An Evening To Celebrate And Felicitate Dr Meenakshi Jain

Bhaarateeya Vidyaa Vibhuutih Dr. Nagaraj Paturi is a polymath and thought leader who has played a pivotal role in advancing Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). His contributions have significantly shaped academic programs, research collaborations, and dialogues between traditional Shaastric scholars and contemporary academia, ensuring their continued relevance in academia and policy-making. Trained at home in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his erudite father, the late Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu Garu, Dr. Paturi cultivated profound expertise in classical Indian knowledge traditions from an early age. His intellectual journey reflects a rare synthesis of deep traditional wisdom and modern scholarly inquiry, making him a vital bridge between ancient and contemporary thought. His life’s work focuses on reviving, preserving, and contemporizing Indian traditions, guiding scholars and institutions to embrace authentic Indian perspectives. As Senior Director and Dean at INDICA, Dr. Paturi spearheaded mentorship programs, research fellowships and curated diverse conferences and symposiums. These initiatives brought together distinguished scholars to explore domains such as Vedic mindfulness, yoga, Hindu aesthetics, environmentalism, polytheism, meditation, Hindu ethics and law, and various Indic traditions including Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Tantra, Bhakti, Jainism, and Buddhism. His ability to integrate Shaastric and contemporary academic frameworks has expanded INDICA’s impact, making Indian knowledge accessible to scholars, students, professionals, and homemakers alike. For over three and a half decades, Dr. Paturi has mentored thousands of Civil Services aspirants, equipping them with logical rigor, historical clarity, and a profound experiential understanding of Indian culture and governance. His contributions have reshaped intellectual and administrative spaces, challenging colonial frameworks and restoring an authentically Indian approach to policymaking. Dr. Paturi serves on the boards of studies and advisory councils of multiple universities and is a leading figure in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat, a prestigious body of traditional scholars dedicated to Sanskrit and Shastric studies. His academic positions include Distinguished Professor and Curriculum Designer at the MIT School of Vedic Sciences and Board Member at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, and Veda Vijnana Gurukula. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Studies in Public Leadership and continues to serve on academic boards in the Departments of Sanskrit and Dance, as well as the School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad. His PhD from the University of Hyderabad is a pioneering study that applies Vedic parallels to Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, and Aesthetics, establishing connections with classical Telugu poetry. His MPhil research introduced Paniniyan Linguistic Theory, establishing Vakyapadiyam as the theoretical foundation of Ashtadhyayi and unveiling its universal linguistic principles. His academic contributions include over 120 publications on Indian Knowledge Systems, Linguistics, Mythology, and Cultural Studies, along with 60+ conference papers on Vedic Sciences and Folk Culture Studies. He has provided consultancy for cultural research projects in theatre, dance, and literature and contributed to creative works, including scriptwriting for Classical Dance and Modern Theatre. Additionally, he is a distinguished Telugu poet, renowned for performing Ashtavadhanams, a rare literary and intellectual feat. His institutional impact includes co-founding the Maharshi Veda Vyas MIT School of Vedic Sciences at MIT ADT University, Pune, where he designed UG, PG, and research programs that set benchmarks for IKS education. His work has influenced the expansion of IKS studies across institutions, shaping initiatives under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. As a Senior Professor at FLAME University, he pioneered courses in Comparative Religion, Law and Justice, Historiography, and Media Research. He has also served as faculty at DJ Academy of Design (Coimbatore), NID (Bengaluru), and MIT Institute of Design (Pune), developing specialized courses in Design Ethnography, Semiotics, Research Methodology, and Indian Design Aesthetics. As a Visiting Faculty at the University of Chicago, he introduced Indian traditions and linguistics to a global audience. At the University of Hyderabad, he has led extensive research on religious transgenderism, ritual-officiating sub-castes, yogic mystic folk songs, the Bonalu festival, the folk-classical interface, and inter-traditional studies. Through his extensive research and teaching, Dr. Nagaraj Paturi continues to bridge ancient Indian wisdom with contemporary academia, policy, and governance. His work continues to revitalize and strengthen Indian sciences and cultural traditions, ensuring that Indian Knowledge Systems remain dynamic, evolving, and integral to India’s intellectual and governance framework.

Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, the President of the IGNCA Trust, is a veteran Hindi journalist, editor, and writer. Born on 1 July 1946 in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, he studied Economics at Banaras Hindu University and earned a postgraduate diploma in mass communication. Deeply involved in the JP Movement during the Emergency, he was imprisoned under MISA for his activism. Professionally, he worked as News Editor at Jansatta, Group Editor of Hindusthan Samachar, and contributed extensively to Hindi journalism. He has authored influential works such as Shashwat Vidrohi Rajneta, Rahbari ke Sawal, Manzil Se Zyada Safar, and Bharatiya Samvidhan: Ankahi Kahani. For his immense contribution to journalism and public life, he was honored with the Padma Shri in 2015 and the Padma Bhushan in 2025, presented at a special ceremony at IGNCA.

Prof. Bharat Gupt, currently Vice-Chairman of the National School of Drama (NSD) Society and also a trustee of the IGNCA, is a noted classicist, theatre theorist, musicologist, and academic. A retired Associate Professor of English from Delhi University’s College of Vocational Studies, he has taught for nearly four decades while also pursuing his passion for Indian classical arts as a performer of sitar and surbahar. Prof. Gupt is best known for his comparative scholarship on Greek and Indian drama, particularly through his landmark book Dramatic Concepts – Greek and Indian. He has been actively associated with cultural heritage initiatives, including the International Forum for India’s Heritage, and has contributed to projects like the Ram Mandir in Ashok Vihar. In recognition of his scholarship and service to Indian culture, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2023 and the Padma Shri in 2025.

Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, the Member-Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, is an eminent cultural administrator, writer, and theatre artist. Born on 9 November 1963, he has previously served as Vice-Chancellor of Kushabhau Thakre Journalism University, Raipur, and as Registrar and Dean at Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal. A prolific author, Dr. Joshi has edited and written several works including Connecting Through Culture, Selected Words of Mahatma on Culture and Civilization, and The Eternal Truth – Life & Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He is also a life member of INTACH and serves on various national cultural committees such as those of NMML and UGC. Widely recognized for his contributions to culture, literature, and education, he has been conferred with multiple national honors.

Author and researcher, Gautam Chikermane is Vice President at the Observer Research Foundation. His work spans grand strategy, economic thought, and the deeper moral dimensions of the Mahābhārata

Anand Ranganathan obtained his BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, after which he went on a scholarship to Cambridge, UK, where he obtained his BA (Tripos) in Natural Sciences, his MA, and his PhD. After a post-doctoral stint at Cambridge, Anand returned to India to join International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Delhi, where he ran his lab for 16 years as a Staff Research Scientist. In 2015 he joined the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and became a full Professor in 2019. His laboratory works in the area of Directed Evolution and Pathogenesis, with special emphasis on Tuberculosis and Malaria. Scientific contributions from Anand's lab have been published in peer-reviewed journals like The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Chemistry & Biology, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Nature Communications. Anand Ranganathan writes and appears frequently on television debates, on Politics, Media, and Science. His columns have appeared in Swarajya, DNA, NL, Firstpost, and Quartz. He is also the Consulting Editor of Swarajya. Anand has authored five books: The Land of the Wilted Rose (Rupa, 2012); For Love and Honour (Bloomsbury, 2015); The Rat Eater (Bloomsbury, 2019; co-authored); Soufflé (Penguin, 2023); and Hindus in Hindu Rashtra (BlueOne Ink, 2023). His forthcoming book is on India's forgotten scientists (Penguin, 2025; co-authored).

Ashish Dhar is a Kashmiri Hindu living in exile in New Delhi. He is a Mechanical engineer by training and a social entrepreneur by occupation. He is the founder of Upword Foundation, a non-profit alternative media outlet that produces audio-visual content and commentary on socio-cultural issues like Hindu Temple autonomy, judicial reform, civilisational conflicts like Kashmir and so on. Ashish has also produced feature documentaries on key civilisational issues related to temples, heritage and environment and has significantly contributed to Hindu discourse building through Upword.

National Convener of Indic Academy, Vipul Kocher is an ex-Adobe engineer and IIT alumnus with three decades in Software Development and Testing industry. He is co-founder and CEO of AIEnsured– an Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance product company and the founder of Verity Software, a highly respected, niche player in the software testing training space. Vipul founded and ran PureTesting, a hugely successful and recognized testing services company from 2004 to 2012 before selling it. Vipul is also the Founder-President of the Indian Testing Board where he represents India in International tester’s board. He loves reading - about India, about Dharma and Science Fiction.

Dr. Yogini Deshpande is a practicing Civil Engineer by profession. She is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of IndicA Today. Dr Deshpande has degrees from Mumbai University & Purdue University & diverse experience in academia, research & consulting. She has been associated with Indic Academy since it’s inception & is it’s Mumbai Chapter coordinator. She is an avid reader, Indian Classical Music aficionado & keen political observer.