Prayogillu: An Interdisciplinary Place (2021-Present)

​​​I am a first-generation college student born in a small village in the southern part of India, which is Vellulla, in Telangana, India. During the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in 2021, heavy rains caused the collapse of my ancestral house in the village, which is older than 100 years. In the hope of engaged art, with my virtual presence as I connected through internet from USA to Vellulla, with local construction workers and village volunteers, my ancestral house was restored and reconstructed, and named as Prayogillu: An Interdisciplinary Place in only forty-five days. Prayogillu comprises two words: "Prayog (प्रयोग)" is a Hindi word that means experiment, and "illu (ఇల్లు)" is a Telugu word that means house/home. Prayogillu is a place for celebrations, community gatherings, active social transformation, sharing cross-cultural knowledge, reviving local cultures, creating women's spaces, and collective learning. Prayogillu is an emotional and autobiographical project because I witnessed losing my parents in this house; I was born there,  and four generations lived in the same house. Prayogillu is operating every day for eight hours with savings from my stipends and the help of volunteers, and stays open for longer when necessary.

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                                          (visit Prayogillu website to learn more about the project : https://www.prayogillu.org/)

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