AMAL DEV CHANDRAN
Mr. Saurabh Srivastava
amal_c@nid.edu
Phad Samvad is an innovative response designed to preserve and democratize the 700-year-old tradition of Bhopa and Bhopi storytelling, where sacred Phad scrolls are performed under starlit skies. This living tradition faces extinction as contemporary audiences become disconnected from rural performance contexts. Developed under Anuvad Innovation Studio, the project transforms traditional scroll storytelling into interactive digital experiences while rigorously maintaining the sanctity of these religious artifacts. The journey began with a physical, sensor-based installation at Arthshila, Delhi, where participants used illuminated lanterns to explore narrative segments of a scroll by master artist Vijay Joshi. The project then evolved into Phad Samvaad Web, a three-dimensional digital environment envisioning Rabari village settings. By working as a Creative Technologist and utilizing ethnographic research, the project ensures technology amplifies the voices of human storytellers rather than replacing them, making ancient narratives accessible to urban audiences through authentic digital preservation.