Visioning Group

Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, a renowned chemical engineer, has served as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Being an integral part of government committees related to fuel policy, drug regulation, and industrial accidents, Dr Mashelkar has made waves in innovation.

Honoured with recognition from various international scientific organisations such as the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, and US National Academy of Engineering and Sciences, he continues his duties as the co-chairman of the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.

Rahul Vishwanath Karad is a visionary educationist with a background in engineering and postgraduate studies in management from Cardiff University and Harvard Business School, Shri Rahul’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of youth through holistic and value-based education is unwavering.

As the Founder of MIT School of Government, the first institute of its kind in Asia, to foster democratic leadership, Shri Rahul is dedicated to empowering young people to shape the future of Bharat. He has also been the key figure in establishing Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad, National Women’s Parliament, National Teachers’ Congress, Rashtriya Sarpanch Sansad, and more.

Shri Rahul Vishwanath Karad continues to further his stride towards creating inclusive democratic platforms and opportunities for the new Bharat.

Ram Charan is a world-renowned business consultant, author, and speaker with over 40 years of experience in working with top companies, CEOs, and boards. Known for his ability to cut through the complexity of running a business in today’s fast-changing environment, Shri Ram has uncovered the core business problem. Along with coaching over a dozen leaders who went on to become CEOs, He has authored over 30 books that have sold over 4 million copies in more than a dozen languages. In his career, he has served on the boards of several companies and has been honoured with numerous awards for his work in the field of business, including the Bell Ringer award at GE’s Crotonville Institute and the best teacher award at Northwestern. With a lifetime of studying business and generating practical business solutions, Shri Ram has inspired many in the field of business.

Vijay P Bhatkar is a renowned scientist who currently serves as the Chancellor of Nalanda University and previously chaired the Board of Governors of IIT Delhi. He is a pioneer in supercomputing and spearheads India’s National Supercomputing Mission. In fact, he played a significant role in bringing ICT to the masses through various initiatives and has founded several research labs and institutions. Using his years of experience in the field, Dr. Bhatkar served on various advisory boards and is a Life Fellow of IEEE and a Fellow of ACM, CSI, INAE, IETE, NASI, MASc, and GES. He continues to innovate and inspire young scientific minds.

A 1966 batch Indian Administrative Services officer, Shri N. Gopalaswami, served as the 15th Chief Election Commissioner of Bharat. For his decorated journey, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2015. Currently he is the president of the Vivekananda Educational Society, with past experience as the Chairman of Kalakshetra. Gopalaswami has held various top-level positions in Gujarat, including district magistrate, municipal commissioner, and Secretary General in the National Human Rights Commission. Before Shri Gopalaswami’s appointment to the Election Commission of India, he served as the Union Home Secretary and Secretary in the Department of Culture.

P.D. Thankappan Achary served as the former Secretary General of the 14th and 15th Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat. Holding a position equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary, he was the administrative head of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and was appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha in consultation with the Prime Minister. As per tradition, Secretary Generals have had a background as senior officials in the Lok Sabha Secretariat or senior civil servants in the government.

Anoop Mishra is a prominent political leader. With the guidance from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he went on to serve as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. He represented the Morena constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Shri Anoop was also elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Madhya Pradesh, where he represented the Gwalior East constituency from 2008 to 2013. He continues to hold a significant place in Bharatiya Politics with his dedicated service.

Vivek K. Agnihotri, an IAS officer of the 1968 batch, belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre of the service. He obtained his Master’s degree in English Literature and Political Science from the University of Allahabad. He obtained his Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis and Design from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Among several responsible positions with the State and Central Governments, Dr. Agnihotri has held posts of Collector and District Magistrate, Visakhapatnam; Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Joint Director at the LBSNAA, Mussoorie, Additional Secretary to Government of Bharat in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievance, etc.

He is currently Director-General of the Golden Peacock Award Secretariat, Institute of Directors, New Delhi; Advisor of Eminence (Public Governance), American Society for Quality, New Delhi; and Counsellor and Evaluator of dissertations at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath served as the 18th Chief Election Commissioner of Bharat from 2012 to 2015. With a career spanning decades, Shri Sampath held several prominent roles in public administration and policy implementation. Starting as a district collector in Andhra Pradesh, he honed his leadership skills in crisis management, disaster relief, and election organisation. He then went on to lead several state-owned financial institutions and was instrumental in implementing policies to aid the power sector. With vast experience and expertise in public administration and policy, Shri Sampath is a respected figure in Bharat’s political landscape.

Om Prakash Rawat is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1977 batch of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Having served as the 22nd Chief Election Commissioner of Bharat, he has held other prestigious positions such as Election Commissioner and Public Enterprise Secretary of Bharat. Shri Om has a diverse background, serving in various capacities for both the central and state government, including Principal Secretary for Commerce and Industries, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Vice Chairman of Narmada Valley Development Authority, and Excise Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh. His exceptional work as the Principal Secretary for Tribal Development in Madhya Pradesh earned him the Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding and innovative implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Sunil Arora carried the responsibilities of the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of Bharat and is the current chairman of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB). As a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre (1980), Shri Sunil has held prominent positions in both the Central Government and the Government of Rajasthan, as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Small Industries), and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. As an Election Commissioner, he presided over the 2019 general election. He has now taken on the role of non-executive chairman at agri-tech start-up Gram Unnati.

Sushil Chandra is a seasoned Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the 1980 batch. He is known for his contributions as the 24th Chief Election Commissioner of Bharat and his prior role as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes. With a background in engineering and law, Shri Sushil has attended numerous trainings at prestigious institutions such as the IMF, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and The Wharton School. He began his career in the Indian Engineering Service before joining the IRS, where he made significant contributions to Operation Clean Money. Throughout his career, he held positions including Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Director of Investigation in Mumbai, and Director of General Investigation in Gujarat.

Rajeev Sethi is a renowned designer who has spent over 35 years preserving and promoting South Asia’s cultural heritage through various mediums. He has designed and curated exhibitions and events worldwide, worked with renowned artists and institutions and founded organisations like Sarthi and The Asian Heritage Foundation. He has also advised on policies and programs for integrating support for culture and creativity in developing countries. Shri Rajeev continues to work on various ongoing projects, including directing the art program for Mumbai International Airport’s Terminal 2 and the Hyatt Chennai Art Collection. He continues to inspire generations to come with his remarkable talent and work.

Abhay Firodia is a visionary leader and Chairman of Force Motors Limited. With a legacy of service and philanthropy from his father, Shri Navalmal Kundanmal Firodia, he has held multiple influential positions in the automotive and trade industries.

Firodia has dedicated his life to giving back to society through his involvement in various social, educational, and healthcare organisations. He is the Chairman of the Gandhi National Memorial Society, Veerayatan, and Navalveerayatan, and is closely associated with many other institutions. He continues the Firodia family tradition of serving society through his leadership in various trusts and foundations.

Jaya Prakash Narayana is a prominent liberal politician and activist. As the founder of the Lok Satta Party, he has served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Kukatpally Constituency in Telangana.

Shri Jaya Prakash is a physician and former public administrator and is also the General Secretary of the Foundation for Democratic Reforms- a renowned independent policy research centre.

Known for his activism in electoral reforms and the Right to Information (RTI) Act, he has been a contributing writer in Bharatiya newspapers and a host of television programs focused on politics and elections.

With a rich history of public administration, Shri Jaya Prakash has made significant contributions to society by creating job opportunities, reconstructing irrigation networks, mobilising farmers for irrigation projects, and strengthening credit cooperatives.

Ashok V. Joshi is a distinguished entrepreneur, renowned innovator, and tech leader with nearly 50 years of industry experience. Out of the 6 companies he founded and successfully led, he sold three and is actively managing the remaining three with passion. With over 100 US patents issued and 40 pending patents, Joshi’s inventions have transformed various industries and set new standards for innovation. Shri Ashok’s exceptional leadership has turned around struggling firms, earning him accolades such as the Industrial Research Institute Achievement Award and the Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce’s “Asian of the Year” title. Recognised for his contributions to the country’s business landscape, he has received the National Small Business Entrepreneurial Award and the Parkhe Award for Innovation. His inspiring journey serves as a testament to his commitment to excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide.

A renowned scholar who founded the Honey Bee Network, Anil Kumar Gupta promoted rural communities’ traditional knowledge. In 2017, Gupta retired from his 36-year tenure at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, after which he created inventive programs like the hands-on Shodh Yatra. With leadership positions in innovation including the National Innovation Foundation, the World Academy of Art and Science, and SRISTI, Shri Anil Kumar tried to bring positive change in Bharat. With expertise in innovation, environment and sustainability, he made an honourable advisor to organisations such as Fair Observer and a featured TED speaker in 2009. Shri Anil Kumar’s legacy inspires many in promoting sustainable development and economic empowerment for rural communities.

Lobsang Sangay is a visionary Tibetan-American leader who has served with distinction as the head of the Tibetan Administration as Kalon Tripa (2011-2012) and Sikyong (2012-2021). Born in 1968 in a refugee community in Bharat, he grew up in a small business family and went on to earn a Master of Law and Doctor of Juridical Science degree from Harvard Law School on a Fulbright Scholarship.

With a passion for Tibetan law and international human rights law, Shri Lobsang spent 15 years at Harvard University as a student and senior fellow, organising 5 conferences between Chinese and Tibetan scholars. In 2006, he was named one of the 24 Young Leaders of Asia by the Asia Society. He continues to be a leading voice in promoting human rights and advocating for the Tibetan people.

Narendra Jadhav, a renowned economist, has left a lasting impact on both academia and public life. With a 31-year career as an economist and as a former member of the Rajya Sabha, he has served in prominent positions such as the Planning Commission of Bharat, the National Advisory Council, and as an advisor to the International Monetary Fund.

Dr Jadhav has been honoured with 72 national and international awards, including 4 Honorary D.Litt degrees and the title of Commander of the Order of Academic Palms from the French government. Be it through his books on economics or his current project of a 61-hour web series on the “Indian Constitution: The Pride of Our Nation”, Dr Jadhav continues to inspire Bharat through his work.

Avinash Dharmadhikari, a former IAS officer, devoted his post-government career to social activism and empowering young people. One such venture is the Chanakya Mandal Pariwar, an organisation he founded that focuses on providing career guidance and personality development to MPSC and UPSC/civil services aspirants. As a prolific author, Shri Avinash has participated in various social movements, including farmers’ movements and Bharat against corruption. His contributions have been widely acclaimed, and his commitment to creating a more just and equitable society serves as a source of inspiration for many.