We are a team of professionals who think and work for the rural.
We are
Fellows.Thinkers.
Creators.Advocates.
Makers.Consultants.
Students and the locals.
We are a group of international professionals, planners, architects, engineers, journalists, activists working to support and promote the self-organizing and governing heritage and potential of communities living in rural areas of the world. As a team, we are committed to stimulating the imagination of other designers of the world- thinkers who could initiate a fundamentally alternative discourse on the meaning of agency, autonomy, and democracy for socio-economic, socio-cultural and socio-political integrity in human affairs. Thus, we are engaging in projects that comply and bring to the forefront, our intellectual and professional responsibilities, therefore.
DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY
FOUNDER, CEO
Thein Manimekalai Sowrirajan
Architect; Urban planner
Milan / Chennai
Urban Planner, Architect and now a social entrepreneur, Thein is never a person to limit herself to singular disciplines. An avid learner, she broadens her expertise to cater to specific needs of projects and opportunities. As a founder of NU, she strives to make this into a social movement where urban and rural professionals
work together to achieve
equitable development.
DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY
Nethra Ganesan
Architectural Assistant
London / Dubai
An architect and designer with an
ardent interest in the role of
built environment in relation to its
cultural and ecological contexts
and by extension, its users.
Currently on her year out from the
AA School of Architecture, she is architecting by day and
moonlighting as a Rural Advocate at NU.
DIRECTOR OF COMMS.
Divya Ariga
Advertising and Media Professional
Dubai
LEGAL ADVISOR
Reshma Nair
Lawyer, Legal Consultant
Hyderabad / London
Corporate lawyer with a keen interest in multi-jurisdictional brand protection and pharmaceutical IP. Currently studying the renewable energy sector and researching whether climate mitigation technologies could be considered as "public good" to construe under the purview of non-intellectual property flexibilities in a way to include environmentally sound technologies.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Shivansh Mehra
Finance Consultant
Bangalore / London
AUDITOR
Manohar
Chartered Accountant
Hyderabad / London
FELLOW
Shashank Gupta
Civil Engineer
Milan / Kanpur
Brilliant innovations do not come up while sitting in isolation and try to think of big ideas. The trick is collaborating while sharing an eclectic mix of thoughts, stemming from individual passion, experience, and cognitive thinking.
FELLOW
Jeel Doshi
Mechanical Engineer
Dubai
A mechanical engineer by profession with a passion to make a small, positive change in the world around me through simple and elegant design solutions. Design belief: Just like life, designs should be simple too!
FELLOW
Devika Bajaj
Public Health Scholar
Washington D.C / Dubai
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. With a strong passion for public health and medicine, Devika is completing her Master of Public Health at George Washington University, focusing on Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, & Evaluation. She believes collaborating with various disciplines is the way forward, when creating truly equitable and sustainable healthcare systems, around the globe.
FELLOW
Athiba Balasubramanian
Artist/ Architect
Chennai
Athiba is an architect, designer and an art enthusiast. He’s completed his bachelor’s degree in architecture from SRM University; during which he spent a semester abroad at National University of Singapore learning the influence of economics & East Asian principles on design. He has worked for & learnt from leading design firms in Colombo - SL, Bangalore & Chennai. Athiba has his own Architecture and Design Practice called Makra Works, in Chennai (India) where he is currently residing.
FELLOW
Kaavya Reddy
Architect, Fashion Entrepreneur
Chennai
An architect by profession, I am not out there to change the world but to do my bit to respect the environment through my sustainable endeavors whether it is architecture, fashion or even the way I live.
MEDIA STRATEGIST
Anooya Swamy
Trans - Media Creative
Bangalore
Currently married to the internet. Anooya practices multimedia storytelling and creates inspired visuals. She practices designing and sharing expansive narratives to create an active and involved digital community.
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ashna Kapadia
Communication & Design Professional
New York
A Graphic designer interested in community-focused design approaches.
She is passionate to be part of nonurba
foundation because she hopes to see how young voices can really create a impact within respective rural communities. She hopes to make a change as part of the social media team and senior designer of nonurban team.
JUNIOR DESIGNER
Lohita Krishna
Content Creator
Chennai
Believe in the power of gratitude. Mail me at for collaborations.
ADVOCATE
Robin Ezhil
Cinematographer
Valad / Chennai
Documentary filmmaker. Cinematographer, Animal rescuer, Musician and Singer.
ADVOCATE
Roshan Siddharth
Artist; Radio Jockey
Chennai
Roshan is a creative enthu-cutlet. He has a skill for bringing creative ideas to the foray and dabbles across writing, photography and film, with the goal of telling an impactful story.
ADVOCATE
Neeraja Sriram
Content Writer
Chennai
Content Writer by choice and profession. Self-expression is driven by curiosity and the search for answers.
ADVOCATE
Priyadarshini
Artist, Blogger, Content Writer
Chennai
Priya is an experienced content strategist and an amateur artist. Firmly believes in the saying "Leave it better than you found it" and generally tries to do so every day.
ADVOCATE
Druthi Kalavapudi
Content Writer, Journalist
Hyderabad
Dhruti is a writer who's passion lies in storytelling and listeig to new stories. She enjoys working in the development sector; Inspired by frugal innovations; Motivated by small-scale startups and business ideas.
