Our Current Storytellers
Himanshu Regesoi
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Sangla, Himachal Pradesh
Himanshu Regesoi is a self-taught filmmaker, born and raised in Sangla, Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) with a deep passion for cinema, literature, and storytelling. He initiated and runs the Kinnaur Film Society, a local film society with the aim of nurturing a vibrant film culture in his community. Driven by a strong desire to showcase Kinnaur’s rich cultural heritage, Himanshu aspires to help establish a regional film hub that reflects the beauty, stories, and spirit of his homeland. Himanshu leads the Kinnaur Film Society and is being supported through the EGF Fellowship grant.
Akki
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
Akki is a passionate learner and cultural thinker from Chansu, a village nestled in the highlands of Kinnaur. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours), and is deeply curious about the origins of belief systems, local languages, and mountain traditions. He is drawn to the silent layers of Himalayan life — how people live with nature, how customs carry memory, and how the past quietly shapes the present. He is the initiator of Swachh Fayul, a grassroots movement for environmental awareness and cultural reflection in Himalayan communities. He also contributes to other creative and knowledge-based efforts in the region. Guided by honesty and intention, Akki believes in flowing like water — carving his own path with depth, patience, and purpose. He is a member of Himanshu Regesoi’s story tellers team and is active in the Kinnaur Film Society.
Tamanna Negi
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
Village Kamru, District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
Tamanna Negi is a cultural storyteller from Kamru, a village in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. A student of Arts, she finds her pace in the quiet rhythm of mountain life and the unspoken strength of its women. Deeply moved by temple festivals and the traditions surrounding them, she writes to preserve culture and express imagination. Her stories explore rituals, memory, and the hidden voices of Kinnauri women — those who carry the past in their everyday lives. Tamanna dreams of building something meaningful through words — something that helps others reflect, remember, and reconnect, guided by honesty and creativity- two values she holds close to heart. For Tamanna, the mountains are more than home; they are her language, her lens, and her legacy in the making. She is a member of Himanshu Regesoi’s story tellers team and is active in the Kinnaur Film Society.
Haneesh Katnawer
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Village Samal, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Haneesh Katnawer is a Dalit entrepreneur, engineer and occasional writer from the village of Samal in the Kangra Valley. Graduating with a degree in Production Engineering from Gujarat, Haneesh spent seven years in the corporate sector. Driven by a passion for storytelling and a desire for deeper purpose, he transitioned into content creation. In 2015, he decided to pursue a nomadic lifestyle, spending three years traveling across India and freelancing as a writer. During this time, he connected with farmers and artisans, sparking his interest in the immense untapped potential of cannabis and hemp. Haneesh went on to developed the world’s first patented reusable cannabis hemp sanitary pad and to construct India’s first hemp-based building. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Himalayan Hemp Industries Pvt. Ltd, the Himalayan Hemp Research Foundation, and Project Consignment Specialists Pvt. Ltd. Haneesh leads Kutaj, the local community media hub and is being supported through the EGF Fellowship grant.
Anita Devi
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
Village Samal, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Anita is an MA in History with 2 years of experience with NGOs for fundraising partnerships. Her childhood aspiration was to get a job to support her family financially as no one in her family ever had a fixed income. She also nursed a parallel dream of traveling the world to see places she read about in history. From a Dalit family, Anita faced marginalization in its extreme and wants to change the status quo with a vision of challenging social inequalities. She wants to enter politics in the future. She is a member of Haneesh Katnawers’s story tellers team and is active in the Kutaj, the Kangra based Community Media Hub.
Rekha Devi
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
Village Kulahan, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Rekha Devi is an MA in Hindi and works as a tutor for the marginalized children in her village. She realized early in life that coming from a Dalit family, all her dreams could not be fulfilled because of a lack of money and resources. Her decision to tutor and educate village children by charging a nominal fee defines her broader vision of creating greater opportunities for their future. Rekha likes writing poems and weaving words together to create stories of impact. She is a member of Haneesh Katnawers’s story tellers team and is active in the Kutaj, the Kangra based Community Media Hub.
Kesonye Kath
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Village Sendenyu, District Tseminyu, Nagaland
With a background in engineering and an abiding interest in design and all things creative, Kesonye is drawn to finding simple, meaningful ways to connect with her community and the natural world. She is working with the Konono Foundation, Sendenyu, Nagaland, to set up their Biodiversity Learning Centre. An avid gardener, she finds peace and inspiration in tending to her plants. On days when she’s not cozied up with her baby daughter, you’ll often find her immersed in the pages of a good book. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s in Education at Jamia Millia Islamic University. Kesonye leads the Kèwhen (which means to “get together” in Rengma) Community Media Hub and is being supported through the EGF Fellowship grant.
Loshule Jishing
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
District Tseminyu, Nagaland
Loshule Jishing is a primary teacher from Tseminyu Town and an alumna of Kohima College, where her love for literature first took root. A storyteller at heart, she’s deeply connected to her Naga heritage and passionate about sharing its richness whenever she gets the chance. An adventurous spirit, Loshule is always ready to step beyond her comfort zone—whether it’s through travel, learning, or new experiences that broaden her world. Loshule is a member of Kesonye Kath’s story tellers team and is active in the Kèwhen Community Media Hub.
Amos Kent
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
District Tseminyu, Nagaland
Amos Kent is a creative soul, community builder, and nature lover from Nagaland. He works on coffee cultivation, conservation, and storytelling with local communities in his region. When he’s not out working with his community members, he loves to cook, travel, or rock the mic as the lead singer of a local band “Trademark”. Amos is a member of Kesonye Kath’s story tellers team and is active in the Kèwhen Community Media Hub.
Savita Chauhan
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Village Ustehar, State Himachal Pradesh
Savita Chauhan, an aspiring storyteller and writer from Kandbari, in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, brings a strong foundation in gender studies and rural journalism. She completed a one-year Gender Fellowship with the ‘Himachal Queer Foundation’ and gained hands-on experience in grassroots reporting through the ‘Bobo Diyaan Gallaan’ initiative. With a deep interest in writing and poetry, Savita also explores visual storytelling through photography. She has interned with Feminism in India (FII), where she honed her writing skills and deepened her understanding of social issues. Currently, she works part-time as an Assistant Hindi Editor at FII, learning and growing within a supportive editorial team. Savita leads Himani, the Baijnath Community Media Hub and is being supported through the EGF Fellowship grant.
Shaanti Devi
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
Village Banoru, Himachal Pradesh
Shanti was born in a small village called Banoru near Palampur in 1994, and has lived there since with her parents, who are of Nepali descent. She completed her graduation in 2015, followed by a one-year Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA). In 2018, she started her first job at a private bank, and then continues to work as a data operator in other establishments. In 2021, she switched course and spent a year teaching at a school. Then, in 2023, she joined the Himachal Queer Foundation, where she worked on issues related to gender and the queer community. Currently, she volunteering with the Mountain Women Development Trust, focusing on mental health. She is a member of Savita Chauhan’s story tellers team and is active in Himani, the Baijnath Community Media Hub.
Sachin Garkoti
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Garkot, Champawat, Uttarakhand
Born in Garkot village in Champawat district of Uttarakhand, Sachin Garkoti is deeply connected to mountain life, nature, and local stories. He currently works as a Digital Manager with Rang Kaarwaan, promoting creativity and reading among children and communities. Through photography, writing, and social research, he engages with issues like climate change, caste and gender discrimination, and substance abuse. Sachin believes that the stories of the mountains can become powerful tools for change. He wants to collect stories of struggle from the villages of Champawat, so that future generations can read them and stay connected to their culture, history, and roots. Sachin is the co-founder of the Mahfil-e-Awaaz, Community Media Hub and is being supported through the EGF Fellowship grant.
Ankit Bhatt
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
District Champawat, Uttrakhand
Ankit “Anshu” Bhatt, a 22-year-old storyteller and poet from Champawat, Uttarakhand, writes verses that question society, narrates history, express emotions, and strives to capture the beauty and struggles of the mountains. Once active in student politics, he later chose to dedicate himself to literature and is now shares his poetry on various platforms while working on his first novel. Ankit is a member of Sachin Garkoti’s story tellers team and leads Mahfil-e-Awaaz, the Community Media Hub.
Sangeeta Devi
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
District Champawat, Uttrakhand
Sangeeta is a beginner choreographer who enjoys reading children’s literature and aspires to learn and understand new things. Of late, she has been trying to understand her emotions and is striving to become a person who knows not only herself but others as well, with the various aspects of their life. Sangeeta is a member of Sachin Garkoti’s story tellers team and leads Mahfil-e-Awaaz, the Community Media Hub.
Riya Raagini
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Sidhpur, Himachal Pradesh
Riya Raagini (Ri) is a writer and artist, and in 2021 chose to make Sidhpur village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, her home. Ri likes to cook with her friends, listen to stories, and through dialogue and storytelling bring, to life the tales of the people and landscape of the Dauladhar range. Ri is committed to understanding herself and the world through artistic pursuits, led by the practice of non-violence, deep listening, and poetry. Ri has helped initiate the Sidhbari Community Media Hub and is being supported through the Himal Prakriti Fellowship grant.
Aliya Ban Hamza
Himal Prakriti Storyteller
Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
Aliya Ban Hamza is a social worker, counselor, student and researcher, who was born in Kerala but has made Sidhbari her home these past few. She works with individuals and communities access and improve their mental health. Aliya is a member of Ri’s team and has helped initiate the Sidhbari Community Media Hub.
Abbas Ali
Himal Prakriti Storytelling Fellow
Harwan, Srinagar
Abbas Ali is a Horticulture Technician from Harwan, Srinagar, Kashmir, whose love for nature and storytelling has been shaped by the stunning landscape of the Dachigam National Park where he grew up. Committed to conservation and supporting sustainable livelihoods, Abbas hopes to highlight the deep connections between people, culture and the natural world. He likes to share stories of local communities, wildlife, and traditions from his region with a wider audience. Abbas has been supported through the Himal Prakriti Fellowship grant and has initiated the Voices of Kashmir Community Media Hub.
