Abhinav Agrawal
Founder & Director,
Anahad Foundation
Abhinav Agrawal, 31, is an ethnomusicologist, musician, and social entrepreneur dedicated to reviving India's folk music industry. As the Founder Director of Anahad Foundation, a non-profit organization, Abhinav creates self-reliant models that generate livelihoods, pride, and dignity for folk musicians. He has identified and empowered over 7000 folk musicians across country and aims to build a sustainable folk music industry that is musician-led.
Abhinav's advocacy for cultural preservation began during his youth. Observing the impact of urbanization on his village and the subsequent loss of nature and culture, he organized the community's youth to address water contamination, recognizing the importance of urban planning in preserving culture.
With a bachelor's degree in architecture, Abhinav combined his architectural knowledge with his deepening understanding of the music field. To gain further exposure, he pursued a master's degree in music business administration from Berklee College of Music.
Driven by his passion for Indian music and extensive knowledge of the music scene, Abhinav envisions using music to create awareness and achieve value-driven objectives. He excels in identifying and managing recording artists, producers, and songwriters, with expertise in recording, engineering, and multimedia production.
Abhinav's remarkable contributions have earned him recognition, including being featured in Forbes' 30 under 30 list and Ashoka Fellowship.