Invitation for Guru Utsava 2026

Prof. (Dr.) Shiva Kumar Ojha is a distinguished aerospace engineer, academic, and scholar whose career has seamlessly combined excellence in science with a deep commitment to Indian knowledge traditions. After earning an M.Sc. in Mathematics from Lucknow University and a Ph.D. in Aerodynamics from the Indian Institute of Science, he served as Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Bombay, where he made significant contributions through teaching, research, academic leadership, and scholarly publications, including the book Flight Performance of Aircraft. Following his retirement, he devoted himself to the study and dissemination of Indian philosophy and culture, contributing to society by promoting India's intellectual heritage through teaching, research, and public engagement.

Prof. Rajeshwari V Pandharipande is a distinguished scholar, educator, and linguist whose lifelong academic journey has significantly advanced the global understanding of Indian languages, Hinduism, and Indian culture. A Professor Emerita in the Department of Religion at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she has also held interdisciplinary appointments in Comparative and World Literature, Linguistics, Global Studies, and the Center for Translation Studies. Holding two doctoral degrees from Nagpur University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she has been widely recognized for her outstanding contributions to teaching with honors including the University Distinguished Teacher Scholar Award and the William Prokasy Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Dr. Shugan Chand Jain is a distinguished Jain scholar, author, and educator who has dedicated his life to the academic study and global dissemination of Jain philosophy. After a successful international career as an information technology consultant and advisor, he earned a Ph.D. in Jainology and devoted himself full-time to Jain studies. He is the Founder Chairman of the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), through which he has promoted scholarly engagement with Jainism across leading universities worldwide. Dr. Jain has authored several books and numerous research papers, and is widely respected for making Jain philosophy accessible to contemporary audiences through his teaching, writing, and international outreach.

P.P. Shri Anandswami Yashwantswami Goswami is a respected spiritual teacher and scholar of the Vaishnava tradition, dedicated to the preservation and propagation of India's devotional heritage. Rooted in a traditional lineage, he has devoted his life to the study, teaching, and exposition of sacred scriptures, inspiring seekers through discourses, spiritual guidance, and educational initiatives. His contributions include nurturing traditional learning, promoting dharmic values, and fostering a deeper understanding of Sanatana Dharma among diverse audiences. Through his lifelong service, he has played a significant role in preserving India's spiritual and cultural legacy for future generations.

Shri Hari Shankar Jain is a senior advocate with over four decades of legal practice, known for his extensive involvement in constitutional, civil, and public interest litigation. After earning his law degree from Awadh University in 1976, he began his legal career in Lakhimpur before moving to the Lucknow High Court in 1979. Throughout his career, he has appeared in several high-profile cases concerning constitutional issues, electoral matters, religious institutions, and public policy. He has been a leading advocate in some of India's most significant religious site litigations. Over more than two decades, he represented the Hindu Mahasabha in the Ayodhya title dispute, played a prominent role in the Gyanvapi Mosque and Krishna Janmabhoomi cases on behalf of Hindu petitioners, and has filed petitions concerning the Taj Mahal and Bhojshala, arguing for judicial examination of their historical religious character while also challenging aspects of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. His legal work has made him one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary litigation involving India's contested sacred sites.

Dr. K. L. Shankaranarayana Jois is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, yoga teacher, author, and educator who has dedicated his life to preserving and disseminating India's ancient knowledge traditions. An accomplished academic with a Ph.D. on Yoga in the Mahabharata, he has received three Gold Medals in the All India Sanskrit Elocution Competition and served as Assistant Professor at the Government Sanskrit College, Mysuru, for over two decades. His scholarship spans Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda, Dharmashastra, Jyotisha, and Indian philosophy, and he has authored several acclaimed books and over 1,000 articles on Indian knowledge systems. Through more than four decades of lectures, workshops, and public discourses, he has inspired countless seekers and students. As the Founder and Chief Trustee of Bharati Yogadhama, Mysuru, he has established pioneering initiatives such as Vidyanandini Gurukulam, Trayee-Yoga Shiksha, and Vedhashala—South India's first Jantar Mantar (observatory), built to showcase the vastness of Indian sciences and research the traditional Panchanga timekeeping system. Through these visionary projects, he is making India's timeless wisdom accessible to contemporary society while nurturing future generations rooted in the country's cultural and spiritual heritage.

For over five decades, Smt Bhushany Kalyanaraman has been a luminous presence in the world of Carnatic music. A gold medallist from the Tamil Nadu Government Music College and a foremost disciple of the legendary Sangita Kalanidhi Tanjore S. Kalyanaraman, she has carried forward the GNB–SKR musical tradition with exceptional artistry, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to sampradāya. Equally at home as a vocalist and veena artiste, her performances have captivated audiences across India and around the world. A revered teacher and recipient of the Kalaimamani award, Bhushany Kalyanaraman has dedicated her life not only to performance but also to nurturing future generations of musicians. From teaching at the University of Jaffna and Kalakshetra to inspiring students across the globe, she continues to preserve and transmit the timeless values of Carnatic music with humility, excellence, and grace. Her journey is a testament to a life devoted to music, tradition, and learning.

Dr. Arimalam S Padmanabhan is an eminent Carnatic vocalist, musicologist, composer, researcher, and educator whose contributions to Tamil music, theatre, and classical literature span over five decades. Trained in a hereditary musical tradition under his father and guru, Arimalam P.S.V. Subramaniam, he has combined the roles of performer, teacher, scholar, and cultural historian with exceptional distinction. A pioneer in the study of traditional Tamil theatrical music, he earned his Ph.D. from Pondicherry University for his groundbreaking research in the field and has devoted his career to documenting, preserving, and revitalizing the musical heritage of Tamil civilization. An auditioned artiste of All India Radio since 1979, Dr. Padmanabhan has performed extensively while also serving as a teacher, syllabus designer, composer, choir director, and academic leader. He has been a Fellow of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Visiting Professor at leading universities, and has authored fourteen acclaimed books and over eighty research articles on music, theatre, dance, and Tamil literary traditions. His scholarship has earned numerous honours, including the Best Musicologist Award from The Music Academy, Chennai, and prestigious awards from the Governments of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Through his research, publications, performances, and mentorship, Dr. Padmanabhan continues to be one of the foremost authorities on Tamil musicology and the performing arts, preserving an invaluable cultural legacy for future generations. Dr. Padmanabhan has been invited to deliver Plenary Lectures, Key note Addresses and Thematic Concerts in the USA, Australia and Sri Lanka on Tholkappiyam, Silappathkaram and Sangam Corpus, sharing the richness of Music , Theatre and Culture with international academic and cultural audience. He is honoured as Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

Dr. P. Perumal, born on June 2, 1954, is a highly experienced conservator specializing in the preservation of palm leaf and paper manuscripts, books, and miniature paintings. He holds degrees in B.Sc (spl), M.L.I.Sc, and MA, and earned a Ph.D. focused on the history and development of manuscript conservation in South India. His distinguished career is highlighted by his over three-decade tenure as a Conservator at the Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal Library from 1980 to 2012, where he later returned in a part-time capacity from 2017 to 2020. He has furthered his expertise through international training, completing a Japanese Paper Conservation course in Japan in 1993 and receiving a Nehru Foundation Fellowship for library and museum training in London in 1996. A passionate advocate for traditional manuscript preservation methods, Dr. P. Perumal has shared his knowledge extensively. He has delivered over 500 guest lectures, conducted numerous workshops, and presented his research internationally in the Netherlands and Germany. Additionally, he has authored five books on library material and manuscript preservation in both Tamil and English. Beyond his primary roles, he has served as a resource person for the Tamilnadu Digitization Project (2015–2017), a coordinator for the National Mission for Manuscripts Project (2004–2009), and a visiting faculty member at the National Museum Institute in New Delhi. He is also a sought-after conservation consultant, having worked with prominent institutions such as the Ramanashramam Archives, Sathya Sai Archives, and the Dwaraka Temple manuscript collection.

Prof. Deepti Omchery Bhalla is one of India's foremost exponents and guru-s of Mohiniyattam and Carnatic music , seamlessly bridging the worlds of performance, scholarship, and teaching. Trained by her mother, the eminent musicologist , Padmashri Dr. Leela Omchery, in Sopana Sangita , the indigenous music of kerala and the legendary Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma in Mohiniyattam, she has devoted her life to preserving and propagating Kerala's rich artistic traditions, through her well acclaimed performances , Research and academic study. A Professor of Carnatic Music, former Dean and Head, at the University of Delhi, Prof. Bhalla has spent decades nurturing students and undertaking pioneering research on Kerala's music and dance traditions. Honoured with prestigious awards like the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award, the Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Kerala Kalamandalam awards in Mohiniyattam, she continues to inspire generations through her unwavering commitment towards India's classical arts, embodying the rare synthesis of performer, scholar, and educator.

Prof. (Dr.) Rama Jayasundar is an eminent Cambridge-trained physicist, biomedical NMR/MRI scientist, and a professionally qualified Ayurvedic physician, whose pioneering work has bridged modern medical science and India's traditional knowledge system of ayurveda. A PhD in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Physics from the University of Cambridge, UK and a BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) graduate, she served as Professor and Head of the Department of NMR & MRI at AIIMS, New Delhi. She is internationally recognized for advancing biomedical MR research in India, developing indigenous low-cost MR technologies, and promoting scientific validation of Ayurveda through interdisciplinary research. Through her research, publications, lectures, and public outreach, Prof. (Dr.) Jayasundar has made significant contributions to healthcare innovation, the understanding of the scientific underpinnings of ayurveda, and the wider dissemination of India's knowledge traditions.

Dr. Shridhar and Smt Anuradha Shridhar are among India's most celebrated Bharatanatyam exponents, internationally acclaimed for their artistic excellence, technical mastery, and expressive performances. Trained under eminent gurus of the Kalakshetra tradition, they have built distinguished careers as performers, choreographers, and teachers, presenting acclaimed productions based on India's epics, scriptures, and literary classics at prestigious festivals and venues across India and around the world. Dr. Shridhar's achievements include a Doctor of Literature (D.Lit.) for his research on the socio-cultural aspects of male dancers in Bharatanatyam, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti, Karnataka Kalasri Award, and the Karnataka State Best Actor Award, while the duo has received numerous honours for their outstanding contribution to dance. Through the Khechara Academy of Bharatanatyam, founded in 1994, they have dedicated themselves to preserving, promoting, and transmitting the rich heritage of Bharatanatyam and India's cultural traditions, inspiring generations of students and audiences through performance, scholarship, and education.

Shri Lalgudi G. J. R. Krishnan stands among the foremost Carnatic violinists of our time and is one of the most distinguished exponents of the revered Lalgudi Bani. A disciple of his father and guru, the legendary Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman, he has not only preserved this celebrated musical tradition but has also evolved a distinctive artistic voice within it—demonstrating that a living bani is a source of creativity and renewal rather than limitation. With a performing career spanning over five decades, he has earned international acclaim as a concert artiste, composer, collaborator, and mentor. His profound musicianship has been recognised through some of the highest honours in Indian classical music, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Sangita Kalanidhi title. His contributions extend far beyond performance. Recognising that a musical tradition flourishes only when its entire ecosystem is nurtured, Shri Krishnan conceived the pioneering ViolinWise initiative under the Lalgudi Trust. Until 2020, India had thousands of accomplished violinists but not a single professionally trained luthier dedicated to crafting and restoring concert-quality violins. Through ViolinWise, he has helped train four internationally qualified luthiers, creating an essential foundation for future generations of musicians. This pioneering effort represents a landmark contribution not merely to violin playing, but to the sustainability of India's Carnatic music ecosystem. Through his teaching, the Lalgudi Music Academy, and visionary initiatives such as ViolinWise, Shri Lalgudi G. J. R. Krishnan continues to preserve, enrich, and transmit the enduring legacy of the Lalgudi Bani while contributing meaningfully to the future of Carnatic music as a whole.

Dr. Rajshree Vasudevan is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, scholar, educator, and cultural ambassador with over four decades of dedicated service to the performing arts. A disciple of Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Dr. Jayashree Rajagopalan, she is a gold medalist, holds M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Indian Aesthetics, and has received prestigious research fellowships from the Indian Council for Philosophical Research and the Ministry of Culture. She has served in several distinguished academic leadership roles, contributed extensively to dance education, research, and cultural policy, and has presented performances, lectures, and scholarly papers across India and internationally. Beyond her artistic and academic achievements, she has made meaningful contributions to society through initiatives supporting cultural education, scholarships for students, programmes for the visually and hearing impaired, music therapy for cancer patients, girls' education, and women’s empowerment. As the Founder-Director of the Spanda Abhinava Holistic Initiative (SAHI), she continues to promote India's rich cultural heritage while fostering holistic learning and social well-being.

Dr. Jeffery D Long, the Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies, specializes in the religions and philosophies of India. He is the author of several books and numerous articles, as well as the editor of the series Explorations in Indic Traditions for Lexington Books. In 2020, he received Elizabethtown College’s Ranck Award for Excellence in Research, and in 2022, his book, Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds, received the Rajinder and Jyoti Gandhi Book Award for Excellence in Theology, Philosophy, and Critical Reflection from the Dharma Academy of North America. He has spoken in numerous venues, both national and international, including Princeton University, Yale University, the University of Chicago, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Delhi University, and has also given three talks at the United Nations.

Acharya Veeranarayana N.K. Pandurangi is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, researcher, and educator who has made significant contributions to the study and preservation of India's classical knowledge traditions. Throughout his academic career, he has held key leadership roles at Karnataka Samskrit University, serving as editor, researcher, administrator, and principal investigator for several major scholarly projects. His achievements include authoring and editing numerous books, research papers, and critical editions, leading the digitization of over 1,500 Sanskrit manuscripts, and directing important research initiatives on the Vedas and Indian philosophy. Through his teaching, mentorship of doctoral scholars, organization of national and international seminars, and efforts to preserve, publish, and promote Sanskrit literature, he has rendered outstanding service to society by strengthening Sanskrit education, advancing traditional scholarship, and making India's intellectual heritage accessible to future generations.