What started out as a casual DIY experiment is taking three young Bengalureans places. In a candid chat, Badri Seetharaman and Ashwin Kulkarni, two entrepreneurs give us a peek into Gathr — a Koramangala-based ‘Offline only’ set-up. From hosting sessions to conducting activities like music appreciation sessions, shooting star night picnics, street art bicycle rides and a code & poetry hackathon; the city-based duo tell us how they’re all set to revolutionise the average millennial’s unwinding plan.
“We were tired of the top-down, canned entertainment that largely defines our culture today. We needed an antidote to a life that is increasingly experienced from behind a screen. So, the boys and I decided, why not create tools which enable people to make culture for themselves and experience it together? Qusai joined in and that’s how it all began” shares Badri, a 26-year-old alumnus of National Law School. Six months since they had their first gig, and they’re clearly on a roll.
“The responses have been massive! We have realised the power of social media and word of mouth. Initially, it was just a matter of putting out small gatherings that we wanted to see come alive in the world. We started with a board game night with a bunch of surrealist games from an old book we found, went on to have an MMA session with a spin (it was mixed meditative arts, rather than mixed martial arts) and slowly, this grew into a bunch of interesting ways. This is clearly one roller-coaster ride we’re absolutely enjoying,” adds Ashwin, a 30-year-old engineering graduate from Dayananda Sagar.
While their days seem packed, there’s always time to blow off some steam. “I’ve been a yoga teacher all my life and a lifelong meditator. So no brownie points for guessing what I’m up to in my free time. Ashwin is a fitness junkie and is crazy about basketball. Badri loves chatting up with people, music and philosophy,” adds Qusai.
Hopeful about how things will pan out, these B’luru boys are open to challenges. “This is our first innings together. We just wish to create a space where people with ideas for gatherings can bring them alive. We have graffiti and a host of interesting stuff on the cards. We wish to create our own culture, rather than passively consume it,” signs off Badri, with his fingers crossed.
