Paramita Panda, Vice Chairperson, UMSL Limited – an Economics Honours graduate from BJB college and a Masters with gold medal in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations from Utkal University, Odisha. She started her journey as a Human Resource professional at Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd. (IMFA), in the year 1986. Her entrepreneurial zeal led…
Bhabani has been an institution builder and is at the forefront of building many profitable and non-profit ventures. He is recognized by CII and NHRDN for his contribution to building quality practices and setting up different NHRDN chapters. He has received the Young Manager award from professional bodies and is a certified expert in the…
Singer Usha Uthup Iyer, celebrated for her versatility in pop, filmi, jazz, and playback genres during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, earned accolades with the Padma Bhushan in 2024. Born on November 8, 1947, into a Brahmin Iyer family in Mumbai, her diverse career includes singing in nightclubs, Bollywood hits, and international performances. Married…
Santrupt Misra serves as the CEO of the Carbon Black Business and Director of Human Resources at the Aditya Birla Group. Additionally, he holds a directorship on the boards of various entities within the group. With a distinguished career, Dr. Misra earned Fellowship from the National Academy of Human Resources in 2008 and was inducted…
Alka Misra serves as the Chairperson at Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), contributing to the development and enhancement of skills in the state.
Pratap Somvanshi, the celebrated Indian poet, lyricist, and writer, was born on December 20, 1968, in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Holding an M.A. in Hindi literature from Kanpur University, he not only excels in literature but also serves as the Managing Director of Hindustan Hindi daily newspaper. Renowned for his profound poetry, he earned prestigious honors…
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, an IAS officer serving as the Principal Secretary for Krushi Bibhag, Govt. Of Odisha and Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts, Government Of Odisha. Holding a PhD from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and an MPA from the University of Birmingham, Dr. Padhee’s career spans crucial roles in both the Odisha and Indian…
Nasera Sharma, born in 1948 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, is a prominent Indian Hindi-language writer. With a notable literary career, she has authored 10 novels, including works like “Parijat,” “Mere Priya Kahaniyaan,” “Ajnabi Jajira,” “Patthar Gali,” and “Aurat Ke Liye Aurat.” Nasera Sharma made history as the sole woman from South Asia to interview Ruhollah…
Born in 1963 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Ashutosh Dubey earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication and a Ph.D. in English literature. His poetry collections include ‘Chor Darwaze Se,’ ‘Asambhav Saaransh,’ ‘Yaqeen Ki Ayatein,’ ‘Vida Lena Baqi Rahe,’ and ‘Sirf Vasant Nahi.’ Some of his poems are featured in prominent anthologies. Besides Indian languages,…
Abhishek Anicca is a bilingual (English and Hindi) writer, poet and spoken word artist. He identifies as a person with locomotor disability and chronic illness, which shapes his creative endeavours. He is the founder of Dislang, a digital magazine that publishes narratives by disabled people, a mentor for the South Asian Speaks Fellowship and has…
Arun Bothra, a distinguished 1996-batch IPS officer, currently holds the esteemed position of Additional Director General of Police within Odisha’s Criminal Investigation Department – Crime Branch (CID-CB). Alongside this pivotal role, he serves as the Managing Director of Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) in Bhubaneswar, showcasing his adeptness in overseeing critical urban transport. Bothra’s tenure…
Born on October 26, 1952, Ashwani Kumar is a distinguished Indian politician and attorney, notable for his service as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Punjab. His political journey encompasses significant roles, including serving as the Union Minister of Law and Justice, as well as Union Minister of State…
Born on January 14, 1976, Avinash Das is a prominent Indian filmmaker, best recognized for his directorial ventures in Bollywood. Notably, he directed the acclaimed film “Anaarkali of Aarah,” featuring Swara Bhaskar, Sanjay Mishra, and Pankaj Tripathi in 2017. Subsequently, Das extended his creative contributions to the digital platform, making his Netflix debut in 2020…
Chandan Gowda holds the esteemed position of Ramakrishna Hegde Chair Professor of Decentralization and Development at the Institute for Social and Economic Change in Bengaluru. With a focus on literature and socio-political thought, he has curated significant works, including “Theatres of Democracy: Selected Essays of Shiv Visvanathan” (2016), “The Way I See It: A Gauri…
Dipika Mukherjee, a globally recognized writer and sociolinguist, holds a deep-seated enthusiasm for Southeast Asian literature. Drawing on more than two decades of expertise, she has been a guiding force for emerging writers in the region. In 2015, Mukherjee established the esteemed D.K. Dutt Award for Literary Excellence in Malaysia, underscoring her commitment to fostering…
Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff, CEO of Kalorex Group, embodies a unique blend of roles—Edupreneur, Vlogger, Achiever, and Podcaster—inspiring countless individuals. Grounded in the core values of education and entrepreneurship, she’s the driving force behind numerous premier schools, showcasing her commitment to shaping the future. Her innovative approach, encapsulated in SHROFFism, offers a holistic understanding, advocating…
Gargi Rawat, a seasoned news anchor and environmental reporter at NDTV 24X7, has long been synonymous with the channel’s morning news. She has recently authored her book “Tiger Season”. Renowned for her work, she has produced numerous documentaries and environmental programs, including the pioneering wildlife show “Born Wild” and the Hindi version “Safari India” on…
Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, born in 1952, is a distinguished former UN official and Indian diplomat. With 28 years in the Indian Foreign Service, she served as India’s Ambassador to Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transitioning to the United Nations, Puri contributed significantly, becoming the deputy executive director of UN Women. Recognized for her human rights…
Mani Rao, a prolific writer, has authored twelve poetry collections and translated Sanskrit works, including those of Kalidasa, the Bhagavad Gita, and the tantric hymn Saundarya Lahari. Her anthropological study, “Living Mantra: Mantra, Deity and Visionary Experience Today,” explores mantra practices. Rao’s poems, translated into multiple languages, have appeared in prestigious literary journals and anthologies…
Priyanka Thatoi is a connoisseur of literature. Since childhood, she developed a penchant for writing soulful & societal-impact poems. She is a part of the Young Poets Network where her poems are widely acclaimed. She is a corporate professional who brings around 15+ years of experience in the field of talent management & business partnerships.…
Award-winning journalist Radhika Iyengar, based in Mumbai, specializes in writing on arts, culture, marginalized communities, history, and gender. Her debut non-fiction book, ‘Fire on the Ganges: Life Among the Dead in Banaras,’ published by HarperCollins, India, delves into the lives of Banaras’ corpse-burning community, the Doms. Longlisted for the Kalinga Literary Award, the Amazon Bestseller…
“The Day I Became a Runner” explores a compelling premise, asserting that women who embrace running, being a solitary activity in the public domain, present a more direct challenge to patriarchy compared to those participating in sports like badminton, cricket, and tennis. Award-winning journalist Sohini Chattopadhyay delves into the stories of eight athletes, spanning the…
Subhasis Mishra is a Global Talent Leader with 24 years of experience in Retail, Technology, Media and Entertainment businesses across Asia Pacific & North America in Fortune 100 companies. He has a wide breadth of experience attracting, developing and engaging diverse workforce and building/growing dynamic organizations. He also published his first fiction book in 2017…
Uday Prakash, born on January 1, 1952, is a versatile figure in Indian literature, excelling as a Hindi poet, scholar, journalist, translator, and short story writer. His diverse roles include serving as an administrator, editor, researcher, and TV director. As a freelancer, he contributes to major dailies and periodicals, earning accolades for his short stories…
Rahul Rawail is an Indian film director and editor in Bollywood known for his films like Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Anjaam, Arjun Pandit and the recent one Jo Bole So Nihaal. He received nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Director for Betaab and Arjun. In his book “Raj Kapoor The Master at Work”,…
Dr T Sumathy aka Thamizhachi Thangapandian is a Tamil writer, English Professor and a Member of Parliament. She has nineteen publications including collections of poetry, essays and interviews to her credit. Birthing Hut and Other Stories is her first collection of short stories.
Sujeet is an Indian politician of the Biju Janata Dal Party and a Member of Parliament (MP), representing Odisha in the Rajya Sabha. He is also a Lawyer and trained Arbitrator, practising in the Supreme Court of India. Sujeet currently mentors and advises the Kalinga Kusum Foundation, a social enterprise dedicated to creating and accelerating…
Tanaya Patnaik is Executive Director of the Sambad Group and heads the radio, television and digital wings of the media house. She is an alumnus of the prestigious Warwick Business School in London. She is instrumental in giving conventional media, a new and enhanced digital look and heads three leading news web portals (www.sambad.in, www.kanaknews.com…
Rahul Soni is a writer, editor, and translator based in India. He is Senior Commissioning Editor – Literary with HarperCollins India, Associate Editor with the journal Almost Island, and Programmes Coordinator at the Sangam House international writers’ residency. He has previously been associated with the journals Pratilipi and Asymptote, and the literary agency Writer’s Side. He has edited the anthology of Hindi poetry…
Anuj Lugun is an Indian poet and writer. His poetry espoused indigenous renaissance and intense rebellion against fascism and oppression. Anuj’s activism for social justice earned him the title of Tribal Poet.
Sanjeev Paliwal is considered to be one of the pioneering Hindi TV journalists. He has been in the industry for 30 years and has worked with many prestigious Hindi newspapers such as Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala and Aaj as well as leading channels like Doordarshan, BITV, IBN7/News18 and TV Today group. He currently works at…
Kumar Amritesh, a 2016 batch CLS officer, is presently posted in New Delhi as Asst. Labour Commissioner (Central). Hailing from Nalanda in Bihar, he has served in different parts of country, including Andaman, in his career in different Govt. Departments. As an author, he won 2nd Best Hindi Short Story Award in the prestigious Kindle…
Amish Tripathi is an Indian author and diplomat. He is known best for The Shiva Trilogy and Ram Chandra Series. Amish’s books have sold over 6 million copies in the Indian subcontinent since 2010. He is also Minister (Culture & Education)at the High Commission of India in the UK and Director of the Nehru Centre,…
Sidhant Mohapatra born 4 May 1966, known popularly as Munna Bhai, is an Indian film, television personality and politician who works predominantly in Odia films. His debut film, Shradhanjali, starred Lekha Nanda as the female lead in 1993. He has acted in more than 150 Odia and Bengali films. He has also appeared in a…
Anu Choudhury is a leading Indian actress. She has starred in more than 65 films. Her debut Odia film was Maa Goja Bayani. Anu began her career in Odia film as a child artist. She acted as a child artist in two movies, Badhu Nirupama and Mamata Mage Mula. As a child artist she had…
Dr.Piyush Roy, is an Indian National Film Award winning critic-columnist, an international author, curator, filmmaker and founding dean and professor at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences in RV University, Bengaluru. Former editor of Stardust and StarWeek, he has authored over 1000 media publications working at senior reporting positions in The Indian Express and…
Geetika Kohli is a multilingual writer, public speaker and entrepreneur from Jammu and Kashmir. With eight titles to her name, including six poetry and two short story collections, Geetika has led Hymns and Harmony, an international peace building poetry movement. She believes, “courage is your ability to grow larger than an identity thrust upon you.”
Durga Prasad Panda is an accomplished bilingual poet, translater and critic whose works have appeared in prestigious journals like ‘Indian Literature’, ‘Debonair’, ‘Kavya Bharati’, ‘The Little Magazine’, ‘Gentleman’, ‘Stag Hill Literary Journal’, ‘Outlook’ among so many others. Some of his poems have been included in significant anthologies like ‘Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English 2020-21’,…
Mrs. Jagi Mangat Panda is the Managing Director of Odisha Television Limited – pioneering media venture and undisputed market leader in Odisha. Mrs. Panda holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Osmania University and participated in the middle management programme of the three-tier programme for management development at the Indian Institute of Management,…
Geeta Shree is a renowned journalist and writer. She has penned seven story collections and four novels. She has authored and published four books based on feminism. Geeta Shree has edited and coordinated many books. She has been conferred with many awards and fellowships from acclaimed institutions in the country. That includes Bihar Gaurav Samman…
Prabhat Ranjan is a Fiction writer, translator, and editor. He has written ‘Kothagoi’, his first book in Hindi on the history of the tawaif tradition. Has published two collections of short stories ‘Janaki Pul’ and ‘Bolero Class’. and has translated more than 30 books including Anne Frank’s Diary, Mohsin Hamd’s novel Moth Smoke, Khushwant Singh’s…
Sumit Sharma Sameer is an author of ‘Wake up Ali…Wake up Now. This is his first work of fiction, translated from Nepali language. Sameer is a graduate of the London School of Economics, UK and the Queen’s University, Canada. He completed his undergraduation from the Loyola College, Chennai.
Sitakant Mahapatra is an Indian poet and literary critic. He was in the Indian Administrative Service from 1961 until retiring in 1995, and has held ex officio posts such as the Chairman of National Book Trust, New Delhi since then. He completed his B.A. in History from Ravenshaw College, in 1957, followed by master’s degree…
Dr. Hindol Sengupta is a historian, journalist, and award-winning author of nine books. He is the Editor-at-Large at Fortune India and has also been a senior journalist with leading broadcasters and publications. He studied South Asian history and politics at Worcester College, Oxford, as a Chevening Scholar and in business and finance as Knight-Bagehot Fellow…
Mridula Garg is an Indian writer who predominantly writes in Hindi and English. Her immensity in literature can be measured in novels, short story collections, plays, and collections of essays many of which are translated into English and several Indian regional languages. She has been awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for her literary contribution. Though her…
Debendra is professional with 27 years of experience in various Global Business Management, Global Transformation Programs in Products, platforms and Enterprise digital trasnformation(Primarily in SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, ADMS-Open source) primarily in Hi-Tech, Manufacturing, Life Science verticals
Director & Coordinator
Ranjana Niraula is Coordinator & Director of KLF Kathmandu. She is a multifaceted personality from Nepal who juggles multiple roles in her daily life with equal panache. From being a popular poet in Nepali and English literature with a penchant to weave magic with her beautiful words and pictures to being a poet, editor, panelist,…
Milee Ashwarya is a Publisher, of Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing at Penguin Random House India. Her focus has been on championing the best voices in fiction and non-fiction while publishing a range of bestsellers across segments. Her authors include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Piyush Pandey, Hussain S. Zaidi, Yuvraj Singh, Hindol Sengupta, R. Gopalakrishnan,…
Dr. Dwarika Prasad Uniyal is currently the Pro Vice Chancellor (Development & Leadership)& Founding Dean, School of Economics & School Of Business at RV University Bengaluru. Prior to his current assignment Professor Uniyal, was Dean of FLAME School of Business, FLAME University. He brings with him rich and varied experience of more than 25 years in premier…
Pratibha Ray is an Indian academic and writer of Odia-language novels and stories. She is a member of a number of learned societies. She has received prestigious awards like – Odisha Sahitya Academi Award 1985, Sahitya Akademi Award 2000, Padma Shri Award’ in Literature and Education by the Government of India, and Odisha Living Legend…
Ramakanta Rath is one of the most renowned modernist poets in the Odia literature. He obtained his MA in English Literature from Ravenshaw College in Odisha. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1957. Some of his notable works are Kete Dinara (1962), Aneka Kothari (1967) Sri Radha (1984) Sri Palataka (1997). He received the…
Koral Dasgupta is an Indian author and literary entrepreneur. India Today critiqued her novel as “works beyond the obvious…with characters not just individuals but a philosophy.” She is a compulsive storyteller and has published from academic nonfiction to relationship dramas. Her stories explore the inherent nature of complex minds leading to a relatable conflict and…
Yatindra Mishra is an Indian poet, editor and music and cinema scholar. Mishra has published four collections of Hindi poetry: Yada-Kada (1997), Ayodhya Tatha Anya Kavitayen (1999) and Dyorhi Par Aalaap (2005). He has also written Devpriya (2007) and Sur Ki Baradari (2009) about the life and work of thumri singer Girija Devi, dancer Sonal…
Satish Padmanabhan is Managing Editor, Outlook Magazine. He has over 25 years of work in various media like newspapers, magazine, TV and digital. He started with Sunday and BusinessWorld, then moving to TV with TV-18 and CNBC, and later as News Editor at NDTV. He has also taught journalism at the Times School of Journalism…
Dr. Adyasha Das, an Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) Bhubaneswar, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is a contemporary writer and travel blogger from Odisha known for her insightful and colourful portrayals of life. Suffused with sensitivity, she uses words and imagery with an uninhibited freedom, modulated with quality. An Amazon best-selling…
Shantanu Gupta, is an Indian Author, TEdx Speaker and Political Analyst. His latest book – ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’ – Biography of Yogi Adityanath, is listed as the ‘Most memorable Non-Fiction Books of 2017’ by Amazon. Shantanu has an engineering degree from GB Pant University, Management education from XLRI, Jamshedpur and did his…
Kedar Mishra, writes poetry in Odia. Born in Sonepur on 15th April 1972.He is also known as an editor, translator, journalist, scholar, art critic, human rights worker and cultural activist. Published five poetry collections in Odia, a language of eastern India- Sabdaku Charipada, Asha –Sukta, Sunya Abhisara, Raga Kedar and Premara Dura Geeta. Two collections…
Aruna Mohanty is a celebrated Indian classical dancer renowned for her mastery of the Odissi dance form. Born in Odisha, she has distinguished herself through emotive performances that blend traditional techniques with contemporary interpretations, spanning themes from mythology to social issues. Her profound expressions and storytelling abilities captivate global audiences, while her commitment to teaching…
Jatindra Kumar Nayak was educated at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack and Merton College, Oxford and retired as Professor of English, Utkal University in 2016. He won the KATHA Translation Award in 1997 and Hutch-Crossword Book Award in 2004. He was a member of the Raja Ram Mohun Ray Library Foundation, Department of Culture, Government of India.…
Amar Patnaik is an Indian politician who served as an Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer and former principal accountant general (PAG) of Sikkim, Odisha, West Bengal, and Kerala. He graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, a master’s degree in finance and systems…
Yatish Kumar has made a special creative presence in the literary world in the last few years. His poetic reviews on popular novels, stories and travelogues have particularly attracted the attention of readers. His poems and memoir have been published in most of the reputed magazines namely ‘Naya Gyanodaya’, ‘Hans’, ‘Aha! Zindagi’, ‘Sanmarg’, ‘Prabhat Khabar’…
Priya Kapoor is Editorial Director, Roli Books where she oversees the publishing list and the day to day functioning of the company. She has commissioned and edited bestselling books such as Dongri to Dubai by Hussain Zaidi; Taj Mahal Foxtrot by Naresh Fernandes, Black Warrant by Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury; The RTI Story by Aruna…
An award-winning senior publishing professional, Lipika Bhushan heads MarketMyBook, a leading publicity and digital marketing agency for writers and publishers. She founded MarketMyBook in 2013 after heading Marketing at HarperCollins India for about 7 years. MarketMyBook has serviced some of the leading publishers and writers in the world since its inception. Lipika contributes as an…
Nila Madhab Panda is a notable Indian filmmaker renowned for his socially relevant films that address pressing issues such as environmental conservation and social inequality. With a distinctive storytelling approach, he gained prominence with his debut feature “I am Kalam” in 2010, followed by films like “Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid” and “Kaun Kitney Paani Mein,”…
Sudarsan Pattnaik is representing and branding Odisha globally. Known as the Grand Master of Sand Art, he has represented India all around the world and has won more than Won 27 (Twenty-seven) championship prizes for the country. His sand sculpture on Black Taj Mahal earned him accolades all over the world. He has won many national and…
Gourahari Das was born on 9 October 1960 in Sandhagada village of Bhadrak district of Odisha to Gajendra Prasad Das and Smt. Sakuntala Das. After finishing elementary education at his village primary school and then at Ghatapur High School, he left for Cuttack. He holds the M.A, Ph.D., M.J.M.C. degrees. He writes a political gossip…
Renu Kaul Verma is a publisher with a decade of experience as a former journalist with leading newspapers like The Indian Express and Hindustan Times. She has co-authored a biography on one of the most enigmatic leaders of our time, Selvi Jayalalitha besides running a successful publishing business and a trade newspaper. Today, Vitasta stands…
Arundhathi Subramaniam is an award winning poet, artist and an eminent writer on spirituality and culture. Over the years she has worked as a poetry editor and curator, and as a journalist on literature, classical dance and theatre. She divides her time between Bombay and a yoga centre in Coimbatore. Arundhathi Subramaniam is the author…
Kanishka Gupta is a literary agent, writer, and publishing commentator best known for his widely acclaimed series for Scroll.in called ‘Publishing and the Pandemic’. He is the founder of Writer’s Side, the largest literary agency and consultancy in South Asia. Gupta has been credited for single-handedly popularising literary representation in the subcontinent. He represents a range of highly accomplished…
Co-Director Keshav Kumar Karna an alumnus of Lalit Narayan Mithila University Darbhanga and Symbiosis International (deemed to be) University who comes from a remote village in the Mithilanchal region of modern-day’s Bihar, possesses an unparalleled love for literature, art, and culture. By profession a journalist, Keshav currently works as Coordinating Editor with OneIndia a leading…