Smriti Nagpal: Shaping A More Inclusive Artistic Landscape Through “Atulyakala”

When seeking employment, people with challenges often face invisible barriers that block their dreams. Many talented individuals get overlooked or underestimated because of how society sees them. However, Smriti Nagpal identified this issue and emerged as a leader for change. Her strong dedication led to the creation of "Atulyakala," a social enterprise that employs 90% of deaf and mute individuals in its team, helping them exhibit their true potential to the world.

Becoming The Voice: Embracing Sign Language From A Young Age

Smriti Nagpal was born in a family where she grew up with two elder siblings, who were deaf and mute. So, from the beginning, she knew and understood the challenges disabled people go through with communication. She started learning sign language at the tender age of 3 and became the voice of their siblings. Soon, sign language became her habit and her sort of Mother tongue. 

At the age of 16, drawing from her personal experiences, she decided to help the deaf community. So in 2008, she volunteered at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). While pursuing her graduation in 2010, she worked as a sign language interpreter for Doordarshan’s morning news aimed at the hearing-impaired community. Later, she also worked as a Sign Language News Anchor for CNN-News18. 

After graduating, she met a hearing-impaired senior artist at a Diwali mela who, aware of her background, sought her help in finding employment. Despite holding a master’s degree in fine arts and having great talent, he was working in an NGO, which bothered her. Along with him, she encountered many similar cases where people’s potential was hindered by a lack of opportunities. 

She did her research and found that India is the country with the world’s largest deaf population. Concerned by these cases and statistics, she resolved to help deserving artists by providing them with a platform for learning and growth.

Atulyakala: A Platform For Deaf Artistry And Creativity

In 2013, Smriti founded “Atulyakala,” India’s first-ever lifestyle brand and design house run by people from deaf and mute communities, offering them opportunities to showcase their talents and abilities.

It is a social enterprise that has a team of 90% deaf members, including artists who communicate through Sign language. Every department from Design to sales, is skillfully managed by deaf and mute team members, which is why learning sign language is mandatory for all. 

The enterprise believes that artists should be given the recognition they deserve, which is why they put the name of deaf artists in the front of every art piece they create. This way, they make them feel valued and empowered.

Entrepreneurship And Beyond

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, she is an advocate of Indian Sign Language and a renowned Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) consultant working for prestigious companies. Emphasizing the importance of sign language awareness, she conducts workshops in educational institutions and universities, educating students about its significance in communicating with the deaf community. Smriti has impacted over 25,000 beneficiaries through deaf culture awareness campaigns. In 2016, Smriti co-founded the Hearken Cafe in Shahpur Jat, which is also run by deaf people. 

National Recognition: Impactful Milestones And Awards

In 2014, she got the opportunity to interpret the Republic Day Parade in Indian sign language for India’s deaf community on national television. Because of the great initiatives she took to empower the deaf community, in 2015, she was recognized as one of the 100 women in BBC’s “Inspirational Women for 2015”. In 2016, her name was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 list and received the Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Award in the Youth Category in Colombia.

Her journey shows a strong commitment to building a more inclusive world where each person is honored for their distinct abilities. Her profound influence on countless lives remains an inspiration, propelling forward positive transformation.

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