxin has directed and produced over 100 fiction and non‑fiction films. His feature film Sameer (2017) received international recognition and awards. Alongside his creative practice, he has trained hundreds of young people from marginalised communities in theatre and cinema, enabling them to tell their own stories. He continues to advocate nationally for the dignity, representation, and rights of DNT communities.
Kalpana Gagdekar
Founder & Trustee
Kalpana Gagdekar is a prominent film and theatre actor and a co‑founder of Budhan Theatre. Coming from the Chhara community—historically stigmatised under the Criminal Tribes Act—she has dedicated her life to using performance as a tool for social justice and community empowerment.
Her work has gained national and international recognition, including her nomination for the Gilder/Coigney International Theatre Award (2020) and receipt of the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award (2014) for her contributions to education and literacy.
Alongside her activism, she has built a distinguished career in professional theatre and cinema. She is widely acclaimed for her portrayal of Kasturba Gandhi in the play Kasturba and has performed in over 1,000 shows across India. Her work in Gujarati cinema includes notable roles in Fakt Mahilao Maate (2022) and Samandar (2024). Through her artistic and social engagement, she continues to act as a cultural bridge between marginalised communities and mainstream society.
Roxy Gagdekar
Founder
Roxy Gagdekar Chhara is a founding member of Budhan Theatre and a member of the Advisory Committee of Vimukta Trust. He plays a key role in community outreach and documentation efforts, mentors youth in theatre practice, and advocates for women’s and children’s rights.
Known for his strong community engagement and empathetic approach, Roxy helps bridge gaps between residents and institutions to build trust and improve access to services. He is also a professional journalist and currently works with an international media house.
Rajendra Patel
Trustee
Rajendra Patel is a renowned contemporary Gujarati poet and writer, known for his significant contribution to modern Gujarati literature. His works, including Koshma Suryodaya and Shree Purant Janse, explore complex human emotions and social realities through a post‑modern lens. He has received multiple awards from the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi for his literary contributions.
Beyond writing, Patel is an influential cultural organiser. He conceptualised Pustak Parab, a large‑scale free book‑sharing initiative aimed at encouraging reading culture across Gujarat. Through initiatives such as Vanche Gujarat and his involvement in the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, he has played a vital role in advancing literary and educational access.
Atish Indrekar
Trustee
Atish Indrekar is a theatre activist and senior member of Budhan Theatre, with over two decades of experience using performance for social justice. A third‑generation member of the Chhara community, he joined the collective in 2001 to challenge colonial‑era stigma through street theatre.
He has performed in over 700 shows across India, addressing issues such as police harassment, systemic discrimination, and constitutional rights of DNTs. Beyond performance, Atish manages Vimukta Trust’s community library initiatives and conducts theatre workshops for children and youth in Chharanagar, nurturing leadership and identity through art.
He has also taught storytelling and street theatre at institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Gandhinagar, bridging marginalised narratives with mainstream education spaces.
Dr. Rupa Mehta
Trustee
Dr. Rupa Mehta is a distinguished media professional and academic who served as Assistant Director (Programme) and Head of Programmes at Doordarshan Ahmedabad. Beginning her career in 1989, she spent over three decades managing diverse programming, including folk arts, news, current affairs, and development communication.
She led major national‑level projects such as Living Legends, featuring music maestros, and Gandhi Katha, a television series on the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
Dr. Mehta holds a Ph.D. in Indian Culture and has taught Indian Culture and Television Production at Gujarat University. An active theatre practitioner since 1978, she is also a published author, including the book Kathak Parampara ane Gujarat. Since her retirement in September 2020, she continues to serve as a trustee for organisations working on gender justice and women’s empowerment.
Kalpana Gagdekar
Founder & Trustee
Kalpana Gagdekar is an acclaimed film and theatre actor and a co‑founder of Budhan Theatre. From the historically stigmatised Chhara community, she has dedicated her career to challenging discrimination and advancing social justice through performance. Her work stands at the intersection of art, resistance, and community empowerment.
Roxy Gagdekar
Vikas Bhogekar
Dakxin Bajarange
Sharif Malek
