43rd Online Symposium On IKS Studies On STATECRAFT, POLITICAL THOUGHT & GOVERNANCE

Trained in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his hyper-polyglot, polymath and spiritually accomplished sakala-shaastra-paarangata father, late Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu garu, Dr Nagaraj Paturi is seriously committed to the transmission of Vedic sciences to the present generation. In his PhD thesis (1998, University of Hyderabad), he developed an Indic Model of Myth Criticism of Literature and in his MPhil (1987, University of Hyderabad), he foregrounded Vakyapadiya as the theoretical foundation of the Ashtadhyayi. In addition to over 50 publications and about 60 conference/seminar/workshop papers, Dr Paturi has designed several courses pertaining to the contemporary applications of Vedic Sciences and has been successfully teaching them and getting them taught. Formerly Senior Professor of Cultural Studies FLAME School of Communication (& FLAME School of Liberal Education) and a Visiting Professor, University of Chicago (USA), Dr Paturi is currently Senior Director and Chief Curator at INDICA, a Distinguished Professor, Curriculum Designer, Executive Committee Member, Board of Studies, MIT School of Vedic Sciences (Pune, Maharashtra), Member, Board of Studies at Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University (Ramtek, Maharashtra) and Rashtram School of Public Leadership (Sonipat, Haryana). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of International Journals of Studies in Public Leadership and is a member of the Advisory Council of Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam (Bengaluru, Karnataka). He has provided consultancy to numerous culture research, theatre, and dance innovation projects. He has authored scores of creative writing works for Classical Dance, Modern Theater, and magazines and has delivered several series of talks and other programs on Radio and Television channels.

After studying Chemistry at IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur, under a National Science Talent Scholarship, I completed MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Received scholarship from the British Council to attend a Senior Executive course at Manchester Business School. Worked for 40 years in the chemicals industry. My articles have appeared in various business and industry newspapers/ magazines. I have delivered lectures, in India and overseas, on industry and management topics. After retirement, started learning about our heritage. Studied Sanskrit, and attended courses on Paninian grammar, Indian Mathematics, Mahabharat, Panchatantra, Vedas, et al. I find that the Panchtantra has much wisdom useful for adults. It is far more than children’s stories. On Panchtantra, I have published a video on YouTube, explaining what thoughtful persons may learn from the famous Cave Story (link https://youtu.be/lgX8edR5VBI) . I have also given a talk to the Institute of Management Consultants of India, and an interview to Empowering Times magazine. Another YouTube video of mine brings out the important role played by two Indian mathematicians in the calculation of Pi (Ref- Ramanujan's Pi Formula Breakthrough for Calculating Pi to Million Decimals and More - link https://youtu.be/sANvsFo2bjY )

Dr. Guha Vishwanath M V is a versatile Sanskrit scholar and educator based in Mysore, India, recognised for his multilingual instruction of Sanskrit shastras and deep expertise in Vedic literature, Indian philosophy, astrology (Jyotisha), and classical Sanskrit poetics. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Heritage Sciences, IIT Hyderabad, and is the Chief Astrology Consultant at WeWake Spiritual Sutra Pvt. Ltd., besides leading a research project on Ramakatha funded by the Ministry of Education. Dr. Vishwanath holds a PhD from Banaras Hindu University, with research focused on discourse in the Valmiki Ramayana, and multiple postgraduate degrees in Sanskrit literature and Jyotisha with distinction. Over his academic career, he has taught at esteemed universities including Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and has provided independent instruction in Vedas, poetics, and astrology since 2005. His research portfolio includes project leadership, publication of scholarly articles and books, and ongoing work translating significant Sanskrit texts into regional languages. An active participant and convener in numerous national and international seminars, Dr. Vishwanath is also associated with institutions and yoga foundations worldwide, offering advanced lectures in Upanishads, Yoga, and Samkhya philosophy. His core skills encompass advanced Jyotisha analysis, Sanskrit literature, and curriculum design, while his creative pursuits include publishing, audio-visual content, and participation in traditional and modern knowledge dissemination. Dr. Vishwanath’s dynamic involvement in academic, spiritual, and literary circles demonstrates a rare blend of scholarship, pedagogy, and community engagement.

Garikapati Pavan Kumar is an independent researcher deeply immersed in Bhāratīya knowledge systems, with a focus on the Veda, Vedāṅga, Darśana Śāstras, Itihāsa–Purāṇas, and nīti (ethical and political) texts. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, an M.Tech in Manufacturing, and a postgraduate degree in Industrial Engineering. His published work in Indica Today explores intersections between ancient astronomy, Vedānta, and systemic views of consciousness. Pavan has delivered talks to various study groups on the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, covering topics such as Śādja Gīta (Śānti Parva, Mahābhārata), Rāma’s birth and marriage, Pattābhisheka, and other reflective themes. His engagement with these epics began in familial circles, nurtured by the āśīrvāda of his parents, siblings, sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law, and enriched by the companionship and support of his wife and daughter. For this symposium, he turns his attention to epic narrative—specifically the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Gītā Press Telugu script)—bringing his analytical and comparative style to examine how the Bharata–Rāma dialogue at Citrakūṭa models rājadharma, statesmanship, and governance within the Indic tradition.

An avid reader of history and ancient texts, Pranshu Saxena inherited love for writing and reading along with diabetes from his forebears. This madhurmeha (and madhumeha) stuck with him through his education on three continents. He enjoys delving into details of stories to find hidden truths which his young students at Vidyalaya enjoy. His stories are published in INDICA anthologies (Unsung Valor, Flight of Deities, Shared Roots, Adrsya) and on Real Mahabharata of Veda Vyasa. His writings on Epics and history are available on various portals. Pranshu resides in New Jersey where he shares his life with wife, daughter, father-in-law, and a lifelong collection of books.

Dr. Manisha Deepak Puranik is an Assistant Professor at the SBL Centre of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. She holds a Ph.D. in Indology, with a focus on the socio-political context of the Daśakumāracarita of Daṇḍin from the 6th-8th centuries C.E., alongside degrees in Sanskrit, Indology, and Physics, and a diploma in computers. After 20 years in computer training, she shifted her focus to Indology and Sanskrit, driven by her passion for Indian heritage and culture. Dr. Puranik is a UGC-certified faculty for the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Master Trainers’ Program and has completed advanced workshops in IKS across India. She has also served as guest faculty at various colleges and contributed to textbooks and publications on Indian Knowledge Systems. Additionally, she has delivered lectures on ancient Indian sciences and architecture, including a series on Pune Akashawani. Dr. Puranik has worked as a subject expert for the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and co-authored works on IKS, contributing to the field through academic and outreach initiatives.

Heemal Pandey is a Research Scholar in English Literature at Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Her doctoral research examines political discourse in modern Indian plays through the lens of Bharatiya aesthetics, bridging classical Indian theories of drama and poetics with contemporary performance and literary studies. She has previously trained in Hindu Studies and Kāvyas with Indica, under the guidance of Guru Nagaraj Paturi, which deepened her engagement with Indian Knowledge Systems, Sanskrit poetics and narrative pedagogy. In addition, she has pursued several certificate and short-term courses related to aesthetics, cultural studies, and literature, expanding her academic foundation with an interdisciplinary approach. Heemal’s research interests include Indian poetics, aesthetics, performance studies, feminist readings of drama, translation studies, and cultural discourse. She is multilingual, working across English, Hindi, and Sanskrit, with translation and writing experience that enables her to bring multiple linguistic perspectives into her scholarship. She has presented and published on subjects such as the Nāṭyaśāstra, ecological interpretations of the Rāmāyaṇa, feminist approaches to Indian theatre, and the role of language in cultural revival. Her writings appear in anthologies, journals, and conference proceedings, including those of Gandharvam and Central Sanskrit University. In addition to academic research, Heemal has worked as a content writer, editor, and translator, extending her scholarship into applied and public-facing domains. She is also a practitioner of Kathak and Odissi dance, storyteller, and theatre artist. This performance background allows her to approach texts not only as literary artifacts but as embodied traditions of aesthetics and ethics. Her forthcoming symposium presentation explores the Vetāla-pañcaviṃśati cycle as a model of narrative statecraft, situating King Vikramāditya as a Purāṇic, historical, and literary archetype of rajadharma, and showing how paradoxical storytelling functioned as political pedagogy in the Indian Knowledge Systems tradition.

Dr. Deepti Acharya is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, with over 19 years of experience. Her research focuses on Water Governance, Public Policy, and Public Administration in India. She has contributed extensively to national and international seminars and publications. Her recent book, Water and Public Policy in India: Politics, Rights, and Governance, was published by Routledge in 2022. She can be contacted at deepti.acharya-polsci@msubaroda.ac.in.

Associate Professor and Head, Department of History, Katwa College, West Bengal, and also involved in educational administration as President, Vidya Bharati, South Bengal. Writes on historical, social and educational issues.

Sriram Balasubramanian is a well-known former IMF economist and best selling author. He has worked for several global organizations including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the past. His areas of expertise include global macroeconomics,socio-economic trends in emerging markets and conic Indic/dharmic culture in the context of economics. He has written for several international publications,suchas Bloomberg, ForeignPolicy, The Wall Street Journal andVox EU among others, as an independent columnist and has been an independent panelist on CNBCTV18. Besides authoring the path breaking Kautilyanomics for modern times (Bloomsbury), he has authored the bestseller ‘Dharmanomics’ (http://dharmanomics.srirambala.in) which was the only book to recognized by the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modiji in writing in 2024. There are two other books, JAMBA: The Joint Family (shortlisted for the Third Annual IAAC Literary Festival organised by the Indo-American Arts Council) and The Wizards, which has been featured in varied publications, including The Hindu. He is an alumnus of Columbia University, New York.

Arjun Anand is a Doctoral Candidate at the Special Centre for the Study of Northeast India, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He is a UGC-Senior Research Fellow in Political Science and has qualified for the NET in International and Area Studies. His research interests include Jammu-Kashmir, Indian contemporary thought, sacred spaces, and political theory. Arjun’s M.Phil. dissertation focused on the political philosophy of Bhaṭṭa Medhātithi, while his doctoral research explores the sacred geography of Assam, specifically looking at swadeśī categories and collective belongingness through the lens of Tīrtha traditions. A student rights activist for over a decade, Arjun contested for General Secretary in the 2023-24 JNUSU elections. He is also the National Convener of SHoDH (Students for Holistic Development of Humanity) Foundation, a student-led platform with 34 university teams across India, dedicated to developing holistic research approaches and academic leadership. SHoDH organizes various academic initiatives, including internships, workshops, and seminars, such as a research internship on Mahakumbh held in Prayagraj earlier this year. Arjun’s commitment to academic leadership and the pursuit of knowledge defines his academic journey.

Shankara Bharadwaj Khandavalli is a Software/Firmware engineer based in Bengaluru and the co-founder of Hindupedia, an online encyclopedia dedicated to Hinduism. He is also an independent scholar with a focus on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). Currently, he is working on the concept of Knowledge Architecture for future systems, including the State, aiming to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technological frameworks. His work bridges the gap between technology and ancient wisdom, contributing to both the tech industry and the field of IKS.

Varsha Pargat is a prolific writer, poetess and an inspiring storyteller whose work bridges the wisdom of ancient India with the challenges of modern life. Author of eight remarkable books, she has explored the depth and beauty of Indian mythology and history through timeless epics like the Ramayan, Mahabharat, the life of Krishna, the fables of Panchtantra, and the extraordinary journeys of historical icons such as Rani Laxmibai and Saint Tukaram. Her writings also embrace scientific curiosity, connecting concepts like E=mc² to practical life lessons. Varsha’s unique strength lies in interpreting these classical tales and philosophies to highlight life skills, management strategies, and values relevant to today’s fast-changing world. A retired teacher and former ISA Coordinator, she continues to inspire the younger generation as a dynamic public speaker and student counsellor. Through her thoughtfully designed programs in schools and colleges, she shares the life stories of unsung heroes, motivating students to draw courage, resilience and ethical leadership from India’s rich heritage. Varsha’s engaging articles have been published in leading newspapers, where her reflections on culture, education and personal growth have earned wide appreciation. Her captivating presence has also made her a frequent invitee for thought-provoking talks and poetry recitals on Akashwani Vadodara. With an innate ability to weave ancient wisdom into modern perspectives, Varsha Pargat not only celebrates India’s glorious past but also illuminates pathways for the future. Her words encourage readers and listeners alike to embrace timeless virtues—integrity, creativity and perseverance—while navigating contemporary challenges. As an author, poetess and speaker, she continues to leave an indelible mark, inspiring countless individuals to discover the power of stories and the relevance of our cultural heritage in shaping successful, meaningful lives today.

Prof. Kanagaraj Easwaran is Professor and Head of the Department of Social Work, Mizoram University, a Central University in the northeastern region of India. Over the past twenty-one years, he has combined teaching, research, and academic leadership with a vision to Indianise and pluralise social science knowledge. This vision is rooted in his long research engagement with marginalised communities and his commitment to shaping culturally grounded academic practice. He earned his Ph.D. from Annamalai University in 2005 for his thesis on Human Development and Social Exclusion of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu. Prof. Easwaran’s academic journey also includes an M.A. in Social Work (Community Development), a Postgraduate Diploma in Econometrics, and UGC-NET qualifications, including JRF in Social Work (Rural and Tribal Welfare). His teaching has ranged from Foundations of Social Work to International Social Work, and he has guided 12 Ph.D. scholars, 22 M.Phil. Scholars, and more than 30 MSW dissertations reflecting his deep engagement in mentoring future scholars. Alongside his teaching, his research contributions are equally wide-ranging. His expertise spans social capital, sustainable livelihood, rural and tribal development, and advanced social work research methodology. He integrates quantitative, qualitative, and participatory approaches, with special proficiency in social network analysis and mixed-methods inquiry. His completed projects include studies on bamboo flowering and rural livelihoods, women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and the working conditions of bamboo artisans. These efforts have resulted in one book, fifteen chapters in edited volumes, and over twenty journal articles. Beyond research outputs, his intellectual mission is anchored in epistemic reform. He is a leading advocate for the Bharatiyakaran of humanities, social sciences, and social work, emphasising the integration of Indian darśanic and śāstric wisdom with contemporary scholarship. At the same time, he stresses the importance of debate and dialogue with Western frameworks introduced during the colonial and imperialist British Raj. His mission is to restore epistemic balance, advance decolonisation, and align social sciences with the ethical values of Satya and Dharma. Through his teaching, scholarship, and mentorship, Prof. Easwaran continues to shape a more rooted, plural, and transformative vision of social sciences in India.

Pinku Jha is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. He recently submitted his doctoral thesis titled “Ideas of Welfare in the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad Gita) and Their Impact on the Political Thought of Select Modern Indian Thinkers” to the Department of Political Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat. His research engages deeply with Indic knowledge traditions, political thought, and questions of welfare and justice in both classical and modern contexts. Jha has been actively involved in academic and intellectual initiatives that foreground Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). He has presented his research at multiple national and international conferences and has contributed to discussions on Indic perspectives, including themes such as Indic Feminism during his association with IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute), and at academic programs such as the Winter School at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. His scholarly contributions include edited volumes, research articles published in UGC-CARE listed journals, Springer publications, and other peer-reviewed outlets. His interdisciplinary work spans political science, philosophy, and cultural studies, making significant interventions in the field of Indian political thought. Through his teaching and research, Jha seeks to bridge classical Indic texts with contemporary debates, situating them within both national and global discourses.

Sriram Venkatakrishnan is the creator of Storydharma and the author of The Panchatantra Code: Become a Super Star at Work. His work brings ancient Indian wisdom into modern mediums such as AI, game design, and storytelling. With an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management and IIM Ahmedabad, he combines analytical rigor with a storyteller’s soul, shaped by decades of global leadership in strategy, marketing, and technology. His current focus is on reinterpreting the Panchatantra — not as fables for children, but as one of the world’s most sophisticated frameworks for statecraft, political thought, and leadership. Alongside this, he is learning Sanskrit to access classical texts in their original form, drawing deeply from Subhāṣitas, Itihāsas, and Purāṇas. Through books, games, and digital experiments, he retells India’s great nīti texts as timeless leadership operating systems — transforming their lessons into practical playbooks for navigating politics, governance, and today’s fast-changing world of work.

Dr. Kamini Gogri, the recipient of the Kutch Shakti National award 2013, holds Ph. D in Philosophy(especially Jainism) and avid marathon runner(with Run India Run and travel enthusiast. Her specialization includes Consciousness studies, mysticism, Bhakti, Prakrit, Buddhism, Jainism, and Shaivism. She is currently a Project consultant on the project “Jain Prosopography”, at SOAS, Jain Center, London. She is also Head of Research in Ancient Scriptures, at Eikam Resonance Foundation. She is also an advisor/ consultant for an OTT platform on Jainism. She is also an Executive Member of the Scholars Committee Jain Agam Mission, Uvvassagaharam Sadhana Trust. She is on the Board of the Center for Indian Studies, AL Zahara University, Tehran, Iran. She has received the INDIC Academy fellowship for 2020-21. She also is associated with the German Government for evolving inter-faith-based laws. She is involved with various projects with Prof Anne Vallely, Canada, University of Ottawa. She is jointly working on various projects with Prof Tanim from Bangladesh and Prof Wimal from Srilanka on Jainism and Buddhism. Also a part of interfaith dialogue, HWPL, South Korea as an expert on Jainism. She is Visting faculty for MA (Philosophy) and MA ( History) at Mumbai University, India. She has been invited to Canada, USA, South Korea, UK, Belgium for conferences and lectures. She has published more than 20 articles nationally and internationally, along with articles in INDIC today. She has initiated the Igniting mind foundation for youth leadership and works for women empowerment in rural India. As a Philosophical Counsellor, she is determined to bring out a much-needed change in people special in relation to emotional health and its relation to cognitive development.

Dr. Bharti Chhibber is teaching in University of Delhi, India. Dr. Chhibber is a well-known author, socio-political analyst and an environmentalist. She is working, extensively writing, mentoring and speaking in India and abroad for many years in the wide-ranging areas of Indic thought, international relations, peace-building, security studies, historical studies, electoral democracy, gender, culture, indigenous knowledge and climate change. Dr. Chhibber has more than 200 published books, research papers and articles to her credit. She is regularly invited as an expert in electronic and print media interviews, discussions, international conferences and for capacity-building training of educators, and professionals of different countries. Dr. Chhibber has been honoured with international and national awards including Sustainability International Award 2025, Indo-Pacific Outstanding Political Scientist Award 2022, International Distinguished Scientist Award 2021. She is on the Advisory Board of several organizations including honorary National Coordinator-Sustainability Education, India.

Aniket Udayrao Bhavthankar, Doctoral Candidate in International Relations and submitted the doctoral dissertation at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. Aniket’s research focuses on India’s democratic conceptions in foreign policy, strategic culture, and civilisational worldviews. He has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Symbiosis School of International Studies and a Senior Research Associate at the Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. He holds a masters in international relations from the South Asian University, New Delhi and a bachelor's degree in computer applications from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. His work has been published in leading strategic forums, including Eurasia Review and Indian Defence Review. Aniket is a lover of Marathi literature who particularly enjoys P.L. Deshpande’s wry, satirical and humorous observations on the human condition.

Shashikant Joshi is an author, former IT professional serving Fortune 500 companies, Sanskrit enthusiast, and online content creator. He holds a BTech in Computer Science and Technology from IIT Kharagpur and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota. He is the author of the well-received book “Attitude Shift – Sanskrit Maxims for Contemporary Life and Leadership.” Since 2009, he has written on his blog PracticalSanskrit.com and on his Facebook page PracticalSanskrit, which is the largest Sanskrit page on Facebook run by an individual. He writes about Indian wisdom in Sanskrit works and its relevance to modern times. He has delivered talks at various corporates and online events. His three-week, daily live webinar, ‘So, You Think You Know Your Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa,’ in January 2024 was very well received.

Dr. Vivek Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Higher Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh, currently serving at Government College Solan. He holds a Ph.D. from Panjab University, Chandigarh, focusing on the analytical study of the interrelationship between Śāktatantra and Jyotiṣa. His academic journey includes a Master of Arts in Sanskrit Language and Literature and a Vishista Shastri (Honours) in Classics from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. Dr. Sharma's field of specialization encompasses the Study of Consciousness and Self, Śāktatantra in Tantra Studies, the philosophical study of Time and Direction in Jyotiṣa, and the concept of Sambandha in Vedic schools of Indian Philosophy. His research interests extend to Trans-Himalayan Studies and the application of Computational Linguistics in Sanskrit. He has a distinguished record of national and international conference presentations. He has presented seven papers at the 19th World Sanskrit Conference in Kathmandu and has also presented at the 18th World Sanskrit Conference in Canberra. Dr. Sharma is a published author of creative works in Sanskrit and research papers. He has received recognition, including the 1st prize in Poster Presentation at the 22nd International Congress of Vedanta. He is a life member of the All India Oriental Conference and has served as a Convener for the Jyotiṣa section at the 19th World Sanskrit Conference.

Shivakumar G V is 'Director - INDICA (Guru-Saadhaka Sachiva). His responsibilities focus on INDICA’s critical mission to cultivate leadership. He guides initiatives to serve Gurus, perpetuate their legacies, enable/empower leaders committed to IKS to become influential thinkers, institution builders and public leaders, and bolster the broader IKS ecosystem. Over the next 36 months, Shivakumar embarks on an ambitious pledge to honor and sustain the legacies of 108 Living and Past Gurus from the 20th Century. His efforts will focus on organizing, making accessible, and cultivating a parampara that highlights their significant contributions to our civilization. As an IKS Research Scholar, Shivakumar remains dedicated to his scholarly pursuits in Itihasa-Puranas and Indian Knowledge Systems. His work includes developing contemporary frameworks based on IKS principles, with a special focus on the Mahabharata and Purushartha. He has been a prolific contributor to INDICA Today, sharing his insights and knowledge with both academic and general audiences. He has delivered several story telling and courses on Mahabharata, Purushartha, Indic Civilization Studies for aspiring leaders and students. He is the curator of ‘Aryaa - An Anthology of Vedic Studies’ a collection of 10 stories on 10 Vedic Women by 10 Authors published by INDICA. Shivakumar holds an M.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and a B.E. from the National Institute of Technology, Surat. With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, his expertise spans theoretical computer science, algorithms, and learning system design. Shivakumar resides in Bengaluru with his family and is a devoted follower of the River-Goddess Saraswati.

Devamalya De is a civil engineer, project leader, and heritage scientist who bridges Indic knowledge systems with modern governance and technology. An IIM Kozhikode alumna with 22+ years in mega-projects across India, Bahrain, and the Gulf, he applies dharmic principles of duty, balance, and sustainability to state-scale undertakings. Currently pursuing M.Tech in Heritage Science & Technology at IIT Hyderabad, he integrates śāstra with śilpa, policy with practice. As GM of Al Namal Contracting, he leads multi-million-dollar projects while advancing heritage-sensitive governance. His work embodies lokasaṅgraha — sustaining people, culture, and nature through civilizationally rooted statecraft.

Prof Sunitha Madhavan is the great granddaughter of Rai Bahadur V. Venkayya,. A double gold medalist from the University of Madras, she has to her credit three decades of teaching experience at various colleges in Chennai : Ethiraj College for Women, S.I.E.T. College for Women, and Meenakshi College She was the guest lecturer at Stella Maris College and lesson writer for M.Com Correspondence Course at Madras University. She retired as Professor and H.O.D. of Economics, Meenakshi College, Chennai in 2002 and settled in the US. She authored the book ‘’Life and Works of Rai Bahadur V. Venkayya’’, published with foreword by Padma Bhushan Dr. R. Nagaswamy, Tamil Arts Academy, 2020. Sunitha is a freelance writer and had contributed articles to newspapers, journals and magazines : The Hindu, The Indian Express, Madras Musings, Vidura, Press Institute of India, Bhavan’s Journal, Quarterly Journal of Mythic Society, Bangalore, Aavanam, Archaeological Society,Tanjore, and Hinduism Today magazine. . She has instituted the V. Venkayya Epigraphy Award at the Tamil Heritage Trust, Chennai. In July this year she presented a paper, “The Sacred Kural and the Stalwart Epigraphist” at the Conference in MI organized by the International Association of Tamil Research and the Michigan Tamil Sangam, celebrating its Golden Jubilee year.