Rajan Narayanan, PhD, is a former C-IAYT, Chair of Board and Executive Director of Life in Yoga Institute (lifeinyoga.org), Secretary of the Council for Yoga Accreditation International (CYAI). Dr. Rajan Narayanan serves multiple roles in the service of yoga to the world, both roles involving the presentation of yoga as a spiritual discipline coming from the Vedic system, the spirituality that is core to all religions of the world.
On one hand, he is a researcher who created a system called Measured Yoga Therapy TM (MYT) that integrates scientific measurement systems with traditional medicine systems which come from yogic wisdom. In this process he demonstrated the ability to cure incurable diseases, not as a random event, but as a predicted event with objective measurement of yogic applications, especially mantra vibrations.
The method is published and indexed in the National Library of Medicine and can be accessed at Bioenergy and its Implication for Yoga Therapy. While these measurement techniques technically work in the zone of the subtle or vibration body that is spoken of in yoga, more recently he has been working on research with scalar waves to access the causal body or the spirit, which is normally in the intuitive zone of yogis. His enhanced healing abilities with MYT has resulted in a volunteer network of over 50 people around the United States and other parts of the world who are trained, being trained, and are treating health issues.
On the other hand, in his CYAI role, he has tried to bring yoga standards in certification that reflect the
spiritual backbone of yoga. A recently published textbook called Yoga Concepts for Global Application published by CYAI for instructors and a certification exam for instructors is the movement in this direction. Dr. Rajan Narayanan is working towards creating teacher level and therapist level textbooks as well. His approach is fully anchored in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Dr. Sushumna Kannan received her Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bengaluru, India. Her research on the South Asian devotional traditions and feminist epistemology focused on the medieval saint, Akka Mahadevi and her vachanas. She was a recipient of the BOURSE MIRA, French research fellowship in 2006 and 2007 and the Sir Ratan Tata fellowship for Ph.D. Coursework and Writing in 2003 and 2007.

Dr. Kannan has published her research on bhakti, dharma shastras, ethics, women’s writing in Kannada and English as well as on translation theory in peer-reviewed journals and as book chapters. She was affiliated to the San Diego State University for five years. She received the Indic Academy fellowship in Indic feminism to study “Women’s subjectivity in the dharma texts” in 2021. She is currently working on a book project, Hinduism, Violence and Nonviolence and is finishing an essay on “The Mahabharata as a stri-shudra text.” Dr. Kannan is currently Scholar-in-Residence at Indic Academy.

At Hindu University of America, her focus is on courses in bhakti, dharma shastras, caste, and gender.
For some of her non-academic writing, visit: www.sushumnakannan.weebly.com

Dr. Vedabhyas Kundu has conducted extensive workshops on different dimensions of nonviolent communication. He is primarily working to promote the Gandhian approach to nonviolent communication. Also doing research to develop an Indian model of nonviolent communication based on our rich scriptures.

He has long years of experience of writing and delivering lectures on various aspects of Gandhian philosophy, nonviolent conflict resolution, media and information literacy. He has written both nationally and internationally in all of these areas. 

Mr. Pranav Patel is the SEO – (Senior Executive Officer) of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Pranav is a passionate Leadership Developer with a wealth of experience in the field, currently serving as the SEO (Senior Executive Officer) for Strategic and Outreach at the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership within the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. His dedication lies in shaping leaders and providing solutions in various domains, including leadership training, organizational development, research, finance, and people-centric solutions.

At the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership, Pranav plays a pivotal role in driving a range of dynamic initiatives aimed at empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds, including students and executives. His mission is to help them discover their inner courage and self-confidence, equipping them to tackle complex, multidisciplinary challenges with a focus on ethics, equity, and environmental sustainability, all while fostering a holistic and inclusive approach.

With a diverse professional background, Pranav has served as the Founding CEO-director of Chanakya Aanvikshiki Pvt Ltd and held the position of Director at the Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership. In these roles, he provided leadership and organizational training to a broad spectrum of professionals, spanning corporate, educational, political, and public service sectors.

Pranav Patel holds a Master’s degree in Leadership Science from the Chanakya International Institute of Leadership Studies at the University of Mumbai, and he has completed a Post Graduate Certificate Program in Kautilya Arthashastra from the Chanakya Institute of Public Leadership, also at the University of Mumbai. His extensive research on “Kautilya’s Arthashastra,” an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft and economics, has enabled him to explore the timeless principles of ancient Indian governance and their relevance in the modern world.

Throughout his career, Pranav has been sought after as a lecturer and course conductor at prestigious educational institutions, including the College of Defence Management (CDM) in Secunderabad, the Indian Institute of Public Leadership (IIDL) in Mumbai, the MIT School of Government (MIT-SOG) in Pune, and the University of Mumbai (MU), among others.

In addition to his academic and leadership pursuits, Pranav has gained valuable corporate experience, having served as an Associate Vice President at both HSBC and Standard Chartered for a combined eight years. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and is currently pursuing Level 2 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the USA.

Pranav Patel contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognized with excellence awards and earned an International Fellowship in Election Campaign Management for his work during the 2016 US Presidential Election, awarded by the University of Akron (USA). He has also completed a certificate course in “Socio-Political Leadership” from Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in Mumbai.

As a versatile, dedicated, and innovative Leadership Developer, Pranav Patel possesses the expertise and commitment necessary to guide individuals and organizations toward achieving their goals. His multidisciplinary approach and deep-rooted passion for leadership development make him a valuable asset in today’s dynamic and evolving professional landscape.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai is a Ph.D from the University of Mumbai, Department of Philosophy. He trains leaders and aspirants from various fields including Corporate, politics, academics, military etc. He has done an extensive research on “Kautilya’s Arthashastra”, the well known book on management written in 4th BC from Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), Kerala under the guidance of Dr. Gangadharan Nair, the dean of Adi Shankara Sanskrit University. He did his MA in Sanskrit and a PhD. in Arthashastra. He is a certified management consultant from the International Institute of Management Consultants.

Dr. Pillai is the Director at SPM Foundation and Founder Director of Atma Darshan Pvt Ltd (a Spiritual Tourism Company) & Chanakya Aanvikshiki Pvt Ltd (a Leadership Training & Mentoring Institute). He has been recently appointed as the Deputy Director of Chanakya International Institute of Leadership Studies (CIILS), as autonomous Institute based in the University of Mumbai’s Kalina Campus.

With nearly 25 years of combined working and business experience Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai is a well-known leadership speaker, author, trainer, and personal mentor. He has written nearly 200 articles and papers for various magazines, newspapers and journals. He has also hosted a radio show “Ask Chanakya” on Moksha Channel of Worldspace satellite radio. He has represented India in various national and international conferences including the World Philosophy Congress in Athens, Greece, Academy of Management (AOM) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, Indian Philosophy Congress (IPC). He has also chaired session at Afro- Asian Philosophical congress (AAPA), taught in Germany (Heidelberg and Cologne universities), Dubai, Muscat, Singapore, Indonesia, UK (Oxford, Cambridge).

Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy obtained his Ph.D. in Sanskrit with a concentration in Psychology, from Pondicherry University in 2009. He also has a Masters Degree in Yogic Science from SVYASA, Bangalore, in addition to three Master’s Degrees in Psychology, English and Sanskrit. What is unique about Dr. Banavathy is that he has also been trained in a 6-year rigorous traditional Gurukulam education in Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy with a focus on Yoga and Vedanta at Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, Bangalore from 1999 to 2004. He is currently serving as Director, Indica Yoga in Bangalore, India, and is an Adjunct Professor, at the Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, which is a recognized Research Centre of the Karnataka Samskrit University. In addition, he holds Visiting Faculty appointments in several institutions such as Faculty of Contemplative and Behavioral Sciences (FCBS) at Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Orissa, India, Dept. of Languages and Cultures (Indian Languages and Cultures), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, School of Applied Psychology at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zurich, Switzerland, Faculty of Applied Psychology, SRH Hochschule, Heidelberg, Germany, and many others. 

Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy was invited to serve as Chief Consultant to the Committee on National Education Policy – 2017 constituted by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, to specifically develop the areas of Culture and Value Education and Indic Knowledge Systems. He has served as a Visiting Faculty or Resource Person, in many international bodies and organizations. His areas of Research interest include Sanskrit, Yoga Psychology and Philosophy, Indian Culture, History, and Knowledge Systems and he has published several papers and a few books on these subjects. He has also curated and organized many festivals and conferences, workshops and camps on these themes. 

Dr. Venkataraman Swaminathan obtained his doctorate in Materials Science from the University of Southern California in 1975. He worked at Bell Laboratories for 21 years in many aspects of fiber optic communication systems and fiber-to-the-home technologies. Dr. Swaminathan is a Fellow of the Institution of the Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) and the American Electrochemical Society. He has authored or co-authored 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals, co-authored and edited 4 books, received 8 patents and many professional awards and accolades. After his retirement as a Scientist, Dr. Swaminathan is currently affiliated with Penn State University and Rice University as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physics and Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, respectively.

Dr. Venkataraman Swaminathan has been a student of Pūjya Swami Dayananda Saraswati and the other revered ācāryas of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam for nearly 30 years. He collected 365 quotes of Pūjya Swamiji and published them as “Day after day with Swami Dayananda Saraswati.” In addition, he edited two booklets, “Satyam and Mithya” and “What you love is the pleased self,” that are based on Pūjya Swamiji’s talks. He has been teaching Bhagavad Gita, Upanishad and other Vedānta classes online.

Dr. V. Swaminathan is also an ardent devotee of Kāñcī Paramācārya and has penned articles on Periyavā’s inimitable style of inquiry of the śāstras. He has recently started disseminating podcasts on the essence of various topics in Hinduism through a YouTube channel. He is frequently invited to give satsangas and Q&A sessions on topics related to Vedanta and Bhagavad Gita.

Shantanu Gupta, is the founder of The Ramayana School, an Indian Author, TEDx Speaker and Political Analyst. You can see him daily on TV debates on all leading channels of India. He is a published author with renowned publications like Sage, Bloomsbury and Rupa Publications. His latest Book – BJP – Past, Present & Future is leading the charts on Amazon. His last book – ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’ – Biography of Yogi Adityanath, is listed as the ‘Most memorable Non-Fiction Books of 2017’ by Amazon India.

Shantanu has an engineering degree from GB Pant University (India), Management education from XLRI, Jamshedpur (India) and did his masters in policy and politics from Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex (United Kingdom).

Shantanu has worked for a decade as a process and management consultant in many cities in India, Switzerland, Cyprus, Hungry and Israel. He has represented India in many international conferences on economy and policy, in Germany, Malaysia & Srilanka.