Meet Tanuj Samaddar | Artist, Youth Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanuj Samaddar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanuj, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I refuse to give up. This habit has been the foundation of my journey as an artist & beyond. I turn setbacks into blueprints. Hailing from a geographically and socio-economically sequestered part of the country, my willpower coupled with sheer resilience has paved the path for me to achieve some of the most reputed accolades globally. Growing up, I realised that opportunities wouldn’t be served to me on a golden platter, rather I’ll have to forge my own destiny. And so, I did. Resilience is something that has become an indispensable part of my soul. Since the day I became mature to enough to understand the stark realities of my life as someone who hailed from the lower middle class strata to this day when at times my efforts don’t translate into competition victories — Resilience is something that has shaped my personality to the extent that no other trait has.
I’d say empathy-driven leadership has been my compass. Every time they thought I was done, I came back louder, sharper, and ten steps ahead.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m Tanuj Samaddar, FRSA and a Kentucky Colonel, born on 26th December 2004 in Rangia, a small town nestled in the Kamrup district of Assam, India. I’m an aspiring artist, youth activist, illustrator, and environmental advocate.

My journey into the creative world began when I was barely one and a half years old, taking my earliest steps with crayons long before I understood the impact that art could have. With the unwavering support of my parents and a deep sense of purpose, I gradually transformed this passion into a platform for change.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition that continually humbles and motivates me. I was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (2021), India’s highest civilian award for non-adults, conferred by the President of India. In 2022, I was also awarded the U.S. President’s Education Award

Further, I received the Kentucky Colonel Commission — the highest civilian honour of the Commonwealth of Kentucky — directly from the Governor of Kentucky. I was also appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Commonwealth, a responsibility I carry with deep gratitude and pride. Currently, I serve as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK) and have been honoured with over 35 international and 75+ national awards in the field of fine arts. My recent efforts to integrate art with activism—especially in areas like mental health, climate justice, and youth empowerment—have been recognised and lauded by numerous national and international organizations alike.

Art, to me, is not just expression — it is resistance, healing, and transformation. I continue to strive toward using creativity as a catalyst for purpose-driven change.

Although I am an artist at the very core, my identity has been built in the intersection of multidisciplinary pursuits. I have built my presence in the domains of public policy, international relations, youth activism among other fields. I have worked with several government stakeholders including but not limited to the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Institute of Technology etc to lead change in the domain of policy research. Additionally I am currently serving as a fellow in the Impact & Policy Research Institute, New Delhi and assisting an Indian parliamentarian in the formation of a policy brief on Navigating Climate and Energy Cooperation in the South Asian region. I am also a part of UNESCO’s Policy Lab. On the front of activism, I have served as a youth advisor in the Global Youth Advisory Council, Zimbabwe in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Additionally , I am currently serving as the country ambassador for Youth Opportunities and Aunua Global ( Ireland). My work is centred around SDG 4: Quality Education and Youth Empowerment and I have been able to touch more than 2000 lives till now. For my efforts I was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and Karmaveer Chakra award from the UNDP. In this short journey I have amassed over 400 awards both nation al and international with a diverse track record embellished with recognitions from the head of states of different countries and provinces.

Far from simple, my path has been a confluence of passion, dedication, and purposequite gratifying. I come from a small township in Assam, where access to opportunities was limited, but the desire to create impact was limitless. From spearheading mental health initiatives all across university campuses to representing India on worldwide youth platforms, I have come to understand that change starts where comfort ends. Breaking into spaces dominated by privilege and power meant that I often had to carve a seat at the table rather than wait for one. There were moments of silence, setbacks, and invisibility but each challenge became a lesson in resilience. Whether navigating the academic world, building cross-border partnerships, or raising underrepresented voices via art, I have stayed rooted in one conviction: meaningful change begins with empathy, supported by action.

I want the world to know that my brand is not about accolades—it’s about advocacy. It’s about the stories I’ve had the guts to tell, the policies I’ve tried to affect, and the lives I modestly impacted along the way. My narrative is one of connecting worlds between activism and academia, the local and the global, vision and reality via a brushstroke, a research paper, or a grassroots movement.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If they visit Delhi, I have a curated list of some of the best places they could visit. One thing I can say for sure, you can’t take enough of this place in just a week. Being a wilderness freak myself, my go to places would be the city forest of Sanjay Van and Jahpanah Forest. These are the tiny pieces of scenic natural treasure hidden amidst the concrete jungles of this metro city. And once we get tired of a day of wandering around and exploring new trails, cafes like the Lord of Drinks and Ama would come to our rescue ! My itinerary would also include hangout spots of Connought Place, the art village of Hauz Khas and old Delhi ! Oh, I can go on endlessly– there’s so much to explore, right from the lip smacking street food of Jama Masjid to the gourmet delicacies of Khan Market .

The vibrant chaos of Delhi is starkly juxtaposed against the quiet calmness of my hometown Rangia. My town is embellished with some lush green pastures and paddy fields. From spending the evening at Eco-Park to taking a nighttime stroll along the country road…If you really want to run away from the relentless hum of the city, Rangia, with its slow rhythms, unfurls a gentle reminder of what it actually means to be surrounded by nature, simplicity, and silence that speak volumes. Here, stories are told over cups of tea; barefoot kids splash through the crooked, muddy lanes; somehow, time seems to stop and smile at you.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This journey has been marked with numerous hurdles but en-route there were canopies of solace for me to rest under and embrace these difficulties with a reinvigorated zeal . Their presence in my life as mentors, friends and counsels made it worth living. While I would remain eternally indebted to these souls, I would take this opportunity to thank them and give them the credit they deserve. My mother fuelled the fire in me at an age when I could barely talk . That fire of continuing the fight against life’s odds is still burning. She is my rock, my mentor, my God. My father made my initial victories as an emerging artist possible. I have inherited the traits of patience and tolerance from my dad. Both of them raised me up to more than what I could be. My friends : Jyotirmoy & Avinash have been my constant companion throughout the highs and lows of life. I know I am the luckiest person on this planet because they have got my back.
Finally, my mentor, Anurag Jain and his foundation ‘Kiran Foundation’ has given wings to my dream. Last but not least, my younger self who didn’t give up on his dreams.

My success is pilar the building blocks of which are these extraordinary individuals.

Website: https://tanujsamaddar.in

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/being_tsam/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tanuj-samaddar-frsa-225020208

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanuj.samaddar/

Other: Reaserch Gate : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tanuj-Samaddar One Air Media News : https://oneairmedianews.com/author/tanuj/ Art Profile : https://dribbble.com/Tanuj_Samaddar_Official

Image Credits
Credits : Tanuj Samaddar