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.
_edited.jpg)
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:  Leaving islam and Hindu Identity, Leadership, Feminism in the light of Dharma
Drishti is currently the president of the National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK), the largest Hindu student movement outside of Bharat. Founded 29 years ago, NHSF (UK) is active in almost half of all universities in the UK and reaches over 10,000 students annually through its activities. A graduate of Chemistry from the University of York, and the Unilever Future Leaders’ programme, Drishti now works in technology at Unilever in the UK.
HEENA SOLANKI
Women Empowerment, Motherhood, Parenting, Children
This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio with a background summary. It’s also a great opportunity to highlight how this person is an asset to the team.
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.
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.Â
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.
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.
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.
.jpeg)
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.
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.
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.
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:Â 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
Senior 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:Â 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
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
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.
MADHURESH MISHRA
Delivery focused Programme Manager with over two decades of experience in management and IT consultancy across Banking and Financial domains. Executive team member of the Friends of India Society International (FISI), UK organisation promoting and strengthening relations between India and United Kingdom since 1975. Founder and President of Uttar Pradesh Community Association (UPCA), UK organisation with objective unite the people living in the United Kingdom whose roots are in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Madhuresh‘s passion is to inspire, enable and empower individual & team, work with local communities and social activities.
PAVEN SHARMA
Paven specialises in using technology to automate business processes so individuals can focus on the work they enjoy doing. He also coaches beginners from all backgrounds on how to become a programmer to help them find new opportunities and broaden their career prospects.
After travelling across northern India to remote and impactful areas such as Kargil in Ladakh, Amarnath Trek in Jammu and Kashmir, and then living and working in Singapore, Paven is keen to open discussions on Indian History, and the relationship between Bharat and East Asia.
BHAVYA SHAH
Bhavya Shah is currently the national president of NHSF (UK) which is the National Hindu Students Forum UK, the organisation for Hindu university students. He is a swayamsevak from Wembley. He graduated from Queen Mary University in London studying Computer science and now works as a software engineer.
PRUTHVI MAYUR TRIVEDI
Pruthvi graduated BA (Hons) Architecture and started her career in Creative Marketing. She is now a Digital Marketing Manager and an Artist, specialising in painting and digital art. Having also completed her Rang Manch Pravesh (graduation) in Kathak, in 2010, she has a deep interest in both Visual and Performing Arts. She has held responsibilities in HSS UK from Baudhik to Taruni, coordinating UK activities for ages 17-30. She currently is the Milton Keynes Shakha Karyawahika, local coordinator, and has recently stepped into a new Digital / Social Media project role within HSS UK.
DIP LODHIYA
Self Development/Motivational, Dharma and Sport, Dharmic Finance
Dip was born in Tanga, Tanzania and moved to Leicester where he has been since the age of 8. Dip graduated from Aston university where he studied BSc Politics and Economics. Currently, Dip is an ACA chartered accountant working in the restructuring team at PwC. Dip is also currently serving his 4th year on NHSF (UK)‘s national committee. He is currently in the Events team, having taken previous roles as Campus team and Treasurer. Dip is also the Midlands Lead for PwC Hindu Network.
RAJNI NEGI
Empowerment
Rajni has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication and master’s degree in Information Technology from India. She is an experienced professional with more than a decade of experience driving unique projects and leading effective teams. Performed multi-function management and business analysis for various projects and currently working for Telefonica, UK. Married with two children, Rajni is also an active karyakarta for Slough Shakha and loves to be involved in social projects and local volunteering efforts, she has interests in books, writing and public speaking
NEELIMA CHEERLA
Womanhood, Femininism, Parenting, Work Life Balance, Hindu Festivals
Working in Financial Crime with 13 years of Banking experience.
Masters in Computer Applications from Osmania University, India.
​
Married in 2008 and blessed with 2 children.
Dayitva of North West and Ireland Vibhag Karyawahika and Yuvati Pramukh,
Associated with UTHO , UK Telugu Hindu Organisation
MILAN NAKUM
Youth Leadership
Milan Nakum graduated with a masters in chemistry from the University of Sheffield and is a former president of Sheffield Hindu society. He now works at the department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in risk management and is currently the National Vice-President of NHSF (UK).