Behind the Hills was a research-led communication design project aimed at exploring the complex causes and emotional consequences of mass migration from rural Garhwal in Uttarakhand. Set against the backdrop of India’s disappearing mountain villages ,often referred to as “ghost villages”, the project was born from a personal turning point that led to a deeper cultural awakening & inquiry into my own own heritage.

The project culminated in a series of visual artifacts and a research publication that wove together data, design, and deeply personal memory—blurring the line between documentation and reclamation.This project not only highlighted the urgent need to preserve cultural memory in the face of modern migration but also offered Abhinav an opportunity to confront internalised biases, engage with systemic issues, and practice socially conscious design with emotional integrity.