HTNHA
About Us
Himalayan Trust for Natural History Art (HTNHA) is a registered Charitable Trust located in Pudung, a village in the hilly town of Kalimpong, West Bengal, India. founded by Hemlata Pradhan in the year 2003 with the vision of combining natural history art, creative and experiential education, sustainability and conservation at the grassroots, amongst children from rural areas of Kalimpong. HTNHA challenges traditional structures of society and the art world with the aim of making art more inclusive, and not an exclusive domain of only those with the means or networks. For HTNHA, the grassroots is the focal point as we believe that they are the future custodians of the environment. The School of Natural History Art is based on the philosophy that art could be a means to help provide holistic education to children at the grass roots, preparing them mentally and physically to meet the challenges of everyday living, inculcating environmental consciousness, along with skills for livelihood and sustenance in the future. The Trust has been running various hands-on workshops and classes since 2011 with help from visiting tutors and volunteers from different corners of India in the field of Natural History Art. While the children attend regular schools during the day, they visit the art school in the evenings, weekends and every major holiday. In April 2023 HTNHA held a successful 3 day International Art Event titled – ‘Nature in Art’ in its campus to celebrate the diversity of Nature and promote a spirit of living harmoniously with Nature through various workshops, exhibits and performances by acclaimed professionals and artists. The Natural history Art school serves to bridge the gap between art, science and other disciplines, raise public awareness of our natural heritage and diverse cultures and contribute towards its preservation.
The HTNHA Family
Get to Know Us
Hemlata Pradhan
Hemlata is an accomplished botanical artist of international repute. She has built a successful career as one of the only two, female botanical artist in the Himalaya. After finishing her high-school from Dr. Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, she joined Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan, West Bengal for a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art in 1993, where she studied print-making. In 1998 she completed her post-graduate Diploma in Botanical Illustrations from Kew Gardens, London under eminent plant illustrator, Christabel King and Dr. Judy Stone. In 2000, she received further scholarship to continue her Master’s Degree in Natural History Illustration and Ecological Studies at the Royal College of Art, London through DFID scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Foundation, UK. Since finishing her education, Hemlata has exhibited her art portfolio in the United Kingdom, France, Nepal, India, Thailand etc. and won many prizes and accolades, especially for her rendition of Himalayan Orchids. She is the first Indian to win the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal and the 18th World Orchid Conference Gold Medal in France for her paintings of India’s wild orchids. One of her most prominent collection of paintings of India’s Jewel Orchids, were depicted on Bhutan’s 2002 postage stamps and First Day Covers celebrating the Year of the Mountains and as a commemoration of the second Meeting of the Orchid Specialist Group. She is the founder and president of HTNHA and lives in Kalimpong with her family.
Naveen Jhajharia
Naveen Jhajharia is a facilitator, counselor and language trainer. With a Master’s degree in Psychology he has worked and facilitated workshops with a number of youth organizations and groups like Pravah, Patang, Thoughtshop Foundation, NMML, Khoj Foundation and Swayam in the country and has travelled extensively to remote place interacting with young people. He worked in SIDH (An alternative education NGO in Uttarakhand for 2 years and has a fair knowledge of alternative education and pedagogy. Naveen comes from Kolkata and enabled youth, teachers and children in the villages of northern Himalayas for 15 years through his own initiative named Vriksh. He is now based in Kalimpong where he was helping Buddhist monks in a Monastery from 2020-24. He has been a Media Associate of Commutiny Media Network, New Delhi and has led the Must Bol campaign on Gender and Masculinity. He is a board member with Swajan Shiksha Samiti an NGO in Tehri Garhwal and looks after the school development program and teacher training.
Naveen is a very friendly and open minded person. An avid book & nature lover he enjoys travelling while practicing sustainable living & spirituality. He is also a follower of Nichiren Buddhism.
Alyen Foning
Alyen Foning resides in her ancestral home, Kalimpong -the Lepcha community, with its sacred mountains and rivers, at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. Inspired by her Lepcha roots and reflections of her life’s journey, Alyen uses her art and storytelling as a medium to help others remember their own ecological connections. She is a textile artist who has studied Textile and Apparel design at NID, Ahmedabad. Her works are inspired by Nature and indigenous world cultures. She is the creator of the installation ‘The Story of Munn’ which was exhibited at 'So Many Feminisms!' conclave by Godrej India Culture Lab in collaboration with Zubaan Books in February 2019. She also runs a design label-ALYEN FONING that believes in the power of Mother Nature, communities, upcycling and the skills of local artisans in narrating stories inspired by Our Roots, Oral histories and Inner journeys. She is also a visiting faculty at various design colleges in India.
Smrita Gotamay
Smrita is one of the first students of HTNHA and is now working as School in charge for five years. Young and always smiling she has been facilitating workshops and training children in art not just in Kalimpong but at other premier institutes in India like NID (Assam) and Govt. Art College. She is also pursuing her B.A from IGNOU.
Suzanne Tamang
Suzanne is the member of the core group committee and an advisor for HTNHA. She practices and facilitates sessions on mindfulness meditation. She has a long working experience in the corporate sector and brings in new ideas and perspectives. Wearing many hats Suzanne is an excellent cook and loves knitting and sharing her skills with learners of all ages. She hails from the hilly town of Kalimpong.