Abhishek Shukla

Abhishek Shukla is one of the most promising Urdu poets of the contemporary generation. He has travelled to Dubai, Pakistan, Bahrain and Qatar reciting his soulful poetry. His book "Harf-e-awara" published by Rajkamal Prakashan has also got enthusiastic welcome in contemporary poetry circle of India.Abhishek teaches Urdu language and is also an avid scholar of "Arooz". Undoubtedly,he is one of the truest successors of the rich composite culture and legacy of Lucknow. Many senior Urdu poets have showered immense love and blessings on him. Apart from his signature style poetry, this multi-faceted man enjoys popularity for his quick wit and amusing sense of humour as well.

Ali Khan Mahmudabad

Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad teaches political science and history at Ashoka University in India. In particular, he focuses on matters of religious identity, democracy, culture, literature and politics of both South Asia and the Middle East. Prof Khan’s first book was Poetry of Belonging: Muslim imaginings of India 1850-1950. It was on the formation of Muslim political identity in North India and presented a history of the public space of poetry (the mushā‘irah) and a genealogy of the idea of homeland (watan) over this period. He has published a translation of Khan Mahboob Tarzi’s Urdu novel Aghaaze Sahar with Penguin Books under the title The Break of Dawn in 2021. Prof Khan published a collection of his Urdu essays entitled Sada-e Dil in 2022. He conducts research in a number of languages in including Arabic, Persian and Urdu. Prof Khan has consistently written for newspapers and magazines in English and Urdu and has occasionally appeared on television and radio, as he believes that a wider public engagement is important in order to spread ideas beyond the academy.

Amitabh Singh Baghel

Amitabh Singh Baghel is the founder of The Talk Series and co-founder of Koshala Literature Festival. He is a globally published social researcher and an exhibited photographer. He founded Aaghaz Poetry Movement to take the beauty and essence of Urdu poetry across the globe through curated poetry appreciation sessions. Recently, he was invited by the Government of Telangana to perform and was felicitated at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.

Chandra Shekhar Varma

Chandra Shekhar Varma is a behavioural scientist and a motivational speaker by profession and a writer by passion. He has inherited literature from his illustrious Grandfather Padma Bhushan Shri Bhagwati Charan Varma who is an icon of Hindi literature and also from his father Shri Dhirendra Varma who is also a well known Hindi Author. His debut book ‘Corners of a Straight line’ (English novel) was published by Rupa. His second book Chaudah left Chaudah Right, published by Rajkamal, is a collection of stories in Hindi. His Urdu ghazals are published on Rekhta. Chandra Shekhar defines himself in this couplet.Prem hai Hindi, Shaan hai Urdu, Angrezi majboori hai,Wo Zubaan apnaa leta hun hun jab jo jahan Zaroori haiA post graduate in management and psychology from Lucknow University , Chandra Shekhar did his schooling from Colvin Taluqdars’ College in Lucknow and has worked with major Corporate houses like BCCL and Reliance. He lives in Lucknow with his family.

Deepak Balani

Deepak Balani, a retired banker, did his early schooling from St. Francis’ College in Lucknow. He is a singer, composer, and a poet. He has been closely associated with theatre in Kanpur & Nainital. Deepak is a green activist, passionately supporting environmental causes. Additionally, as an engaged social worker, he actively contributes to community service initiatives.

Dr. Nishi Pandey

Professor Nishi Pandey is a noted educationist and social activist, playing a crucial role in several prominent institutions dedicated to uplifting marginalised and underprivileged sections of society, particularly focusing on empowering the girl child and women. Her passion for literature, theatre, films, and performing arts has led to numerous contributions to Lucknow's intellectual and cultural vitality.With a global perspective, Professor Pandey has travelled to esteemed institutions such as the University of Oxford, London University, and the University of Louisville, USA. Her engagements include teaching, collaborative work, delivering lectures, and participating in conferences and seminars. She has also collaborated with renowned faculty at institutions of great prominence, including the University of Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Maryland, and Philadelphia.At present, Professor Nishi Pandey holds the position of Anushandhan Pramukh at the Bharatiya Sikshan Mandal (Avadh Prant) and is a Professor of eminence at the Department of English and Modern European Languages, University of Lucknow.

Gaurav Prakash

Gaurav Prakash is a third-generation Business Entrepreneur whose roots are deeply embedded in the legacy of Universal Booksellers in Lucknow. Born in New Delhi and raised in Lucknow, he serves as the State Chairperson (MSME Growth) at CIMSME UP. Former Co-Chairman at Ph.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry UP (2018-2020), he's also been Chairperson of the Young Business Leaders Forum and Founder Chairperson of Young Indians in CII UP. Recognised as a Youth Icon, Gaurav is dedicated to fostering social, economic, and industrial progress in Uttar Pradesh, with a special commitment to Lucknow's development.

Gurcharan Das

Gurcharan Das is a renowned author, commentator, and public intellectual. He is the author of two best sellers, India Unbound and The Difficulty of Being Good, which are volumes one and two of a trilogy on life’s goals. His latest book, Kama: A Riddle of Desire is the third. His other literary works include a novel, A Fine Family, a collection of plays for the theatre, Three Plays, and a book of essays, The Elephant Paradigm. India Grows at Night was on the FT’s best books for 2013. He is general editor for Penguin’s multi-volume ‘Story of Indian Business.’ He graduated in philosophy from Harvard University, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa for ‘high attainments in liberal scholarship.’ He was CEO, Procter & Gamble India before he became a full time writer. He writes a regular column for many Indian newspapers, including The Times of India and occasional pieces for The Financial Times and Foreign Affairs and New York Times.

Himanshu Bajpai

Himanshu Bajpai is a leading Qissago of the country. He has performed more than 300 shows in several countries viz. Singapore, UAE, Turkey, etc. Moreover, he has been honoured by the Hon'ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind for storytelling. Himanshu and Pragya’s Qissagoi on Rani Durgavati was appreciated by PM Modi in Mann ki Baat. Shri Rajnath Singh applauded him for the same. He was invited by the prestigious Harvard University to performin the Harvard Worldwide Week.He has been a part of Netflix show “Sacred Games Season 2”. His book “Qissa Qissa Lucknowa” published by Rajkamal Prakashan has been a bestseller and he won Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2021 for it. He has a PhD on the historic Naval Kishore Press in Lucknow from Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya in Wardha. He writes a lot on the society and culture of Lucknow.

Ishita Basu

Ishita Basu is an alumnus of La Martiniere Girls' College and Isabella Thoburn College with over two decades of experience as an educator. Passionate about stagecraft, Ishita has organised numerous workshops on Theatre Art and Public Speaking. Her initiatives have earned her several accolades such as the Gandhi Corner Award, Marjorie DimmitScholarship, and Isabella Thoburn Award.

John Zubrzycki

John Zubrzycki is the author of six books on India, most recently ‘Dethroned: Patel, Menon and the Integration of Princely India’ His list of earlier books include, ‘The Shortest History of India, and The House of Jaipur: The Inside Story of India’s Most Glamorous Royal Family’ and ‘The Last Nizam.’ He has worked in India as a diplomat and foreign correspondent and has a PhD in Indian history.

Kasturika Mishra

Kasturika Mishra, a poet and a trained singer, has authored three books of poetry in English Hindi & Urdu (Nagri script). She has served for twenty years as a senior cataloguing librarian at the US Embassy in New Delhi. Kasturika actively engages in cultural critique, offering insightful reviews on dance, music, and theatre.

Malini Awasthi

Malini Awasthi is an Indian folk singer. Her genre of singing is Hindi and Awadhi languages. She also sings in semi-classical forms of songs such as Kajri and Thumri. In 2006, she was conferred with the Yash Bharti award by the Uttar Pradesh Government. In 2016, she was honoured with the fourth-highest civilian award ‘Padma Shri’ by the government of India.

Maroof Culmen

Maroof Umar, known as Maroof Culmen, is a passionate content creator specializing in the documentation and storytelling of heritage art and culture, with a focus on Lucknow and its surrounding areas. His work seamlessly blends traditional narratives with modern contexts, aiming to make heritage stories more appealing to younger audiences. Maroof is dedicated to bringing the rich, cultural heritage of India to life, engaging viewers with compelling content that bridges the past and present.

Muzaffar Ali

Muzaffar Ali is a versatile and multi-faceted Filmmaker, Fashion Designer, Poet, Artist, Revivalist and Social Worker. After working in advertising, he turned to movies, producing, directing and acting in films like Jaanisaar, Anjuman, Aagaman, Umrao Jaan and Gaman, which went on to win the Filmfare Award for Best Director in 1981. He was also conferred with the coveted Padma Shri for his contributions to art in 2005. Later, he became a fashion designer and co-created a fashion label.

Pankaj Bhadouria

Pankaj Bhadouria The very first MasterChef from India, entrepreneur, Brand Ambassador, TEDx speaker, author of the first official MasterChef Cookbook, Barbie- I am a Chef and Chicken from my Kitchen and host of several popular TV shows including Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka, Kifayati Kitchen,3 Course with Pankaj, Just Like That and many more.

Pawan Kumar

Pawan Kumar is senior IAS officer, is an accomplished and awarded writer of prose and poetry. His two collections of ghazals, Vaasta (2012) and Aahatein (2017), have been published. His first Hindi novel Main Hanuman was released recently. He has also edited two compilations of Urdu poetry, Dastak and Charag Palakon Par.

Prabha Srivastava

Dr Prabha Srivastava, a doctor by profession, is a renowned name in the field of Ghazal singing and also a disciple of Ghazal Maestro Talat Aziz.She is a gifted and expressive singer with experience and expertise in delivering songs with grace and artistry. Her engaging stage demeanour, wide vocal range and excellent dynamics in various genre captures the attention of the audiences. She has been passionately reviving Ghazals through dedicated concerts, preserving their allure for a new generation with unwavering commitment. She has done concerts for Literature Fests and Government Organisations, Colleges and Corporates.

Pushpesh Pant

Pushpesh Pant, a former JNU faculty on International Relations, prominent food critic and historian, was conferred the coveted Padma Shri for his contributions to literature and education in 2016. He has also been a columnist for several major publications, including Forbes, The Times of India, and The Tribune. Also, an author with over a dozen books to his name, Professor Pant's "India: The Cookbook", was nominated "One of the Best Cookbooks of the Year" by The New York Times in 2011. Over the years, Professor Pant has contributed vital insights about India's culinary heritage on a variety of platforms, including television; his most recent appearance being in Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan, a critically acclaimed television series on Indian cuisine.

Richa S. Mukherjee

Richa S. Mukherjee is a Ted X speaker, an award-winning writer, ex-journalist and ex-advertising professional. She is the author of four novels, of which three are headed for screen adaptations. She is a blogger and travel writer and contributes to several platforms such as Womensweb, Momspresson and SheThePeopleTv. She is a Sheroes Champ and a Blogchatter and Kool Kanya mentor. She has authored e-singles, anthologies and audio books. She is a fitness enthusiast and learns Kathak along with her daughter who is a talented young tabla player. Her Books: I Didn’t Expect To Be Expecting , Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd , Excess Baggage , The Curse of Kuldhara: Book 2 in the Kanpur Khoofiya series are all published by HarperCollins.

Safir Anand

Safir Anand is a noted attorney with over 25 years of industry experience. Recognised internationally by the global media for his contributions, such as the Financial Times, Business World India, and Forbes, Safir’s expertise lies in IP law. Apart from his legal role, Safir has authored two books, “India Unboxed” and “Chrysalis,” with the latter enjoying a launch at the Jaipur Literature Festival.Safir Anand is a noted attorney with over 25 years of industry experience. Recognised internationally by the global media for his contributions, such as the Financial Times, Business World India, and Forbes, Safir’s expertise lies in IP law. Apart from his legal role, Safir has authored two books, “India Unboxed” and “Chrysalis,” with the latter enjoying a launch at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Sanjay Mishra

Sanjay Mishra, a distinguished Indian actor, has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry with his versatile and captivating performances. Born on October 6, 1963, in Darbhanga, Bihar, Mishra embarked on his acting journey with notable theatre productions before transitioning to the silver screen, and building a cinematic career spanning over three decades.With a penchant for portraying both comedic and dramatic characters, Mishra has left a lasting imprint on both mainstream and parallel cinema. His nuanced acting has garnered widespread acclaim, earning him prestigious awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for “All the Best” (2009) and the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Ankhon Dekhi” (2013).

Sanjay Singh

A Journalist of over 33 years, Sanjay Singh is a Senior Defence Expert and a PIB-accredited professional. His expertise has been honed through various roles, including serving as the Political Editor for News11, a Special Correspondent for Rashtriya Sahara, and holding the position of Bureau Chief for Sahara Samay (Hindi Weekly). Since 2005, Sanjay has been a trusted name in the field of defence, offering insightful perspectives on matters concerning national security and foreign policy. A prolific author, he has penned eight books in Hindi, covering a diverse range of topics such as military operations (“IAF Strike, 0328 Hours,” “Air Strike @ Balakot”), national security (“Raksha Tantra”), and political dynamics (“Tryst with Politicians,” “Janatantra Ki Maya”). Sanjay Singh’s contributions to journalism and literature reflect his deep understanding and commitment to illuminating critical aspects of contemporary India.

Sathya Saran

Sathya Saran is best known for her long association with Femina, which she edited for 12 years, Sathya Saran is also the author of a diverse variety of books. Sathya latest books include a biography of Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ritu Nanda. Currently Consulting Editor with Penguin Random House, Sathya also teaches fashion journalism at NIFT Mumbai, Kangra and Srinagar.She has been a stage actor with Veenapani Chawla. Passionate about writing she conceptualised and held the first of its kind Writers Conclave titled  The Spaces between Words the unfestival sponsored by JSW at Kaladham near Hampi. In partnership with The Hindu.Sathya has written a TV serial titled ‘Kashmakash’, writes columns in The New Indian Express and Outlook.com. Sathya is currently translating a literary biography of Gulzar and has almost completed writing another film biography.

Saurabh Dwivedi

Sharad Bindal

Known for his bestselling mythological fiction, “Clash of Singularity,” Sharad Bindal is a seasoned columnist offering invaluable insights on financial strategies and an entrepreneur leading a wealth management company for the last eighteen years. Inherently, finance and mythology are diametrically opposite preoccupations. However, Sharad’s upbringing and long-standing fondness for Vedic scriptures help him enjoy both with identical elan. His critical reasoning and the ability to connect the dots empower him to give shape to remarkable stories and, consequently, realise his penchant for delivering brilliant fiction.Presently, Sharad is busy promoting “Dawn of Duality: The Beginning of an End,” a compelling continuation of the narrative introduced in “Clash of Singularity.”

Suhel Seth

Suhel Seth is the Managing Partner of Counselage India Private Limited, which is a branding and marketing consultancy firm. He advises Chairpersons and CEOs across the globe.He is the mentor to many start-ups across the world.He is an author of three national best-sellers; a prolific actor both on stage and screen having acted in 167 plays and 8 films as also a well-known television commentator. He has over 4.7 million followers on Twitter. He regularly addresses Institutes of Management across the world as also Chambers of Commerce and business.Suhel is the Chairman of the Branding Committee of India’s foremost business chamber CII for the year 2023-24 and is also a member of the CII National Council.

Tigmanshu Dhulia

Ustad Ghulam Siraj Niazi

Ustad Ghulam Siraj Niazi, grandson of Padma Bhushan Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan from Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, began his musical journey at the age of nine, excelling in 'Khayal Gayaki' and showcasing expertise in classical and light vocal genres. With a career spanning three decades, he has performed globally, earning accolades, including a performance at Rashtrapati Bhavan for late President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. As Chairman of PUMHKA, established in memory of his grandfather, Niazi promotes Hindustani classical music globally, featuring artists like Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. For 25 years, he has been promoting music education worldwide, transcending cultural boundaries through the Guru-Shishya Parampara.

VIPUL B. VARSHNEY

Ms. Vipul B. Varshney, Masters in Urban Planning,and an architect and urban planner par excellence. She has excelled in designing and executing some of India's renowned projects like settlement of earthquake stricken Bhuj to designing and modernising many Indian airports.From designing highest altitude airport of India –Leh and also malls for the urban rich to low cost housing township for NPCIL at Banswara ,the projects are in India as well as in abroad.A winner of coveted awards like U.P. Ratan 2013,Shakti Samman 2015 from Governor of U.P., Heritage Award from U.P Government to name a few. With the expertise in Institutional buildings of National Importance and a passion for heritage,in addition she has also authored 4 coffee table books on Lucknow’s heritage, ‘Lucknow-A Treasure’ encompassing the grandeur and heritage of Lucknow and ‘Cultural Legacy of Lucknow’. Another books Lucknow –A city of Heritage and Culture ,and Shaam-e-Awadh were published in 2017.She has completed the Listing & publication of 200 heritage building of Lucknow, and also the documentation of Intangible Heritage of Lucknow,being a Convenor ,INTACH Lucknow.She has penned more than 100 articles for various national and international journals.

Vivek Agnihotri

Vivek Agnihotri is an Indian director, producer, and screenwriter known for making films that delve into pressing social and political issues. Case in point, notable works like “The Tashkent Files” and “The Kashmir Files,” both films having earned him National Awards for Best Screenplay (Dialogues) and Best Feature Film on National Integration, respectively. Additionally, Vivek is a Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) member and represents Indian Cinema at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.