Srinagar Nalanda Dialogue2026

Shri Manoj Sinha is an esteemed Indian politician currently serving as the 2nd Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He took charge of this pivotal administrative role on August 7, 2020. Fondly referred to by his supporters as "Vikas Purush" (Development Man), Sinha is recognized for his grassroots connection, meticulous governance, and long-standing political career with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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

Shri Suman Billa Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India bioShri Suman Billa is a senior 1996-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala cadre, currently serving as the Additional Secretary & Director General at the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Known for his extensive expertise in infrastructure development and destination marketing, he has held vital roles across state, national, and international tourism organizations.

Prof. Siddharth Singh is Vice-Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University), under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. In his substantive position he is Senior Professor in the Department of Pali & Buddhist Studies at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He served as a diplomat and Director of the Indian Cultural Centre at the Embassy of India, Tokyo, from 2018 to 2022, where he worked extensively to promote Indian culture in Japan and strengthen India–Japan cultural diplomacy. He has received the Japan Foundation Fellowship (2003–04), the Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship (2011–12), and the Vajrayana Vyas President Award (2005). He has published four books: Saddhammasangaho: History of Buddhism till the 13th Century (Motilal Banarsidass), Jinacarita: Biography of the Buddha (Pilgrims Publishing House), Zen Bauddha Dharma-Sangeet (Sahitya Bhandar, Allahabad), and Remembering the Legend: Kosetsu Nosu (Mahabodhi Society of India). He has published more than eighty papers in Hindi, English, and Japanese on various aspects of Indian culture and Buddhism, and has lectured and presented papers in India and in countries including the United States, Japan, China, Sweden, Estonia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Nepal.

Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy (born 1971) is a renowned Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, writer, music composer, lyricist, and filmmaker. He is currently the Director of the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, India's premier institution for theatre education, a position he assumed on 6 October 2023. Shri Chittaranjan Tripathy is widely respected for his ability to blend classical Indian theatre traditions with contemporary storytelling. Through his work as an artist, educator, and administrator, he continues to shape the future of Indian theatre while mentoring the next generation of performers and directors.

Padma Shri Prof. Shafi Shauq (born 18 March 1950) is a distinguished Indian Kashmiri poet, writer, linguist, translator, critic, and academic. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost scholars of the Kashmiri language and literature and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2026 for his exceptional contributions to Literature and Education.

Prof. Nilofer Khan (born 1960) is a distinguished Indian academic, researcher, and administrator who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir. She made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman Vice-Chancellor in the university's history. In 2025, she was re-appointed for a further two-year term in recognition of her academic leadership.