MEET THE SPEAKERS

AJAY SOHAL

Topic: Character Building & Leadership

Ajay is a former Campus co-ordinator for National Hindu Students' Forum (NHSF UK) supporting 50 university Hindu societies regionally. He completed a Master's in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing from the University of Nottingham and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Swansea University. Ajay works as a Data Integration Analyst at SJP and supports the local Air Cadets as a civilian instructor.

DR AKSHAYA RAJANGAM

Topics: Culture, Dharma, Healthcare & the Arts, Character Building

Akshaya is the Vice-president of National Hindu Students' Forum (UK) the largest Hindu student movement outside of India.

Akshaya is a Junior doctor at Leicester Royal Infirmary with a focus in medical education. She is also a keen Bharatnatyam dancer.

DR BANSRI LAKHANI

Topic: Leadership, Sustainable Healthcare,  Developing Character & Capacity

Bansri is an Ophthalmology surgeon and is currently completing a Masters' in Medical Leadership. She worked with NGOs in Ahmedabad and Aurangabad for 6 months before starting Youth for Sewa, a summer internship program developing individuals with a strong sense of community responsibility through sewa projects. Bansri is the former National co-ordinator for Youth for Sewa.

DRISHTI MAE

Topics:  Womanhood, Leadership, Hindu Identity, Leaving Islam

Drishti was born into Islam in the United Kingdom. She left Islam in her late teens and later embraced Hindu Dharma. She is the former president of the National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK), the largest Hindu student movement outside of India and currently sits on the Board of Advisors for the Hindu American Foundation. A graduate of Chemistry from the University of York, Drishti now works in M&A Integration.

FALGUNI BHATT

Topics: Instilling values in children, Dharmic traditions

Falguni is the National Balagokulam Pramukh, and also one of the National Coordinator's for ICCS UK (International Center for Cultural Studies).
Studied Media & Communication and currently works as a Data Protection and Compliance Coordinator for Toyota UK. 
Sevika for over 15 years. Dedicated full time volunteer for HSS UK in 2018 for 1 year.

HARSH HARIA

Topics: Teachings from Bharat

BSc (Hons) in Business Information System and has a career working as a Programme Manager in the Banking Industry. Swayamsevak for over 29 years, dedicated 1 year as a full time Vistarak. Held Kendriya responsibilities from Shareerik, Baudhik, Vistaar and Balagokulam Pramukh. Currently Kendriya Saha-Baudhik Pramukh and supports Sangh projects like Vaani and E-Samvad.

HEENA SHAH

Topics: Women Empowerment, Motherhood, Parenting, Children

Degree in Business Information Technology. Director of Event Gurus and Senior Business Development Manager for iGlobal, India Inc. Group. Heena is an expert in corporate events with industry experience of over 15 years in conceptualising, designing and delivering high impact events.
Core team member of the National Hindu Welfare Support (NHWS) organisation addressing issues related to grooming, proselytism and domestic violence. 
Interest in technology, business and networking.

HITANSH SINGALA

Hindu worldview and how the world views Hindus, Hindu contribution to humanity’s progress and the Hindu renaissance.

Hitansh is a CA & MBA by academics, a management consultant by profession and plays at the intersection of business process and business technology.

His primary interests are in Indic history, Indic worldview, how technology is solving some of India's toughest developmental challenges, Bharat's past and present contributions to human progress.

He is a member of Vichaar Manthan and also supports Insight UK.

JEEL SHAH

Topics: Tackling Misinformation & Polarisation, Investing Sustainably

Jeel read Theoretical Physics at University College London and has worked in the financial services, focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions, and Investment Management. Jeel is the Baudhik Pramukh for North London Vibhag and is part of the Finance team for Sewa Day charity.

KAJOL DESAI

Topics: Character Building, Being an active Hindu student

Kajol is currently a full time volunteer (Vistaarika) for NHSF (UK), passionate about education and the dialogue around cultivating mental strength, particularly for young people.

She is an alumnus of the University of Birmingham and Bangor University with an undergraduate degree in Sport & Exercise Science and masters in Sport & Exercise Psychology.

KIRTI BHAGAT

Topics: Adoption and fostering in the Hindu community, Raising children in the modern world

Degree in Mathematics from Queen Mary University of London and now works as a Service Improvement Business Analyst for Nest Pensions and is a qualified Yoga Instructor. Dedicated full time volunteer for HSS UK in 2013 for 1 year.

MITALI PATEL

Healthcare & Wellbeing, British Hindu Identity, Education

Mitali is the Campus Co-ordinator of the National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK), the largest Hindu student movement outside of Bharat, supporting almost half of all universities in the UK.
A graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Reading, Mitali now works at Imperial College Hospital in London as a Resident and Rotational Pharmacist. She is also undertaking a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Pharmacy at the University College London.

PARESH MISTRY

Topics: Bharat's contribution to the World

Trained to become a Chartered Accountant. Started a home Care company in 2019. Studied Mathematics and Management at the University of Manchester. North East & Scotland Vibhag Karyawaha for HSS.

DR PAVNI LAKHANI

Topics: Lessons from Hindu Epics, Dharma and Ethics, Character Development

Pavni is currently a mentor for the Vaani Speakers Academy and has worked with NGOs in India for 6 months. Pavni graduated as a dentist from King's College London and is currently undertaking a Master's in Dental Law and Ethics.

PRAVAR PETKAR

British politics, political theory, critical thinking.

Pravar Petkar is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and the LSE, and a current PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, researching referendums. He is a team member of Vichaar Manthan, an organisation exploring British issues through a Hindu civilisational lens. His interests are in exploring how dharmic ideas can influence the British political system and political theory.

 RITESH THAKRAR

Topic: Hindu Identity

By profession a trainee solicitor working in the Government Legal Services’ Prosecution Team at HMRC. A Master’s graduate in Law from BPP Law School, London, where he was President of the Hindu Society. Ritesh has delivered a number of speeches during his time on the Former National Vice-president of NHSF (UK) and current the NHSF Alumni Coordinator and Shararek Pramukh in NL Vibhag.

RITU VADHERA

Feminism

Ritu is married with three children and works in sales for a Pharmaceutical Company. Ritu holds a graduate degree in Commerce from Delhi University.

She currently has the responsibility of Vibhag Karyavahika (Regional Secretary) for HSS UK for West London, England and Wales.

DR SACHIN NANDHA

Topics: Hindu identity, Christianity and Islam in the light of Dharma, Dharma, Political Philosophy

Sachin Nandha (Ph.D) is a public philosopher with a special interest Political and Indian/Hindu Philosophy. He has a special interest in Hindu identity and advocates for the need to evolve all our institutions based on the lines of Dharma. He is also the International Coordinator for Vichaar Manthan, a platform to discuss Dharma in a western context.

SANGITA CHHABHADIYA

Topics: Bharat's contribution to the World, Indian Freedom Fighters, Yoga

Sangita is a former Campus Co-ordinator for NHSF (National Hindu Student's Forum) and is a Sevika from Woolwich Pannabai Shakha and currently Kendriya Shareerik Pramukh for Hindu Sevika Samiti. She Studied Law with Management at Aston University and currently works as an senior investigator for the Financial Ombudsman Service. Sangita is also a trainee yoga therapist and qualified as a Yoga teacher from S-VYASA university in 2017. Has taken out 4 months to do Vistaar work in the UK.

SHYAM MAVANI

Topics: Sewa

Shyam is a Mechanical Engineer, who has recently been working as an Engineer on the new deep tube train for the Piccadilly Line.

He has experience in the Power and Aerospace industry and has project managed and led quality improvements in organisations such as organisations such as Alstom Power and Rolls Royce.

Shyam is also a Vichaar Manthan Karyakarta.

SUMIT SHARMA

Topics: Technology, Communication, Wellness

Cloud Solutions Architect for a global technology firm and Former Toastmasters’ president, Sumit ji Sharma looks after a portfolio of projects involving all things Technology, Communication and Wellness.
As well as coaching corporates and charities on Public Speaking and effective communication, Sumit ji also leads the Vaani Speakers Academy; an upskilling programme for participants through spirited learning, oration techniques and professional development.
Sumit ji is also a core member of Vichaar Manthan; having led the London chapter and supporting national IT initiatives, his latest project is The VM podcast.

SUNIL PALA

Topics: British Hindu Identity

Studied BSc Physics at Imperial College London and completed a Masters in Optics & Photonics. 

An experimental scientist for 5 years at the National Physical Laboratory and now work in Capital Markets at Accenture as a Technology Consulting Principal. 

Member of the Advisory Board for NHSF (UK), with a role to guide and further the growth of the organisation, and moreover the karyakartas that make up the organisation.

SUSHIL RAPATWAR

Topic: Mindful Living

Sushil completed an engineering degree

and worked briefly as an engineer.

He is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Ciribloom, an Ed Tech organisation that has pioneered various courses on metacognition in various streams for schools and colleges.

Sushil loves to be involved in social projects and was spearheading Maharashtra Mandal London (est. 1932) for six years. Since then he has been involved with various initiatives and is currently an active member of Sanskrit Bharati in the UK and also a core member of FISI (Friends of India Society International) UK.

VIPASHA SURANGE

Topics: Role models

Vipasha graduated with a degree in International Relations and a Master's in International Development from King's College London. She works for a GovTech startup, Apolitical, where she creates learning content for public servants.

Vipasha is currently the saha 30th Anniversary Coordinator for the National Hindu Students' Forum (UK) and has previously been the National Sanskaar Coordinator and National PR Secretary on the National Committee. In 2017 she completed the Youth For Sewa summer volunteering internship where she worked with girls and women from slum communities in Pune for 2 months.