Symposium On Kumbha Mela & Pushkaram

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.

Dr D P Dubey retd Professor of Ancient History Culture & Archaeology University of Allahabad. Only surviving VHP historian of the Ramajanmabhumi Ayodhya litigation, cross examined all Marxist historians in the High Court. Expert on Hindu Sacred Places and Kumbha Mela. Known books-- Prayaga: the site of Kumbha Mela and Kumbha Mela. Delivered lectures in universities in Singapore. LA trobe Monas Asia Institute & Tasmania Australia. China Italy etc. Panel chief n Editor of Sanskrit inscriptions at Bangkok of the World Sanskrit Congress. Sanskrit epigraphist n published more than 3 dozen important inscriptions. General Secretary of the Society of Pilgrimage Studies.

It had been a wonderful and enriching journey of 37 years in Government and with a multinational company. On the way, I could gather insights into diverse subjects ranging from research and development, Public & Corporate Administration, Revenue, Agriculture, Rural Development, Urbanization and Urban Development, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation, Sustainability & Environment Protection, Education, Medicines, Health Sector, Food, Water and Soil Conservation, Agri-processing , Finance, Transport etc to name a few. Apart from this, it has been a passion for me to motivate young minds through a series of lectures on futuristic innovations, confidence building, disruptive innovations, general motivation for success and happiness and a plethora of other subjects. Mahesh started sharing his experience, vision and knowledge to almost all segments of the society including corporates, farmers, students, government officials, people’s representatives, health professionals, academics etc through lectures and specifically organised meetings. He is surprised to get an overwhelming response for this kind of engagement with a variety of stakeholders.

Snehā Nagarkar is currently pursuing her PhD in Ancient Indian Culture from the University of Mumbai. She is also a Visiting Faculty at the Department of Archaeology, University of Mumbai and Centre for Hindu Studies, University of Mumbai. She has presented 33 research papers in state, national and international conferences and has 33 publications to her credit. She has authored a book titled ' Ancient Indian Economy: The Role of Vārttā' which was published by Indica in 2023. She has delivered 67 public lectures. Her areas of specialization are Ancient Indic Art and Architecture specially Indic Temple Architecture, Iconography, Sthala Mahatmyas, Pilgrimage Studies, Ancient Indic Economy and Polity, History of Sanatana Dharma with special focus on Vaishnavism as well as the history and culture of the Mathura-Vrindavana Region.

His Holiness Swāmī Nityānanda Giri is a Kriya Yoga Acharya, sannyasi and author of the book- Kriyayoga: The Science of Life-force. Swamiji is a revered monk in the tradition of Mahavatar Babaji- Lahidi Mahashaya- Ṡrīyukteṡwar Giri. He was born in 1961 in a remote village in Odisha State, India. He has completed his post-graduation studies, M. Sc. in Zoology in 1983 and obtained Ph.D. on the subject in the branch Cytogenetics (Genotoxicity) in 1990. He was engaged in teaching to post-graduate and under-graduate students of Life Sciences in Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Bhubaneswar from 1990 to 1996. From 1997 to 2002 he was engaged in social services related to health awareness and health services management in Odisha. He was initiated to the Kriyā-yoga meditation techniques in January 1994. He had renounced all other social and family obligations in June 2002 to become a monk and started living monastic life at Rishikesh. Since September 2005, Swamiji teaches Indian philosophy and initiates seekers to the Kriyā-yoga meditation techniques in India and abroad to disseminate the knowledge received from the masters of the linage as a mission. He is also an expert in Jyotiṣa vidyā. He was living the life of a wandering monk from June 2008 to 2019, monasteries in the Himalayas being his main abode. From 2020, Swamiji lives in his small āśrama in Khadri village, Rishikesh. Email Id- swnityananda@gmail.com Youtube- https://youtube.com/@swaminityanandagiri7136?si=VanOacYq_YoP67Zc Website- https://www.nityanandagirikriyayoga.com/

Divay Gupta is a conservation architect and headed the Architectural Heritage Division of INTACH, New Delhi till March 2023. An Alumni of ICCROM, University of Birmingham & School of Planning & Architecture he has been striving to help better manage and conserve the cultural resources in his country for more than 25 years. He has had the privilege and opportunity to be part of a number of prestigious projects in the UK, USA, India, Afghanistan, Nepal and Cambodia and has participated in joint UNESCO & ICOMOS missions to World Heritage sites as a conservation expert. His restoration projects in Ladakh have won the South Asia UNESCO awards of Merit & Excellence. He is an Ad Hoc expert on the International Conservation Committee (ICC) for the world heritage site of Preah Vihear in Cambodia. He was a member of National Culture Fund and serves on advisory committee to Government of India on World Heritage Matters. He was a visiting faculty and a member on the board of studies of Department of Architecture Conservation at School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) New Delhi. He is presently pursuing his private practice and PhD at Dept of Conservation, SPA, New Delhi. He is a Fulbright visiting scholar at UPenn.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh is the Director in Charge of the Centre for Comparative Religions and Civilizations at the Central University of Jammu. He served as the Development Officer for the Pali-Prakrit Scheme at the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, from 2013 to 2016 and was a Consultant for the Second Sanskrit Commission, Government of India. He is also the Honorary Director (Academics) at the Global Buddhist Foundation. He is a nominated member of the School of Indic Studies at the University of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and a nominated member of the Research Council at Sanchi University of Buddhist Indic Studies respectively. Additionally, he is a nominated member of the Academic Council, School Board, and Board of Studies at Mahatma Gandhi Antarashtriya Hindi Vishvavidyalaya, Wardha, as well as at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh and the Central University of Jammu. His teaching and research interests include Hindu Studies, Buddhist Studies, Diaspora and Transnational Cultural Studies, Translation Studies, and Indian Intellectual Traditions. He has been lecturing on these themes and has written extensively on them. With a decade of teaching experience, he currently supervises four major projects funded by various government agencies. He has published three books and more than thirty research articles. He was honored with the AKK Award in Mumbai on October 17, 2021, by the AKK Trust for his contributions to the Indian Knowledge System. He is also the recipient of prestigious ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee IPSA National Diaspora Award’ by Indian Political Science Association (IPSA) in 2024 for his outstanding contribution in the field of Indian Diaspora and Transnational Cultural Studies.

Working as a Visiting Faculty in Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad. Secured first Rank in M.S.K law college, with 66.81 % . from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat Participated in 30th National Moot Court Competition, Which was held in Lloyd Law college, Greater Noida PUBLISHED PAPERS. Published a paper title named “Critical analysis on Voyeurism for the perspective of digital media : eyes behind mirror" for the theme named “women safety at Digital media and sexual harassment at working of women” SEMINAR NAME- “Sexual Harassment at workplace: societal and justice response to sexual violence : measures for policy reforms" sponsored by “National Commission for Women , New Delhi” which was held at M.S BHAGAT AND SONAWALA , LAW COLLEGE, Nadiad.

Retired as Professor from the Center for Public Policy of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore after serving for about two decades. He was Chairperson of the Center for Public Policy of IIM Bangalore and was also Chairperson of the PG Programme in Public Policy & Management of IIMB. He is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He was Member of the Indian Economic Service (1980 batch) for a brief period. Presently, he has established NITI School of Public Policy & Leadership under JAIN (deemed-to-be University) in Bangalore. It functions as a think tank and research center in public policy and public administration. He is actively engaged in the interface of domains of IKS and management and public administration. He led a faculty team of IIM Bangalore which conducted a field study of Kumbh in Prayagraj, 2019 and brought out a comprehensive report on public administration of kumbh. He has also brough out a Working Paper of IIM Bangalore on Governance and Management of Temples. He has been in the Boards and various committees of Governments. Has conducted several mid-career training programmes for officers from various civil services. He has keen interest in mentoring tech entrepreneurs and is also a mentor to Incubation labs of IIT Kanpur and STPI.

Professionally psychologist and Motivator and also having 18yrs of experience in development sector for various developmental programs in rural/urban and tribal sector i.e SERP (Society for Elimination Rural Poverty), CDC (Center for Disease Control), world bank and NRHM, Alliance International, APSACS- (DFID, NACO) and Sri rattan tata projects and ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research), WHO and IDF projects, worked for different activities with different communities i.e Girls Education and Empowerment, Women Empowerment (SHG Federations – Mainstreaming Intervention), Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC), Education and Livelihoods, Maternal and Child Health, HIV/AIDS, HIV positive Networks, sexual reproductive health, Leprosy, water, sanitation and hygiene, (Youth) adolescent girls Health and Education. Participated around 100 International and national conferences, presented 6 papers and 2 posters on international plot forms, published 3 papers. He got Best Project award by Government of TELANGANA in the presence of Minister Sri. Srinvas Goud and Sri. Ronald Rose - District Collector and Magistrate. & National level 2nd Prize in “National Street Theater Competition” held during the “National Study Conference on Human Rights and Hunger” organized by the Department of Social Work, Madras Christian College-Chennai, Tamilnadu