Turning the pages…
Turning the pages…
Anuja Chandramouli, is a bestselling author and new age Indian Classicist, who has published 14 books across the mythology, historical fiction and fantasy genres. Her debut novel, Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior - Prince was named by Amazon India as one of the top 5 sellers in Indian Writing (2012). Chandramouli's Mohini: The Enchantress was awarded the Times of India AutHer award (2021). She is a TedX speaker, storyteller, content creator, columnist for The New Indian Express, trained Bharathanatyam dancer, Rottie parent, and mum to two snarky daughters who think she is cringe.
Biji George, Principal of NEERI Modern School, is a dedicated and accomplished senior educator with over three decades of experience at Modern School, Nagpur. Her unwavering passion for teaching and learning has shaped countless young minds, fostering a deeper understanding through innovative and enhanced educational practices.
A proponent of technology in education, she is adept at integrating digital tools to enrich the learning experience. Beyond her role as an educator, she has excelled as a Co-Scholastic Coordinator, Soft Skills Trainer and Resource Person for various CBSE topics, showcasing her multifaceted expertise.
Her flair for hosting events has made her a sought-after Master of Ceremonies. She regularly comperes high-profile events, including the Annual Day celebrations of Nagpur Traffic Police’s Road Safety Patrol (RSP) Department and beauty pageants like Ms. Maharashtra and Ms. Nation.
Sandeep Agrawal, a Chartered Accountant.
Alumni of The Scindia School, Gwalior & St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
Interests : Singing, Writing, Yoga, Acupressure, Posture Correction, and creating social awareness on various issues.
Engaged in own business of industrial gases & engineering plastics.
Dr. Anushree Duseja, a posture therapist and movement specialist who has been leading the wellness space in Nagpur for over six years. She is the founder of two PHYX Studios in the city, where she integrates Physiotherapy, Pilates, and Posture therapy to help people move pain-free and live better. Dr. Anushree holds a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy from Coventry University, U.K., and is a certified Posture Therapist from the Egoscue University, California.
Bhavya Chowdhury was brought up in Chandigarh and completed her Engineering in Electronics and Electrical Communication from PEC, Chandigarh. She went on to pursue her management education at IIM Shillong, where her interest in people and leadership found its true direction.
With a strong inclination towards Human Resources, Bhavya began her professional journey with Yes Bank in Mumbai, working in the domain of Human Capital Management. After moving to Nagpur in 2012, she briefly contributed to her family’s manufacturing business before following her true calling — education and mentoring.
In 2013, Bhavya founded Bulls Eye Nagpur, an institute dedicated to aptitude training and career guidance for exams such as GRE, GMAT, SAT, IPM, APs and CAT. Under her mentorship, students have earned admissions to prestigious institutions worldwide — including INSEAD, NYU, UIUC, Boston University, NTU — and top Indian institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, Ashoka University, NLUs, and IHMs.
Since 2022, Bhavya has also been the Head of Bulls Eye (PAN India), overseeing operations across centers and fostering a culture of excellence, empathy, and impactful learning. Bhavya believes in creating safe and inclusive spaces for learning, where students feel encouraged to explore their potential beyond academics. A passionate teacher and mentor, she takes pride in shaping not just capable professionals but confident, wellrounded individuals. An avid reader of all genres, Bhavya runs a free library at her institute, open to all readers, as she believes in sharing the joy of reading and nurturing this habit in the next generation. Her philosophy of “Making Learning Fun” reflects her joyful and holistic approach to education and life. When not mentoring students or managing her centers, Bhavya enjoys reading, designing, and spending time with her two sons.
Dr Amina Vali, Principal, Sadabai Raisoni Women’s College, Nagpur.
Educational Qualifications: BE (Electronics and Communication Engineering), MCA, MBA, Phd. Has been associated with the Raisoni group since 2003.
Hobbies: Loves to Travel and experiment with the local cuisine of the place. Loves to read – especially Mystery / Detective Stories.
Dr Ashutosh Arvindrao Paturkar, Dean at G. H. Raisoni Skill Tech University, Nagpur, is a distinguished academic and author with a Ph.D. from Nagpur University. With over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and eighteen years in academics, he expertise in Strategic and Marketing Management, he supervises doctoral students and conducts training programs globally.
With a research experience of 30 years, Atya Kapley has been able to develop scientific as well as administrative skills, leading to many National and International projects. She brings in two specific domains into her scientific career (i) Generating knowledge via basic research and (ii) Taking science to society. She has worked with developing monitoring protocols and used genomic tools to understand polluted niches to develop bioremediation options for degraded land and wastewater. Her current interests also include mapping the next emerging health threat, the multi-drug resistant genes in environmental niches. She has led a number of flagship projects, remediating contaminated sites, by leading a multi-expertise team, combining, microbiology, genomics, engineering and computational science that combine to address the Nation’s longstanding problem of untreated sewage. She is also leading a team that will develop the first ever microbial map of the holy Ganga River, from Gangotri to Diamond Harbor. This will be the first ever baseline map of a river in our country. She has coordinated international projects with Finland, Estonia and Portugal in the field of environmental protection and has ongoing collaborations with experts from UK, Netherlands, China, France, Singapore, Denmark and Israel. She works extensively to empower women in science, being the Vice President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Asia Pacific region. OWSD is unit of UNESCO with Headquaters at TWAS, Trieste, Italy, that works to empower women in science.
An accomplished academic leader with extensive experience in management education, Dr.Meena Rajesh currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of G H Raisoni University in rural Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning various facets of education, Dr.Meena Rajesh is passionate about fostering innovative and student-centered learning environments. They bring a nuanced approach to teaching, valuing personal engagement over traditional research, and frequently explore diverse topics like management principles, financial analysis, economics, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
With a keen understanding of rural education’s unique challenges and potential, Dr.Meena Rajesh continuously seeks to elevate the university's profile while making a lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader community.
A surgeon by profession, a writer-teacher by heart, and a seeker in spirit, she has written fiction under the pseudonym Piorre Hart. Perennially stumbling onto realms of infinite possibilities; she is on the bumpy journey to self-discovery, with all its waves and ebbs. She thrives on connections; on chai; as on philosophising the universe while universalising philosophy. She has been writing since she was eight; dabbling in various forms of the craft: both, words and verses. Her poems and short stories have found their place in various magazines and anthologies. Her novels “Where There’s A Will… ”, “Dial T for Terror” and “A Genre called Hope” have received rave reviews. Between writing prescriptions on one hand to stories on the other, she is now exploring the poetry of inner silence... the wordlessness beyond the words.
Khushnoor Chugh. Born and brought up in Nagpur; having done her BA, LL. B and Bachelor of Journalism from the Nagpur University.
Started her working life as a Coordinator for the Nagpur Management Association, she later worked as Sub - Editor come Reporter for the then leading Daily, NAGPUR TIMES.
Married to Dr. Sanjiv Chugh, she later pursued her career as a free lance journalist. Juggling roles as a wife and mother, she took up the task of administering their Nursing Home until 2018.
She now devotes time to pursuing her hobbies; gardening being one of them. She now runs FLOURISH which is an extension of her passion.
Blessed with a son, Karan and daughter, Niharika.
Koutilya Chhajed, the Founder of Divibe Healing, a Counseling and Healing center established in 2010, boasts over 15 years of experience in Training, Counseling, and Consulting. With a mission to significantly enhance profit, productivity, and individual performance, Koutilya collaborates with numerous companies and educational institutions, leveraging his extensive academic background. Holding degrees in M.A (Clinical Psychology), MMS (MBA), M. Com, B. Com, LLB, and Diplomas in Psychology, Training & Development, and Journalism, he is not only a Corporate Trainer, Guest Lecturer, Consultant, and Counselor but also a Writer and Painter.
Koutilya's involvement spans diverse Management and Communication Programs, showcasing his proficiency in Behavioral Training and Counseling across various industries. Renowned for his dynamic, highly-charged training sessions, he passionately inspires and transforms lives. His innovative and continuously evolving approach to Human & Talent Development ensures impactful, lasting impressions on participants, as he aids clients in translating knowledge into practical skills. Koutilya is characterized by his unwavering dedication, embodying a man of passion and purpose.
Mithilesh Vazalwar is a renowned figure in India's coffee industry, known for his achievements as the Indian Aeropress Champion 2017 and National Barista Champion 2022. His coffee journey began in 2002 with home-brewed filter coffee and took a pivotal turn after a workshop in Melbourne, which inspired him to leave his Chartered Accountancy career behind and pursue coffee professionally.
Mithilesh is also a CQI Arabica Q Grader and a 3-time international judge, with notable participation in events like the Malaysian Espresso Championship 2023 and World of Coffee Dubai 2024.
In 2017, he founded Corridor Seven Coffee Roasters in Nagpur, pioneering specialty coffee culture in the city and beyond. Known for high-quality brews and immersive experiences, Corridor Seven became a hub for coffee enthusiasts. Mithilesh's story reflects his passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and resilience in transforming India's coffee scene.
Monica Bhagwagar has done her Bachelors in English Literature, Sociology & Psychology, Masters in English Literature from Stella Marris College, Chennai, MPhil in English Literature & Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations from Bhawans, Chennai.
She has worked with ITC, Life and Time Magazines, Welcome Group of Hotels, Lectured Sociology and English Literature, Apple Industries Ltd, etc.
Currently she has a paper designer company, PAPERAGE which is her passion, which deals with in Higher end Designer Stationary.
She is a founder member of NGO We 7 Care Foundation. She enjoys giving talks in colleges, schools and companies on different topics. She has trained the staff of Metro, Nagpur besides other. Recipient of many awards, recognitions, Femina Power Woman of the Year, Navbharat Times, Power Woman, etc. Member of BNI (Business Networking International), Rotary Club of Nagpur and Ehsaas Lady of Prabha Khaitan Foundation. She actively hosts conversations with prominent authors, politicians & artists.
She is known as the paper tigress of Nagpur!
Niharika is an entrepreneur in the kids’ recreation space. She is the Founder of Jump - an indoor playground focused on reviving touch-and-feel play and the power of imagination in early childhood years.
Niharika began her career as a news anchor and correspondent with the Times Group and later also worked in spheres of design and freelance copywriting.
She completed her post graduation in International Communications from University of Leeds after graduating in BA (Hons) English from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. She has also completed the Emerging Leaders Executive programme from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
Priyam Daga is a Jewellery Designer, Graduate Gemologist (G.G) & Accredited Jewellery Professional (A.J.P) from Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A). Her flagship store is Auric Gems & Jewellery situated in Poonam Chambers, Nagpur. She has exhibited in over 100 couture shows both in India & other countries like UAE, Thailand, Singapore and Italy. Priyam has also founded Auric Institute of Jewellery Design & Gemological Lab here in Nagpur and has been teaching Jewellery Designing for the past 15 years. She has co-founded the online community "Connecting Wives" which has over 2 lakh women members and has successfully conducted lifestyle exhibitions under the same banner. She has been featured for her work in Business Standard, Femina, The Times of India, The Hindu etc to name a few and has been felicitated as a successful women entrepreneur by various organisations. Priyam has also been a State Level Swimmer and represented school in National Level Art & Debate Competitions.
A stay -home mum of two. I am a cosmetic technology graduate and skincare educator. Right now tutoring children in Creative writing and Reading.
I am actively involved in NGOs like CMCA (Childrens movement for civic Awareness), Akshar and Pranav in Nagpur, Kolkata based Prabha Khaitan Foundation working for literature and art. I am active member and patron of Vidharbha Literary Festival, Nagpur's own Literature Festival.
MA, M.Phil., MBA, MFA, Ph.D.
Professor & Director – MA (English), Hislop College, Nagpur
Ph.D. Supervisor
Prof. Supantha Bhattacharyya is an academician, poet, theatre artist and quizmaster. A gold medallist in M.A. (English) and university topper in M.Phil., he ranked 24th in the state at the S.S.C. level. He has presented and published numerous research papers in national and international journals and chaired multiple academic sessions.
An accomplished theatreperson, he has performed in over 150 plays across English, Hindi, Bangla and Marathi, portraying iconic roles such as Claudius, Mercutio, Moriarty, Captain Hook, Mad Hatter, Malvolio, Puck and Shylock. As a poet, he edits the poetry journal Rhythmix and is a recipient of the All India Poetry Prize (British Council & Poetry Society of India).
A passionate quizzer and quizmaster, he has participated in prestigious competitions such as the Bournvita School Quiz and BBC Mastermind Open, and has conducted multiple inter-school, inter-college and national-level university quizzes.
He has twice been voted “Most Popular Teacher of Nagpur” in Times of India students’ polls and has been felicitated by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad for his contribution to theatre.
Director, Creative head, Travel & Food show Presenter/ Director with TravelXP and National Geographic channel. TED x speaker, Podcast presenter and also a part time You Tuber. Nominated at the Indian television awards.
Presently working as Creative head, Raisoni Group
Dr. Sanjiv Chugh comes from a family of West Punjab immigrants. His father, one of Nagpur’s most dedicated General Practitioners, served the community tirelessly until the age of 92, inspiring Dr. Chugh’s commitment to medicine. Dr. Chugh earned his MBBS, MD, and DCH from MGIMS Sevagram, and since 1984, he has practiced as a respected pediatrician and neonatologist at his Kids Care Clinic in Sadar, Nagpur, managing Prakash Nursing Home until 2018.
In 2004-05, as Rotary Club of Nagpur President during its Diamond Jubilee, Dr. Chugh founded the enduring Rotary Nagpur Walkathon, an event celebrating its 21st year in 2025. His Rotary tenure was marked by impactful community projects, and he served as editor for The Golden Orange. Dr. Chugh, a passionate writer, continues to share thoughtful reflections on politics, history, and society, recently covering topics such as India’s Partition and press freedom in his blog.
Shabbir Shakir was the President of Rotary Club of Nagpur in the year 2008-09 and District Governor in the year 2020-21.
He completed his BE(Hons) from BITS Pilani. Thereafter for few years he served some of the very well know organizations of Indian Corporate world like Eicher Motors, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Standard Batteries Ltd and Crompton Greaves Ltd before starting on his own.
He is into the business of Printing & Packaging, Distribution for Canon and Kodak range of products, Installation of Biometrics and Security and Surveillance systems.
One of the things he is passionate about is Blood Donation, which he himself has donated 152 times till date. He is a recipient of The Distinguished Service Award from TRF.
Shabbir is married to Jumana who is a fashion designer. They are proud parents to daughter Zahra who works in the field of editing and mixing of films. She was editor of a film which made it to the Cannes film festival, where she walked the Red Carpet. Son Zoher is a lawyer having studied from the Indian Law School, Pune and currently practicing law in Nagpur.
Fashion Stylist • Designer • Entrepreneur
Shivani Lalwani is a fashion stylist and designer who has led production and design at Shruti Sancheti. With strong experience in celebrity sourcing and public relations, she has also worked with renowned celebrity stylist Eshaa Amiin in Mumbai. Currently growing her presence as a fashion influencer, Shivani is the founder of the jewellery label House of Ornamod and is soon launching her own clothing line, expanding her footprint in the world of fashion and design.
My objective is to inspire individuals to think innovatively, communicate effectively, act purposefully, and engage meaningfully in their endeavors. By empowering them with potent tools, I aim to help them become charismatic leaders and communicators.
Founder and Director, Finesse Academy & Trainings: An institution offering life-transformative workshops, webinars, and trainings for students, professionals, organizations, and institutions to enrich leadership and elevate lives.
Co-Founder, Footprints Events Pvt. Ltd.: A pan-India company engaged in training and development, organizing cultural and educational events for schools, colleges, and other institutions. We curate, design, and manage corporate and educational events, branding and product launches, exhibitions and concerts.
Founder and Talk Show Host, The Forever Fierce Show.
Vikrant Shandilya is an India-based senior journalist, writer and social entrepreneur.
Having a longstanding journalistic career, spanning over two decades, Vikrant Shandilya has been associated with many leading publications of India, including The Times of India and Zee News.
The Editor-In-Chief of Nation Next - News Hub For New India - and the founder of India Next Media Private Limited, Vikrant Shandilya has been working towards developing a new age media ecosystem by developing and disseminating avant-garde mass media publications and platforms.
A commerce graduate from Delhi University and a post graduate in mass communication, Vikrant Shandilya possesses a rich experience of launching and managing quite a few renowned newspapers and magazines as the Editor of the same in markets like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Nagpur and Chandigarh.
After starting his journalistic career at the age of 19, Vikrant Shandilya joined Zee News, where he worked as a crime journalist. At the age of 23, he became one of the youngest editors in India, when he started editing a monthly magazine - The Fourth Dimension - in Delhi. Subsequently, he launched a women's magazine and became the first male editor to run a women’s magazine in India.
In 2006, he joined The Times of India, where he worked as the Editor of various editions for almost a decade. In past few years, he has launched a series of digital news platforms, including Nation Next, Next of Campus, Discover Nagpur, etc.
Founder of a Non-profit Organisation - Nation Next Foundation - Vikrant Shandilya has been actively involved in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship for past few years.