About
To support outstanding young Indians in developing their professional, scientific, artistic and cultural abilities, covering fields not served by other fund-giving bodies.
The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a philanthropic organisation established in 1976 by Indoo Shivdasani ('Inlaks' is an amalgam of Indoo and Lakshmi, his wife's name). Over 50 years, it has provided more than 1,300 scholarships, awards, fellowships, residencies, internships and grants to outstanding young Indians across arts, humanities, sciences and other fields. Its arts-specific programmes include the Inlaks Fine Art Award (for emerging visual artists), residency grants at Khoj and internationally, the Inlaks Dance Grant (for training at Attakkalari Centre), the Inlaks Theatre Grant, the FICA-Inlaks-Goldsmiths Scholarship, the Asia Art Archive-Inlaks Art Grant, and grants for Western classical music. The Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Foundation was established by Indoo Shivdasani in 1976, building on pre-existing philanthropic activities. Its flagship overseas scholarship programme, which has supported 509 scholars to study at leading universities in the UK, Europe and USA, was its first major initiative. The arts-focused programmes developed over subsequent decades as the Foundation recognised specific gaps in support for Indian artists pursuing international training and research. The Inlaks Fine Art Award, enhanced in 2012 to include residency components, became one of the few structured overseas residency opportunities for young Indian visual artists. The Foundation's 50th anniversary in 2026 was marked by INTERSECTIONS: Sites of Becoming, an exhibition opening in Delhi in February 2026.
Founding & Leadership
Indoo Shivdasani was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who established the foundation in 1976 to institutionalise his existing charitable activities. The name Inlaks combines his name (Indoo) and his wife Lakshmi's name.
Initiatives & Portfolio
Flagship overseas scholarship for postgraduate study at leading UK, European and US universities. 509 scholars supported to date.
Annual award for emerging visual artists including residency component. Supports 4-5 artists per year at Khoj and international residencies.
Supports dance artists to train at Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bengaluru.
Supports theatre practitioners in skill enhancement through recognised training, workshops and residencies.
Collaboration with Asia Art Archive supporting practitioners working with archival material, libraries and databases.
The Inlaks Foundation's significance for India's cultural ecosystem is as a funder with consistent, long-term commitment to individual practitioners. In a landscape where arts philanthropy is often event-based or institution-focused, Inlaks has invested in people -- providing the financial support for emerging artists, choreographers, theatre practitioners and scholars to pursue international training and residencies that would otherwise be inaccessible. Its 50-year continuity distinguishes it from most Indian arts philanthropy, which is episodic.
[Atlas Perspective] CultureAtlas profiles the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation as India's most important private funder of individual cultural practitioners. Its breadth across art forms (visual arts, dance, theatre, music, arts writing) and its 50-year track record give it an institutional significance that newer and larger funders have not yet matched. Its arts grants are intentionally modest in individual amount but designed to be transformative at the career stage when artists most need support.