Ketaki Nirmala

Ketaki Nirmala, an artist and permaculturist, draws inspiration from nature’s beauty and rhythms. Her artistic expression reflects her deepening connection with the natural world, exploring themes of life, growth, and transformation. Having moved from an urban life to the countryside near Devrukh, Maharashtra, she has integrated nature’s cycles into both her personal life and creative process. Using natural motifs, she invites viewers to reflect on their bond with the animate and inanimate beings around them. For her, art is a way to nourish the soul, sparking reflection and fostering a more soulful dialogue with the world that surrounds us.

Ketaki Phatak © Ketaki Phatak

Beejai

About the project

Seeds hold abundance and hope, sustaining life for all. In some parts of Maharashtra, they are lovingly called beejai, or "seed mother," a reminder of their sacred bond with life. Farmers once saved and shared seeds freely, but today, many are forced to buy them—patented and controlled by corporations—trapping them in debt and despair. Yet, when we return to native seeds and regenerative farming, we restore balance. These seeds nurture the land, support biodiversity, and give farmers true independence. Honouring them as life-givers, not commodities, is a step toward a healthier, more just future—for farmers, the earth, and all of us.

Ketaki Nirmala

Beejai

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