Aili Seghetti is the Founder of The Intimacy Curator, an organization focused on intimacy, relationships and self-discovery. An intimacy, dating and relationship coach trained in the Somatica method, Aili is a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming practitioner who creates safe spaces to explore connection, sexuality and emotional wellbeing. Through workshops and community events, they challenge taboos and foster openness, dialogue and self-awareness. Their work has been featured by The Hindu, BBC, Grazia and The Week, among others. Aili holds a degree in Hindi and Cultural Studies from SOAS, University of London, and is a Vipassana practitioner.
Akhil Gupta is Founder Director of the Universal Enlightenment Forum and serves on leadership and advisory boards at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program and Chan Initiative on Health and Homelessness. A former Founder Chairman of Blackstone India and Senior Managing Director of The Blackstone Group, he has also held senior positions at Reliance Industries and Hindustan Unilever. An IIT and Stanford alumnus, Gupta is the author of Bridges Across Humanity and To Flourish is To Love, Learn, Play.
Alexander Kopelman is a writer, social entrepreneur, advocate, and coach who has spent four decades advancing social justice and personal empowerment. As founding President and CEO of the Children’s Arts Guild, he helped build an organization dedicated to helping children explore and develop their authentic identities. Previously, he served as Director of Marketing at Girls Inc. for more than 12 years. His work focuses on identity, self-determination, and challenging societal stereotypes, and he has authored or co-authored 10 books.
Amarjit Singh Dulat served as the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's spy agency, under Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. He later joined Vajpayee's Prime Minister's Office (PMO), where his job was to ‘monitor, manage, and direct’ the government of India's peace initiative in Kashmir. Dulat was born in Sialkot, Punjab, in December 1940. With India's Partition, his father, Justice Shamsher Singh Dulat, relocated the family to Delhi. After schooling in Delhi, Shimla and Chandigarh, Dulat joined the Indian Police Service in 1965, and then the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in 1969, where he served for almost thirty years. At IB, he headed the Kashmir Group during the turbulent 1990s until he joined and headed R&AW.Since leaving government in 2004, Dulat has been active on the Track II circuit, and has visited Pakistan. His first book, Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years, was published in 2015. He co-authored two books with former Pakistan intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani – Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI, and the Illusion of Peace in 2018 (with Aditya Sinha), and Covert: The Psychology of War and Peace (with Neil K. Aggarwal) in 2024. Dulat’s memoir, A Life in the Shadows, was published to acclaim in 2022.
Dr Amrinder Kaur Bajaj is a senior gynaecolgist, a gold medalist from AIIMS, former head of department MAX PPA, presently attached to Fortis Hospital Gurugram. A a passion for writing has led to the publication of eleven books that include 4 wellness books, fiction, poetry, a text book, a joke book and a Khushwant memoir by leading publishers like Penguin, HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, Elsevier, Niyogi. Her latest book is on the taboo subject of female sexuality 'Closing the Pleasure Gap - an Ob Gyn explains What Women Want in Bed' has been published by Hay House that will be discussed during this Lit fest.
Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist, author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic, and an influential voice on cinema and society. Since beginning her career in 1994 with India Today, she has worked with The Indian Express and Headlines Today, becoming an independent journalist in 2011. Known for her fearless socio-political critique of cinema and current affairs, she champions women’s rights, minority rights and marginalised representation. Her honours include the Chameli Devi Jain Award (2025) and the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (2015).
Aradhika Sharma has been writing for nearly three decades, contributing articles, stories, reviews, and columns to leading publications. She is the author and co-author of several books published by Rupa Publications, including the bestselling Sunita Williams: Astronaut Extraordinaire, which has been translated into multiple Indian languages, and Dear Agony Aunt, drawn from her experience as an online advice columnist.
Her professional journey spans children's journalism, radio scripting, online advice columns, and personal biographies. Beyond writing, she has worked closely with communities and local NGOs, engaging with a range of social and developmental initiatives.
(Honorary) Brigadier Dr Arvind Lal, Padma Shri is Executive Chairman of Dr Lal PathLabs and a pioneer of modern diagnostics in India. A Padma Shri awardee and the first civilian doctor to receive the honorary rank of Brigadier in the Armed Forces Medical Services, he is also an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College Hall of Fame. A philanthropist and spiritual seeker, he champions primary healthcare through the Arvind Lal Vandana Lal Foundation. His book *Corporate Yogi* chronicles his journey, while his documentary *Mahamantra – The Great Chant* was selected for the 2026 Academy Awards Documentary Feature Reminder List.
Arundhati is a writer, cultural practitioner and social activist with three decades of experience in the arts and culture. She was Executive Director of India Foundation for the Arts (2013–2023) and is a Chevening Clore Leadership, a Gurukul Scholar and a Salzburg gloabal Fellow. Her writing appears in The Hindu, Scroll, The Wire and Deccan Herald, where she writes the column Ties and Knots. Her books include All Our Loves: Journeys with Polyamory in India (2025), winner of the Rainbow Literature Festival’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year, and the Bangla poetry collection Oshomoye Phire Esho Nodi Hoye.
Retired from the IAS in 2010. An avid trekker and environmentalist. A blogger, have published eight books on governance, environmental issues and social peccadiloes. Writes for many print and online publications.
Bachi Karkaria is a pioneering journalist, satirist, author and media mentor who has shaped some of India’s most influential journalistic brands. Her path-breaking reporting on HIV-AIDS helped influence public policy and earned her a place on the advisory board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A former board member of the World Editors Forum and Jefferson Fellow, she has received several honours for journalism and lifetime achievement. Her books include Dare to Dream, In Hot Blood, Erratica and Giving Gyan.
Bahar Dutt is a trailblazing Indian conservation biologist and environmental journalist. She has worked as the environmental editor for CNN-IBN, where her hard hitting reportage impacted many positive policy decisions . Over her 20-year career, Dutt has reported from the Arctic to Indonesian rainforests. For a decade prior to her work as a journalist, Bahar collaborated with a community of snake charmers on a project she initiated, helping them transition to alternative livelihoods aligned with wildlife conservation laws.
She is the recipient of the prestigious Wildscreen Award, the Ramnath Goenka Award, the American Association for the Advancement of Science Award, among others. Bahar is the author of Green Wars: Dispatches from a Vanishing World and Rewilding in India. She is currently an associate professor at Shiv Nadar University.
Berty Ashley is a molecular geneticist, science communicator and quizmaster who uses comedy, storytelling and quizzing to make science engaging and accessible. Drawing from his background in molecular genetics, he brings complex ideas out of the laboratory and into public spaces, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and a love for science.
Chetna Keer is a journalist and author who teaches creative writing at the Mukand Lal National College, Yamunanagar, and for the Chandigarh Literary Society. Maharaja’s Moran - Lost Queen of Lahore is her latest book, and she has previously authored Veggies Go On A Beauty Parade (2005) and Trollitically Incorrect (2018), Giddha on my Gulmohar
As a journalist for over two decades, she wrote features for the lifestyle section of The Tribune, Simply Punjabi of the India Today stable, the Hindustan Times, the Deccan Herald and Femina. She has also done shows such as ‘Destination India’ and ‘Tasveer’ on AIR FM Gold.
After studying urban design, Devki Pande earned an MFA from Columbia University, where she was a Felipe P. De Alba Fellow, and an International Fellow at the School of International and Public Affairs. She is a producer and writer in the film industry. The Imitation Englishman is her first novel.
Divya Dutta is an actor, author and now a poet too. The talented actor won a National Award for best actor (female) in a supporting role in 2018.
She has acted in more than 100 feature films in Hindi and Punjabi language, few notable films being Veer- Zara, Bhaag Milkha Bhag, My Friend Pinto, Stanley ka Dabba to name a few.
Her first poem that she wrote recently titled ‘Jab Sab Theek Hoga Na’, about going on lockdown in the country has been much appreciated.
Her memoir, Me and Ma, published in 2017 was one of the most talked about books that year. She launched her second book on 10th November, 2021 titled, ‘The Stars In My Sky’.
Divya had four releases back to back during the lockdown that include Web Show Special Ops, short film The Relationship Manager, Feature film Ramsingh Charlie and second season of web show Hostages.
The actress has an interesting line up of feature films, web shows and short films including films like Dhaakad and Sharmaji ki Beti.
Feroze Gujral is an Indian model, media personality, and prominent art patron. Born into a diverse heritage, she gained early recognition in the 1990s as a popular model, working on campaigns like Digjam Suitings. She later transitioned into business and philanthropy, founding the Gujral Foundation, which supports contemporary art and cultural initiatives globally. Her foundation has been instrumental in commissioning and supporting major art projects, including collaborations at the Venice Biennale, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and exhibitions at prestigious institutions like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Additionally, she is the founder of Outset India, a chapter of the global Outset Contemporary Art Fund.
Beyond the arts, Feroze has a history of social initiatives and philanthropy, supporting educational institutions like CEPT University and NIFT, and contributing to numerous causes such as street children and girl child welfare. The Gujral family, historically patrons of various charitable initiatives post-partition, continue to support education, science, and women’s empowerment. Feroze herself has been involved in projects related to malnutrition and safe childbirth, and has worked closely with NGOs like Nanhi Chaun and Save the Children.
In addition to her philanthropic and cultural contributions, Feroze has had a varied career in design, co-founding businesses like Fizzaro, a fine china export company, and serving as Director of Design Plus. She has also been an ambassador for brands such as Burberry and Tod's, and was an advocate for wildlife conservation with the World Wildlife Fund. As a commentator on contemporary culture, she has contributed to leading publications and hosted her own TV show, "Tonight with Feroze."
Gargi Rawat is a consulting editor with NDTV where she has worked for over two decades. She’s been closely involved with NDTV’s environment coverage and campaigns. She’s also authored a book ‘Tiger Season’, a work of fiction centred around tiger conservation
Gillian Wright is an author and translator whose works include the translation of Shrilal Shukla's Raag Darbaari and Rahi Masoon Reza's Half a Village as well as the prize-winning children's book Mishti the Mirazapuri Labrador. The latter was autobiographical as Mishti was her and her partner Mark Tully's dog. Mark died in January this year and it fell to Gillian to fufil his wishes and bring to completion the memoir he had long been working on. This is titled 'A Very Lucky Man - Memoirs of a Radio-Wala' and is to be published before the end of the year.
She recently gave up her vibrant corporate career to help expedite the setting up of HIAL, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh. Gitanjali is a multi-talented dynamic woman. She is a management graduate from XIMB, Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar and has since been in key corporate positions nationally and internationally in Indian and multinational companies.
As an entrepreneur she has helped launch her own businesses, Pushan and Shanghai Power Projects Ltd.
As a social entrepreneur she is the founder of a publishing company Helios Books, Aum Hospitals, AUM Trust and Love your Liver Foundation.
As an educator she is the founding member of Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh, Advisor to Maharashtra International Education Board, MIEB, Government of Maharashtra, and has headed a well known Cambridge School in Chennai.
Apart from that, she is a Black Belt in Karate and has won the World championship in 2009 in USA, together with her son Aryan.
She loves dancing Odissi and Russian Ballet, singing Hindustani Classical and playing the Piano.
She is spiritual seeker with a deep interest in Indian Spirituality and is a life-long student of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, Vedas and the Upanishads. She enjoys insights into the inner and outer worlds and practices yoga, pranayama and meditation.
Hartosh Singh Bal is the executive editor of The Caravan. He trained as an engineer at BITS Pilani and a mathematician at NYU before turning to journalism. He is author Water Close Over Us: A Travelogue Along the Narmada and co-author of A Certain Ambiguity: A Mathematical Novel, which won the Association of American Publishers’ award for the Best Professional/ Scholarly Book on Mathematics for 2007. He was the political editor of Open, and has worked for The Indian Express, Tehelka and Mail Today.
Hoihnu Hauzel is a journalist, author and chronicler of Northeast India, with decades of experience at leading publications including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and The Telegraph. A Reuters Fellow and Le Cordon Bleu-certified gastronomic tourism professional, she is the author of The Essential Northeast Cookbook and books on Manipur. She founded The NE Stories, documenting the region’s people, culture and resilience, and Northeast Odyssey, highlighting its hospitality and destinations.
Imtiaz Ali is a prominent Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, celebrated for his contributions to Hindi cinema. Renowned for his unique storytelling, Ali’s films often delve into the complexities of love and human relationships. His notable works include Jab We Met , Rockstar , Tamasha, and Love Aaj Kal , each blending romance with themes of self-discovery and personal growth.
Ali's ability to craft relatable characters and memorable narratives, combined with his artistic vision, has made him a defining voice in contemporary Indian cinema. He continues to influence and inspire audiences through his innovative storytelling.
Dr Jatinder Parwaaz is an acclaimed Urdu poet with a PhD in Urdu Literature from Punjabi University, Patiala. Sub-Editor of Jamna Tat and Urdu anchor for Doordarshan’s Adab, he has participated in literary gatherings and mushairas internationally. His books include Maazi Ke Zakhm and Chandigarh Mein Urdu Ghazal. He is a recipient of the Kunwar Mahendra Singh Bedi ‘Sehar’ Award.
Jerry Pinto is a poet, novelist, translator, editor and teacher who lives and works in a city by the sea with many names. His books have won the National Award for the Best Book on Cinema, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Windham-Campbell Award from Yale, USA. He is at work on several projects at once.
Jibu Elias is an AI governance and policy researcher and author focused on the social, cultural and geopolitical impacts of AI. He co-created INDIAai, where he led content and research from 2018 to 2023, and is currently India Lead at Mozilla Foundation, a Global Partnership on AI expert, and Responsible AI Fellow at the Stimson Center. He has contributed to AI initiatives at the OECD, UNESCO, World Economic Forum and International Science Council. His book, The New Divide: Power, Control and the Cost of AI (Westland, 2026), examines AI’s political economy and its consequences for the Global South.
Kamla K. Kapur is an award-winning author, poet and playwright whose work bridges literature, mythology and mysticism. The author of eight books, she draws on Sikh, Hindu and Sufi traditions to bring ancient wisdom to contemporary readers. Her recent book, The Privilege of Aging, won the 2025 Nautilus Book Award (Gold), the 2025 Best Indie Book Award and a 2026 Living Books Award. Her latest, Awakening with Nanak: A Journey of Self Discovery, was published by Harper India in 2026. Kapur has written nine plays, received two National Playwriting Awards, and taught literature and creative writing in India and the United States.
Madhur is Founder-Editor of Climate Action Live, a platform that takes readers from climate awareness to action.
She has been a journalist and editor with leading Indian and international organizations, including Time magazine, Bloomberg Law and the World Economic Forum. She has run independent public-interest journalism sites, trained fact-checkers, advised NGOs and organized communities, festivals and film clubs. A Chevening fellow, she is also a curator at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival.
General (Dr) Manoj Naravane (Retd), the 28th Chief of the Army Staff, led the Indian Army from 2019 to 2022, navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and the military standoff in Eastern Ladakh while advancing self-reliance, military diplomacy and new technologies. A graduate of India’s premier military institutions, he holds a Ph.D. in Defence and Security Studies and is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and other honours. In 2025, he entered a new realm—as a storyteller—with his debut novel, The Cantonment Conspiracy.
Manraj Grewal Sharma is the National Editor (North) for The Indian Express. She writes a weekly column called Northern Lights. She has also authored a book on Punjab militancy called Dreams after Darkness and has worked as a publishing consultant with development organisations such as Asian Development Bank at Manila and United Nation Environment Programme
Mayank Kanungo is an Indian Air Force veteran, writer and alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Rashtriya Indian Military College. After over two decades in uniform, he moved into strategic risk advisory, working with private-equity investors and hedge funds across South Asia.
His debut novel, *Service Before Self (But Breakfast Before Service)*, published by Penguin Random House India, is a darkly comic coming-of-age story set inside the National Defence Academy, exploring cadet life, friendship, discipline and the absurdities behind military tradition. His writing has appeared in the *Camphor* anthology and *The Millennium Post*. He lives in Bengaluru and is writing his second novel, a military thriller set against the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests of the 1990s.
Dr. Mazda K. Turel is a leading neurosurgeon specialising in brain and spine disorders, with advanced training in minimally invasive, skull-base, neuro-oncological, complex spine and cerebrovascular surgery across India, China, Canada and the US. A recipient of the Jacob Chandy Gold Medal, he has published over 110 papers and is recognised for his clinical research and innovative approach to neurosurgery.
A passionate educator and TEDx speaker, Dr. Turel lectures internationally and writes regularly for Jam-e Jamshed and Sunday Mid-Day, making the complexities of the human brain and spine accessible to the public. His work exploring the links between brain structure and mental health reflects his philosophy of compassionate excellence.
Mihira Sood is a lawyer and scholar in the field of women’s rights, and has practised at the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court . She read law NALSAR University Hyderabad, and Columbia Law School, New York, and has taught at various law schools across the country.
Mihira writes and speaks widely on women’s rights, feminist jurisprudence, equality law, and civil liberties. She is a regular commentator in the national press, appearing frequently on television and other public platforms on issues of law and gender. She is the author of the book Courting Equality, which examines 5 decades of feminist movements and legal milestones within the context of the surrounding social and political climate.
Narayani Ganesh is a journalist, editor and author who spent 34 years with The Times of India and The Economic Times. With a postgraduate degree in Economics, she has written extensively on environment, science, philosophy, spirituality, wellness, heritage and travel. As editor of The Speaking Tree and Sacred Space, she engaged with leading philosophers, spiritual masters, scientists and wellness thinkers from around the world. Widely travelled, she is now a freelance writer. Her books include My Father, Gemini Ganesan and Anger: Why We Get Angry and How We Should Respond to Provocation, published by Aleph in 2026, with a foreword by HH the Dalai Lama.
Neel Kamal Puri is a writer and former teacher of literature and journalism who taught at Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Chandigarh, for 37 years. Born in Ludhiana and educated in Patiala and Chandigarh, she has also written extensively for newspapers, including a weekly column for The Indian Express, Chandigarh, and reviews of theatre, music and dance.
Her novels include The Patiala Quartet (2006), Remember to Forget (2012) and I in the Sky (2026). Her short story “Kailla” appeared in First Proof: The Penguin Book of New Writing from India.
Nishtha Lamba is the author of Trauma Nation. She holds a PhD and MPhil in Psychology from the University of Cambridge and a BA from Hunter College, City University of New York. An associate professor of Psychology at Middlesex University Dubai, she leads two labs in Social Psychology and Trauma. She has worked with vulnerable populations for over a decade. Her current research develops new approaches to healing trauma through technology. Lamba blends Eastern and Western perspectives in her work and is committed to making the science of mental health accessible beyond academic circles. She publishes with leading academic journals and has written for the Indian Express, Scroll.in, Open Magazine, and The Hindu.
Parvana Boga Noorani has worn many hats in her lifetime. Having done her schooling and college in Mumbai and Khandala, she flew with an international airline for ten years. This developed in her and abiding love of food and different cuisines. She then worked briefly with a 5 star hotel chain in Mumbai, then with an International Bank also in Mumbai before starting a catering business of her own. She wrote a food column for Bombay Times for 7 years and has co-authored a cookbook, Catwalk Cuisine, with Prasad Bidapa. She is currently a partner in the architectural firm Karim Noorani & Co.
Bedi, born to two strong, celebrated, bohemian, celebrity parents has carved out a strong identity of her own With a career spanning 3 decades across TV/film/ advertising/ talk shows/ Reality shows/ Print & digital media and now as wellness entrepreneur. Her wellness brand “HAPPY SOUL” & Holistic wellness start-up Magicians of wellness (india) PVT LTD, combine an amalgamation of her 30+ years of study in alternative sciences. Her Online ecommerce aggregator platform for Feminine empowerment through Holistic Wellness aims at creating positive change for individuals, communities and the planet as well.Vision: "Unlocking human potential, one happy soul at a time & creating a world where joy, love, and positivity thrive."Mission: "Empowering individuals to break free from limitations, embracing happiness through discovering their true essence, and living a joyful, purpose-driven life. Through positive mindset coaching, immersive workshops, and heartfelt connections to kindle profound impact, ripples of love, compassion, and happiness across the globe."Pooja has been awarded multiple times for all her avatars, be it for her individual contributions, as a professional and a humanitarian. Her recent awards (2024 and 2023) include Inspiring Women Leaders (2024) ET inspiring women leaders 2024 by Economic Times Healthcare heroes Award (2024) for Wellness entrepreneurshipleading wellness entrepreneur 2023 by Shakti Awards was part of the “We women want” movement which was tweeted about by PM Modi. Wellness Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 by Business GoaPooja is diploma holder with CHII on modalities for behavioural resolutions, health resolutions, spiritual hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy, as well as has certifications in courses such as NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). Her certifications also include metasciences such as Karuna Reiki, Usui Reiki, Magnified healing, Heal your life, Shamanism and more.She is also a Jay Shetty certified life coach and accredited to the AC ((international body of coaches) Her transformational workshops have also been conducted for FICCI-Flo chapters pan India, EO (Entrepreneur Organisation), corporates, various women’s groups, Social entrepreneur groups & educational institutions across the country.Her wellness brand Happy Soul has caught the attention of healers, the business community and health enthusiasts. Under the guidance of the Goldman Sachs 10K program at the IIM in Bangalore in 2023, she recreated, restructured and created a robust business model for her Passion Project. Happy Soul is being positioned to be an umbrella and front runner in the world of wellness which is globally a 6 trillion dollar industry.
Pooja Marwah is an author, storyteller and content strategist who believes the best stories are hiding in everyday life. Her latest book, *Being an Indian Teenager*, is a graphic novel that uses humour to explore friendships, family, social media, body image and the wonderfully complicated business of growing up in India. A jury member for the Young Adult category at Valley of Words and a member of the Managing Board of the Crime Literature Festival of India, Pooja is passionate about getting young people to find their voice, tell their stories and, most importantly, start talking to the adults in their lives. Her current mission is simple: **to start a national conversation between Indian parents and teenagers.**
Chef Prateek Sadhu is the Chef-Founder of NAAR, a destination restaurant in Himachal Pradesh where he reimagines Himalayan ingredients, traditions and culinary heritage. Born in Kashmir and trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he has worked at Alinea, The French Laundry, Le Bernardin and Noma, and co-founded Masque in Mumbai. At NAAR, his cuisine is rooted in seasonality, foraging and local communities. The restaurant has earned international acclaim, including Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and The Best Chef Awards 2025.
Preeti Gill is an independent literary agent who has more than 20 years experience in the publishing industry as a commissioning editor and rights director. She has travelled extensively in the North East of India and written on issues of conflict and women. She is the editor of The Peripheral Centre: Voices from India’s Northeast as well as Bearing Witness: A Report on the Impact of Conflict on Women in Nagaland and Assam. Her writing has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including 1984 in Memory and Imagination (2016). Her documentary Rambuai: Mizoram’s ‘Trouble’ Years (co-produced with Sanjoy Hazarika) was released in September 2016. She has edited She Stoops To Kill, an anthology of murder stories by women as well as Insider/ Outsider: Belonging and Unbelonging in India’s Northeast both published in 2019. Her new anthology is But I am One of You: Northeast India and the Struggle to Belong(2023) co edited with Samrat Choudhury.
She spends her time between Delhi and Amritsar where she has set up a literary and cultural hub, the first of its kind, called Majha House (www.majhahouse.com) which regularly holds literary and cultural events and festivals. Her edited volume of non-fiction essays on Punjab is forthcoming.
Probal DasGupta is the author of General Brasstacks: The Sundarji Story, a portrait of one of independent India’s most influential military strategists —and the turbulent political landscape of the 1980s. A former officer of 11 Gorkha Rifles, DasGupta studied international affairs at Columbia University before moving into global consulting and entrepreneurship. His earlier books, Watershed 1967 and Camouflaged, explore forgotten turning points in India’s history and the role of soldiers. A columnist and commentator on history, geopolitics and strategy, he is a visiting faculty at Indian School of Public Policy and also, the founder of MaxCity Literature Festival.
Rajeev Budhiraja is an advertising and marketing professional with four decades of experience and co-author of The Governance Gap: Unlocking India’s Superpower Potential (Rupa, 2025), written with his late father, Shashi Budhiraja. A Cambridge economics and law graduate and LSE-trained behavioural scientist, he brings together business, behavioural science and a deep interest in governance and civic responsibility.
A former founding equity partner and CEO of McCann agencies in the Middle East, Rajeev now directs the Manorama & Shashi Budhiraja Foundation, supporting governance research, skills development and civic engagement. He has established Chairs in Governance at IIM Lucknow, IIT Roorkee and MDI Gurgaon, and the Budhiraja-IMI Delhi Skills Centre.
Maj Gen Ranjan Mahajan is a scholar-soldier and former Indian Army General with over 35 years of service across India’s most challenging terrains. Commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles, in 1987, he served four times in the Kashmir Valley, including as a Company Commander and Commander of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in South Kashmir. He later commanded an Infantry Brigade on the Line of Control and a Division on the western borders, and served as Additional Director General of NCC and Recruiting. A recipient of the Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, he retired in 2022. His articles have appeared in leading defence and national publications. His book, *Kashmir in the Line of Fire*, is a compelling blend of soldier’s memoir and human stories from the Valley.
Rahul Akerkar is a pioneering chef, restaurateur and author who helped transform India’s dining scene with Indigo, his trailblazing Bombay restaurant. Today, as Founding Chef and Culinary Director at Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality, he brings his distinctive culinary vision to Ode, Waarsa and Flint. His memoir, *Biting Off More Than I Can Chew* (HarperCollins India), chronicles his journey and India’s evolving food culture.
Having met Khushwant Singh during his Under The Over years, Akerkar returns to KSLF 2026 to explore how taste, memory and appetite shape our lives—and our differences.
Rani Singh is a journalist, author and broadcaster with three decades of experience reporting across cultures and borders. Her work has taken her undercover to Tibet and Kashmir and into conversations with figures including Sir Richard Branson and Sir Ben Kingsley. Her journalism has appeared in the BBC, The Guardian, Forbes and Al Jazeera, with a focus on South Asia and diaspora voices. She is the author of six books, including An Officer and His Holiness. A former actor and CBeebies presenter, Rani brings storytelling, rigour and empathy to every medium.
Ranjit Powar is an author, behavioural intervention consultant, trainer and podcaster. A former Punjab Civil Services officer, she writes on Punjab’s history and culture, with a particular focus on women’s lives and agency within patriarchal societies.
Her books include *The Veil and the Sword: Women in the Court and Life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh*, *Dusk over the Mustard Fields*, *Living a Good Life* and the Punjabi title *Raen Bhayee Chahun Des*. Her forthcoming *Legends and Folktales of Punjab* adds to her exploration of the region’s rich cultural heritage. She has also published research papers, articles, reviews, travelogues and short stories. After retirement, she founded the Nishan Educational Trust to advance social and educational initiatives.
Dr. Ravi Chopra, an environmentalist, researcher and recipient of IIT-Bombay’s 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award, is the former Director of the People’s Science Institute. His pioneering work spans environmental conservation, disaster mitigation and sustainable development.
A co-editor of the landmark First Citizens’ Report on the State of India’s Environment (1982) and Citizens’ Report on River Ganga (2023), his current interests include climate change, Himalayan springs, river conservation and sustainable livelihoods. He has chaired Supreme Court-appointed committees on infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand and served on the National Ganga River Basin Authority. He lives in Dehradun.
With over four decades of experience spanning publishing, business leadership and consulting, Rekha Khanna has built a distinguished career across diverse sectors, particularly healthcare and diagnostics. Her early work included launching a successful weekly newspaper and developing the concept for a women’s magazine with the India Today Group. She went on to lead bioMérieux India as Managing Director and later Chairperson, driving sustained growth while nurturing talent and strengthening the organisation’s presence in India. She has also served as Chairperson of the European Business Group and contributed to industry initiatives through CII and FICCI. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in English Literature, and was honoured by France with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.
Rene Singh is a singer with a difference who with her soulful voice touches a chord with her audience. She is trained in semi classical music and has a vast knowledge of Sufi and Urdu poetry. She uses her music for healing and creating love peace and harmony. Her love for Urdu and Sufi poetry has led her to delve into the history of the same and musically present the lives of various poets to the people across the globe. Music and wellness...a journey. Rene has brought joy to young and old through her singing weaved with words of hope and love. She curates and designs modules and workshops through poetry and music. Her content and music is based on her vast travels and interactions with different communities and music across the country and in conflict zones. She uses soulful music as a tool to reach out the poetry love, harmony and peace to her audience and community groups. She has partnered with UNICEF to create musical stories for community radio in the remote villages of the country. She has earned great appreciation for her work in Kashmir with orphan girls affected by terrorism, where together with them she has created a choir and brought alive the healing poetry of Sufi saints which has culminated in a concert in Srinagar. Her concerts on Krishna as a central theme have been specially designed to heal the widows of Vrindavan. She has been invited to perform in the first of Wellness Conclave and travelled with it across the country with specially designed all faith chants which have been highly acclaimed. She has created the TOUCH a CHORD choir with under privileged children in New Delhi. She was invited by the American Embassy New Delhi to sing Gandhi's favourite hymn on the visit of Martin Luther king 3. She was also invited to open the Women of the world summit New Delhi 2015 New Delhi. She has curated and is the lead singer for several musical performances including "let there be no tears " a musical on Gandhi ,s philosophy and Chaand Taare a musical on the expressions of the street child. She continues her musical journey with music of love hope and peace. Poetry and music. Adding another dimension to her music, Rene has delved deep into the lives of Sufi, Mughal and contemporary poets and their poetry and has designed musical performances with the lives of different poets with their poetry. She is the founding member of HUM hamari Urdu mohabbat ,which has become a leading group for performing this form of poetry and singing. Her training in ghazal and thumri gayaki with Shanti hiranand an (exponent in this style of singing ) has equipped her to carry forward this art form. Her musical presentation and rendering is immaculate and enthralling to her audience. She has been invited to perform by the President and the Vice President of India, and several Governors of States across the country. She has been invited to perform at several international platforms including Jaipur lit fest, Lucknow lit fest KS lit fest, Delhi poetry festival and Women of the World conclave 2015 New Delhi, India.
Roopinder Singh is an author and a journalist who retired as Senior Associate Editor, The Tribune, Chandigarh. His books include ‘Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru’, ‘Sikh Heritage, Ethos and Relics’ (co-author), ‘Delhi ’84’, ‘Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings’ and ‘Arjan Singh DFC: Marshal of the Indian Air Force’. He has also published festschrifts on his parents: ‘Giani Gurdit Singh 1923–2007’ and ‘Inderjit Kaur Sandhu: An Inspiring Journey’.
Sakoon Singh studied English Literature at the JNU, New Delhi and Panjab University, Chandigarh. She has been a recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship and currently teaches Indian literature and cultural studies in Chandigarh. She has published her academic writings extensively, including contribution to Cultural Studies in India (Routledge 2015), Literature and Theory (Routledge 2021) and Reading India in a Transnational Era (Routledge 2021). She has served on the editorial team of Dialog and edited a special South Asia section for E3W Review of Books (University of Texas, Austin). She was a member of the selection process of Bal Puruskar, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. 2021 and did a stint at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla in June 2019 as Associate Fellow.
“In the Land of the Lovers” (Rupa; April, 2020)- short listed for PFC-VoW Book awards for Best Fiction is her debut novel. Her second novel “Fourteen Springs of Separation” (Rupa; 2026) has recently been released.
Sam Tully grew up in India and the UK in the 1970s and 80s, before graduating from Cambridge, then qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in London. Subsequently he entered the world of Financial Markets, specialising in India just as the economy liberalised and stock markets opened up. Over his long career he was worked for many well known Banks, mainly in London but also based in Mumbai. He has always enjoyed literature and has written research reports, published articles and is now working on a book. He is very interested in education, a visiting Fellow at the Centre for India and Global Business at the Cambridge University Judge Business School and a trustee of Pratham UK.
Actor. Author. General Maverick.
Sanjoy Hazarika is a journalist, author, filmmaker and human rights advocate whose four-decade career has centred on the North-East and its neighbourhood. A former New York Times correspondent, he founded the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, whose pioneering boat clinics bring healthcare to nearly three lakh people annually along the Brahmaputra. He has led the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and held fellowships at Harvard, Tufts and Bellagio. His books include Strangers of the Mist and River Traveller, a lyrical journey along the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra that explores river, memory, conflict and change. He is currently writing a book on Mizoram.
Sarbpreet Singh is a writer, playwright, and commentator whose work traverses the boundaries of history, myth, and the human spirit to explore the depth of Sikh heritage and Punjabi culture. Blending the meticulousness of a historian with the soul of a poet, he is a multidisciplinary storyteller who translates complex historical narratives and scholarship into profound literary and dramatic experiences for a modern audience. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including the bestselling novel, The Sufi's Nightingale, which reimagines the life and transcendental love of the 16th-century mystic poet Shah Hussain. His approach to storytelling extends to the stage through musical productions like Heer and The Sufi's Nightingale Musical, where he blends his English translations of Punjabi Sufi poetry with original Raga-based compositions. His newest work is Khwabgah - The House of Dreams, a collection of original Sufi poetry, inspired by the masters of the tradition and crafted for a generation adrift from its cultural moorings.
Sarthak is an investment banker, bestselling author and entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience in M&A, fundraising and corporate finance. A Gold Medalist from ISB and one of India’s youngest professionals to hold four qualifications—CA, CS, CMA and Finance—he advises businesses on capital, valuations and global expansion.
With over 5 million followers and 100 million monthly views, he is a Visiting Faculty at ISB and a sought-after speaker on economics, finance and international trade, with appearances at Harvard, Davos and the House of Lords.
Dr. Satinder Sartaaj is an internationally acclaimed Punjabi singer, songwriter, composer, poet, and actor, celebrated for his soulful music and profound Sufi poetry. Born in Bajrawar, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, he holds a PhD specializing in Sufi poetry and taught music at Panjab University for six years.
Known for blending Punjabi culture, ancestral values, and spiritual wisdom, Sartaaj has captivated audiences worldwide. His achievements include a sold-out performance at the Royal Albert Hall, collaborations with international artists, and his Hollywood debut as Maharaja Duleep Singh in The Black Prince. Through his art, he continues to inspire hearts and minds across the globe.
Satyajit Sarna is a writer and lawyer based in New Delhi. His writings include Redtooth, a Himalayan horror novel, and The Angel’s Share, a coming of age story. He has also published a collection of poems titled The Profane, and From the Trenches, a book of legal essays co-written with Dr. AM Singhvi. As a lawyer, he is particular interested in human rights and environmental law.
After an MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad, Serena Jacob pursued a 37-year career in Qualitative Research. Over this period, she worked closely with senior qualitative practitioners, country MDs and client leaders across the Asia-Pacific region to deliver transformative thinking to businesses until her retirement in 2024.She is currently working on co-authoring a book about Branding in the Social Sector, which she hopes to publish next year.
Shinie Antony has written the novellas Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith (Laadli Fiction Award 2025, Wise Owl Literary Award for Fiction 2025, Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction 2026), Can’t (longlist 2024 Crossword Book Awards), and The Girl Who Couldn’t Love. Her short-story collections include Barefoot and Pregnant and The Orphanage for Words, while anthologies compiled are Hell Hath No Fury, Boo, Why We Don’t Talk, An Unsuitable Woman, and The Art of Holding On, Letting Go. Her story A Dog’s Death won the Commonwealth Short Story Asia prize 2002. She has also written the short film Boli: Beyond Words and scripted the forthcoming Malayalam film Anchaam Pramaanam (The Fifth Commandment). The Haunting of Kunjamma P is her latest novel.
Shobha Shroff is a Buddhist, grassroots peace activist and student of philosophy, history and psychology, with a Master’s in Psychotherapy. Having lived across India and in multicultural Britain, she draws on a life rich in people, places and perspectives. In In Search of Basant, her first formal work of writing, she journeys through family roots, memory and time, tracing the intricate connections between people and places. Guided by her motto, “Dare Mighty Things!”, Shroff invites readers to rediscover the forgotten moments that shape our lives—and celebrate the beauty of the ephemeral.
Shreya Jani is a peace educator and cultural practitioner who has worked with Dr. Vandana Shiva since the age of 15. Her practice spans peace education, ecological literacy, and social-emotional learning across regions including Kashmir, Manipur, and Afghanistan. She is the founder of Sunshine Masala Witch, an ethical venture rooted in care, ritual, and women-led livelihoods.
Sonali Gupta is one of India’s leading clinical psychotherapists with two decades of experience. She works with young adults, artists, couples, and corporates to enhance their emotional well-being. Her work is at the intersection of relationships, grief, anxiety, and compassion. She focusses on family dynamics, blended families and her areas of expertise include working with clients in creative industry, legacy business, technology, finance and academia. Her first book 'Anxiety: Overcome It and Live without Fear” was released May 2020 on by HarperCollins and it was a best seller. Her second book, 'You will be alright : A guide to navigating Grief published by Penguin Random House, released in October 2024 and is the first book that looks at grief and loss from an Indian perspective.
A mechanical engineer by training, Sonam Wangchuk has worked primarily in the field of education reform for the last 30 years. His work is directly responsible for bringing the percentage of pass grades in the crucial Ladakhi 10th-grade examinations up to 75% from 5%. His vision for the Himalayan communities to lead sustainable lives has resulted in innovations like the Ice Stupa and passive solar heated buildings.
Sunetra Choudhury is the National Political Editor of the Hindustan Times. With over two decades of experience in print and television, she has authored Black Warrant (Roli,2019), Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous (Roli,2017) and Braking News (Hachette, 2010). Sunetra is the recipient of the Red Ink award in journalism in 2016 and Mary Morgan Hewett award in 2018.
Syeda Saiyidain Hameed is a Padma Shri awardee and a noted women's rights activist, educationist, and writer. She served as a member of the Planning Commission, the National Commission for Women, and as Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University until 2015.
Her notable works include A Drop in the Ocean , a memoir chronicling her life’s work in human rights, peace efforts, and social activism. She has also translated and edited the works of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and written on Islam, Sufism, and gender.
In 2000, she led a 'bus of peace' to Lahore, reflecting her commitment to Indo-Pak harmony. Her contributions to human rights, particularly in championing the causes of women and the marginalized, are widely recognized.
From Bengaluru, Karnataka, Upasana Sarraju is a molecular-biologist-turned-science-writer with a love for animal welfare, humid weather, and comfortable sandals. She is a FAST India Science Book Fellow and holds a Master’s in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She can poorly mimic various animals such as squirrels and sea lions. For reasons unrelated, she has visited the local police station too many times.
Unruly is her first book.
Dr Vandana Shiva is a physicist, environmental thinker and activist whose work bridges science, ecology and social justice. After a PhD in quantum theory, she founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in 1982 and Navdanya in 1991, championing biodiversity, native seeds and sustainable farming. She has authored numerous books and received the Right Livelihood Award, Sydney Peace Prize and MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity, among many other honours. Named one of Time’s environmental “heroes”, she has received honorary doctorates from universities across the world.
Mrs Veena Naravane is a teacher, a teacher educator and former consultant to Tony Blair Institute for Global change. She is an advisor to CEQUE an NGO working for the empowerment of teachers in rural and semi-urban areas. She is the former President of the Army Women's Welfare Association.
Vishnu Som is an award-winning television journalist with 30 years of experience, all at NDTV, where he serves as Senior Managing Editor. He anchors the flagship programme Left, Right and Centre on NDTV 24x7 and has over 20,000 hours of live broadcast experience. He has interviewed global leaders including Vladimir Putin, Shinzo Abe, Liz Truss, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, David Cameron, John Kerry, Henry Kissinger, and Bill Gates, among others. Vishnu has hosted primary sessions of the World Economic Forum in Davos, covered major conflicts including Kargil, Afghanistan, Russia-Ukraine, Siachen, Congo, and Iraq, and produced over 50 documentaries.
His honours include the Ramnath Goenka Award, a Special Commendation at the Commonwealth Broadcast Awards, Editor's Pick at the Global Investigative Journalism Network, and a contribution to the NDTV team's AIB Award for coverage of the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
