About Us

Born heir apparent to Maharaja Hari Singh and Maharani Tara Devi of Jammu & Kashmir, Dr Karan Singh entered public life at eighteen as Regent in 1949. He later served as Sadar-i-Riyasat and Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, and became India’s youngest Union Cabinet Minister under Indira Gandhi at the age of thirty-six. A distinguished statesman, scholar, and author, he has held key roles in major cultural and academic institutions, served as India’s Ambassador to the United States, and contributed significantly to interfaith dialogue, education, and wildlife conservation. Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, he is also known for his writings on philosophy, politics, and Indian culture

Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh is an iconic cultural figure, internationally renowned as an artist, cultural educator, guru, scholar, author, motivational speaker, kathakar, and social activist. She is acclaimed for her ability to interlink cultural interpretations of philosophy, literature, sculpture, and mythological parable with their influence on India's socio-cultural fabric. As a celebrated classical dancer, she has used her art to address contemporary issues including ecological imbalance, environmental protection, women's empowerment, and social justice for marginalised communities. Her creative vision has produced several path-breaking choreographies, and she has performed, lectured, and conducted workshops in more than ninety countries. She revived the ancient art of Natya-Katha, blending song, narrative craft, and abhinaya into an immersive storytelling experience drawing on mythology, literature, and social themes. Her renowned choreographies, among them Devi Durga, Draupadi, Indradhanush, Manavata, Sabras, Aatmayan, Mera Bharat, and Mukti, reflect a deep engagement with Indian mythology and its continuing relevance. As Founder-President of the Centre for Indian Classical Dances, established in 1977, she has trained thousands of artists, and the institution remains one of the most respected hubs for classical dance education in India. In July 2018 she was nominated by the President of India to the Rajya Sabha, becoming the first classical dancer to receive this distinction. She was chosen as one of the Navaratnas for the Swachh Bharat Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, and the Government of Assam conferred on her the Srimanta Sankardeva Award in 2023. Her commitment extends beyond performance. She has served as Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and is currently serving her second term as a trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. She is a visiting professor at IIT Kharagpur and a member of the Society of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. Her journey has been widely documented: Prakash Jha's National Award-winning documentary Sonal (2002), her Hindi biography Devapriya by Yatindra Mishra (2010), and Sonal Mansingh: A Life Like No Other by Sujata Prasad (2017). She has authored Incredible India: Classical Dances of India, and her recent writings are collected in A Zigzag Mind. Her extensive knowledge of Indian classical music, vocal and instrumental, and her proficiency in multiple Indian languages enrich her artistic expression, while her global experience shapes an inclusive vision of the performing arts as catalysts for harmony, coexistence, and the ancient Indian ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world as one family.

Padma Vibhushan Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan is an acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter, widely regarded as a pioneer of New Indian Cinema. Known for his artistic vision and realist storytelling, he has directed several modern classics, including Swayamvaram, Elippathayam, and Mathilukal. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, multiple National Film Awards, and international recognitions including the French Legion of Honour, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, and the British Film Institute Award. Deeply rooted in Kerala's cultural landscape, his films are celebrated worldwide for their originality, narrative depth, and cinematic excellence.

Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, is a distinguished academic, writer, and cultural thinker. A passionate advocate for the arts, he has been actively associated with theatre, television, and literature. He is the author of three poetry collections and six short story collections, including the widely acclaimed Putrikameshti and Maidan Mat Chhodna. His literary work spans poetry, fiction, satire, drama, travelogue, essay, and art criticism, and his publications include two books on the history of journalism and the popular anthology Sachchidanand Joshi Ki Lokpriya Kahaniyan. He has edited several significant works, most notably Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, a seven-volume compilation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches, and Connecting Through Culture, an influential book on India's soft power. Over the course of his career he has held several prestigious academic positions, becoming a Registrar at 32 and a Vice-Chancellor at 42, and he played a key role in establishing two universities of journalism and mass communication in India.

Ms. D. Aaliya is an entrepreneur and social activist from Bihar, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of art, culture, and community welfare, and deeply committed to empowering marginalised communities, particularly women and children. As Managing Trustee of Dhanu Bihar and the Shining Muskan Foundation, she plays a pivotal role in a wide range of welfare initiatives focused on education, healthcare, rural development, and cultural preservation. Under her leadership, Dhanu Bihar has significantly expanded its outreach, working to ensure that people from all backgrounds have access to the resources they need for a better and more dignified future.

Founder of one of India's earliest joint-sector companies, Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited, established in partnership with the Government of West Bengal. His maiden project, Udayan, was recognised by the Government of India as a Model Housing Project. He serves as a Member of the Board of Governors of IIM Calcutta and as a Board Member of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). For his pioneering contributions to social housing, he was conferred the Padma Shri in 1999. He has also been honoured with the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) Legacy of Honor Award, and serves as the Honorary Consul of Israel in West Bengal. A passionate advocate for India's cultural heritage, he remains committed to promoting and preserving the country's artistic and cultural legacy.

Dr Pankaj KP Shreyaskar is a career bureaucrat of the 2000 batch who has served in several key positions across the Government of India and is currently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Education. He is also a noted author, columnist, and poet, having written three books, more than fifty articles, and numerous poems. His poetic voice in Hindi was first recognised in 1996, when one of his poems was published in the renowned Hindi magazine Kadambini. During his university years in Delhi he wrote several ballets, including Toota Ye Vishwas Kyun, performed by a prominent Kathak danseuse of the city. His first collection of poems is expected to be published shortly.

Shri Ganga Kumar is a career bureaucrat and social activist deeply committed to the preservation and promotion of India's cultural heritage. An M.Phil. graduate of the University of Delhi and a gold medallist in his post-graduation, he has made significant contributions to heritage conservation in Bihar. He is the author of the four-volume series Bihar Ke Sanskritik Dharohar, as well as Kalpvriksh and Kalaazar Menace in Bihar, works that together address cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and public health. In recognition of his contributions across engineering, art, and culture, he has received more than ten state and national awards, including the Visvesvaraya Memorial Award.