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Amrita Patwardhan

Amrita has led development and implementation of two five year strategic plans for Education. She has represented the Trusts on National Mission on Libraries, has been on committees appointed by Ministry of Human Resource Development and National Council for Education Research and Training to review national programmes.

Amrita was a teacher in a primary school, volunteered as a teacher educator in tribal schools and researched impact of displacement on children at Clark University, United States. Amrita has done her MPhil in Education from Delhi University. Early literacy, children’s literacy and social justice are her areas of special interest.

Amrita has led development and implementation of two five year strategic plans for Education. She has represented the Trusts on National Mission on Libraries, has been on committees appointed by Ministry of Human Resource Development and National Council for Education Research and Training to review national programmes.

Amrita was a teacher in a primary school, volunteered as a teacher educator in tribal schools and researched impact of displacement on children at Clark University, United States. Amrita has done her MPhil in Education from Delhi University. Early literacy, children’s literacy and social justice are her areas of special interest.

Anil Singh

Anil works with the Professional Development vertical of Parag Initiative. He has been a course faculty for two long-term courses, the Library Educators Course and the Children’s Library Course, offered by Parag. His role also includes coordinating the capacity building efforts for nearly three thousand and four hundred librarians of the Rajasthan School Library Programme Project, a major library programme of Rajasthan government in collaboration with the Trusts. Anil is also working intensively with the LEC alumni in Madhya Pradesh and is actively engaging the alumni in promoting awareness about library practices.

A passionate storyteller, Anil has been active in the field of school education for over two decades. Theatre is another area he is deeply passionate about and has conducted several theatre workshops for children and teachers. He integrates theatre with everyday activities for children. Anil publishes his writing regularly in journals and blogs on his experiences in the classroom, children’s literature and his observations about the state of education in contemporary society. He had been associated with an alternative school in Bhopal, Anand Niketan Democratic School, since its inception. In the past, he had also worked with organizations like Eklavya and Muskaan. He has conducted training for teachers and organized bal melas for children. He loves writing stories, cooking, reciting poems, acting, and singing. His story collection, Chamanlal Ke Paijame, published by Ektara, was featured in the Parag Honour List 2020. He has majored in social work and mass communication.

Anil works with the Professional Development vertical of Parag Initiative. He has been a course faculty for two long-term courses, the Library Educators Course and the Children’s Library Course, offered by Parag. His role also includes coordinating the capacity building efforts for nearly three thousand and four hundred librarians of the Rajasthan School Library Programme Project, a major library programme of Rajasthan government in collaboration with the Trusts. Anil is also working intensively with the LEC alumni in Madhya Pradesh and is actively engaging the alumni in promoting awareness about library practices.

A passionate storyteller, Anil has been active in the field of school education for over two decades. Theatre is another area he is deeply passionate about and has conducted several theatre workshops for children and teachers. He integrates theatre with everyday activities for children. Anil publishes his writing regularly in journals and blogs on his experiences in the classroom, children’s literature and his observations about the state of education in contemporary society. He had been associated with an alternative school in Bhopal, Anand Niketan Democratic School, since its inception. In the past, he had also worked with organizations like Eklavya and Muskaan. He has conducted training for teachers and organized bal melas for children. He loves writing stories, cooking, reciting poems, acting, and singing. His story collection, Chamanlal Ke Paijame, published by Ektara, was featured in the Parag Honour List 2020. He has majored in social work and mass communication.

Lakshmi Karunakaran

Lakshmi leads Parag’s vision and program implementation country wide across verticals. Previously, at Hasiru Dala, she initiated and led the Buguri Children’s Program setting up community libraries for children of waste pickers across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. For over a decade now, Lakshmi has worked with children experiencing social exclusion in government schools, special needs schools, remedial schools, and in disadvantaged communities. In an earlier avatar Lakshmi was a communication professional leading countrywide communication initiatives in IT organizations. In 2017, she was an artist in residence at the Center for Contemporary Arts, Warsaw, working on a project on children from abandoned mines in Poland. She was a fellow at the Arts or Good Fellowship 2019 at the Singapore International Foundation. Lakshmi writes regularly for Teacher Plus, a magazine for contemporary teachers. The work at Parag brings together her passion for stories, children’s literature and libraries. She is a self-certified cat slave and lives in Bangalore with her partner and two cats.

Lakshmi leads Parag’s vision and program implementation country wide across verticals. Previously, at Hasiru Dala, she initiated and led the Buguri Children’s Program setting up community libraries for children of waste pickers across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. For over a decade now, Lakshmi has worked with children experiencing social exclusion in government schools, special needs schools, remedial schools, and in disadvantaged communities. In an earlier avatar Lakshmi was a communication professional leading countrywide communication initiatives in IT organizations. In 2017, she was an artist in residence at the Center for Contemporary Arts, Warsaw, working on a project on children from abandoned mines in Poland. She was a fellow at the Arts or Good Fellowship 2019 at the Singapore International Foundation. Lakshmi writes regularly for Teacher Plus, a magazine for contemporary teachers. The work at Parag brings together her passion for stories, children’s literature and libraries. She is a self-certified cat slave and lives in Bangalore with her partner and two cats.

Nidhi Qazi

Nidhi is part of the Professional Development vertical. She comes with a rich experience of and insights about facilitating courses, teacher trainings and is here to add value to Parag’s vision of nurturing library educators. Committed to the public education system and ensuring a fruitful learning experience for teachers and herself remains at the core of her work.

She started her journey in education space with Eklavya, Bhopal, then Heritage School, Delhi and then Language and Learning Foundation (LLF), Delhi. Her areas of work have been teacher education in Early Literacy, pedagogy for ECE programmes.

When not working, she enjoys reading Hindi literature, writing free verses, engaging with Hindustani Sangeet and watching movies of various kinds.

Pondering upon questions of existence, universal conditions of people, understanding life are all part of her everyday being.

Nidhi is part of the Professional Development vertical. She comes with a rich experience of and insights about facilitating courses, teacher trainings and is here to add value to Parag’s vision of nurturing library educators. Committed to the public education system and ensuring a fruitful learning experience for teachers and herself remains at the core of her work.

She started her journey in education space with Eklavya, Bhopal, then Heritage School, Delhi and then Language and Learning Foundation (LLF), Delhi. Her areas of work have been teacher education in Early Literacy, pedagogy for ECE programmes.

When not working, she enjoys reading Hindi literature, writing free verses, engaging with Hindustani Sangeet and watching movies of various kinds.

Pondering upon questions of existence, universal conditions of people, understanding life are all part of her everyday being.

Parul Bajaj

Parul has been with the Education theme of Tata Trusts since the last 7 years. Primary piece she is anchoring presently is the strategy for the years ahead for Parag. She also anchors the financials and analysis for the theme. Some of the pieces she has led for Parag in the past years include Kitablet (our digital library initiative from 2016-20), eCourses in library education, M&E, reviews, and transition of program from Trusts to Kalike. Prior to Tata Trusts, she has worked with education organizations like iDiscoveri, Educational Initiatives, Agastya, and an initiative of her own – Craft a Path.

She studied computer science engineering and management, worked in technology consulting and VLSI, and transitioned to her area of passion – improving quality of education.

Parul has been with the Education theme of Tata Trusts since the last 7 years. Primary piece she is anchoring presently is the strategy for the years ahead for Parag. She also anchors the financials and analysis for the theme. Some of the pieces she has led for Parag in the past years include Kitablet (our digital library initiative from 2016-20), eCourses in library education, M&E, reviews, and transition of program from Trusts to Kalike. Prior to Tata Trusts, she has worked with education organizations like iDiscoveri, Educational Initiatives, Agastya, and an initiative of her own – Craft a Path.

She studied computer science engineering and management, worked in technology consulting and VLSI, and transitioned to her area of passion – improving quality of education.

Priyanka Singh

Priyanka leads Parag’s book development, and is an integral educator, children’s author and storyteller. She has worked in the field of education for the last 15 years. Earlier, she worked with Mirambika Free Progress School, New Delhi and The Heritage School, Gurgaon as an educator, worked in publishing with Suryastra, and has conducted storytelling sessions across India in collaboration with UNESCO, Times Foundation, Salaam Baalak Trust, Jaipur Literary Festival Outreach, Pratham, The LAMO Trust and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts. She is passionate about education and endeavors to inspire children in an imaginative and engaging environment.

Priyanka leads Parag’s book development, and is an integral educator, children’s author and storyteller. She has worked in the field of education for the last 15 years. Earlier, she worked with Mirambika Free Progress School, New Delhi and The Heritage School, Gurgaon as an educator, worked in publishing with Suryastra, and has conducted storytelling sessions across India in collaboration with UNESCO, Times Foundation, Salaam Baalak Trust, Jaipur Literary Festival Outreach, Pratham, The LAMO Trust and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts. She is passionate about education and endeavors to inspire children in an imaginative and engaging environment.

Proma

Proma Basu Roy

Proma is committed to working for education since the onset of her work-life. Books, reading and the library is where she finds heart. She works for the Big Little Book Award and Parag’s Library Programs. She has studied Education for her Bachelors from Calcutta University and Education (Elementary) for Masters from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. In the past, Proma has worked for teacher education, curriculum development and reading programmes both in rural and urban India. She has also worked as a researcher for research programmes of the MHRD, Unicef, ITC and other research organizations.

Proma is committed to working for education since the onset of her work-life. Books, reading and the library is where she finds heart. She works for the Big Little Book Award and Parag’s Library Programs. She has studied Education for her Bachelors from Calcutta University and Education (Elementary) for Masters from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. In the past, Proma has worked for teacher education, curriculum development and reading programmes both in rural and urban India. She has also worked as a researcher for research programmes of the MHRD, Unicef, ITC and other research organizations.

Rohan Chavan

Rohan, part of Parag’s Professional Development team, believes in the potential of children’s stories to facilitate dialogue and reflection on social inequalities and injustice. His interest in writing children’s literature comes from the realisation that there is an absence of stories that represent the experiences of urban communities living in informal settlements. An alumni of the Library Educators Course in Hindi run by Parag, Rohan’s core interest is participative experiential learning approach towards topics like understanding social realities, critical thinking, and constitutional values and he tries to create brave spaces in which participants can question the status quo through critical thinking.

Rohan has also worked in co-creating capacity building processes for home-based librarians and developing internal monitoring systems for the program. Rohan has previously worked with YUVA in securing rights of informal labourers and PUKAR as a Program Facilitator, for 10 youth groups to facilitate their participatory research projects.

Rohan, part of Parag’s Professional Development team, believes in the potential of children’s stories to facilitate dialogue and reflection on social inequalities and injustice. His interest in writing children’s literature comes from the realisation that there is an absence of stories that represent the experiences of urban communities living in informal settlements. An alumni of the Library Educators Course in Hindi run by Parag, Rohan’s core interest is participative experiential learning approach towards topics like understanding social realities, critical thinking, and constitutional values and he tries to create brave spaces in which participants can question the status quo through critical thinking.

Rohan has also worked in co-creating capacity building processes for home-based librarians and developing internal monitoring systems for the program. Rohan has previously worked with YUVA in securing rights of informal labourers and PUKAR as a Program Facilitator, for 10 youth groups to facilitate their participatory research projects.

Shrikumar Arjunan

Shrikumar is a scribe-turned-communications professional, who works on the overall communications plan for Parag initiative. A storyteller at heart and writing being his art, he believes in telling untold stories in a way that engages audience attention. At a time when the attention span among the millennials is shrinking fast, he’s trained in a wide range of communication techniques from long format feature writing to quick captivating nuggets or explainers, harnessing the potential of social media platforms.

An avid traveller and foodie, Shrikumar likes exploring lesser-known places in his free time.

Shrikumar is a scribe-turned-communications professional, who works on the overall communications plan for Parag initiative. A storyteller at heart and writing being his art, he believes in telling untold stories in a way that engages audience attention. At a time when the attention span among the millennials is shrinking fast, he’s trained in a wide range of communication techniques from long format feature writing to quick captivating nuggets or explainers, harnessing the potential of social media platforms.

An avid traveller and foodie, Shrikumar likes exploring lesser-known places in his free time.

sonika

Sonika Kaushik

Sonika serves as the Lead for Professional Development vertical of Parag Initiative including the Library Educator’s Course in Hindi and the Children’s Library Course. As the core lead faculty, Sonika oversees implementation, content and strategic direction of the courses. Her areas of interest include development of literacy in the early years, literature for young children and academic development of teachers of young children. She led the Mathura Pilot Project, Reading Development Cell at the National Council of Educational Research and Training as one of the core team members. Her work with the reading and early literacy programmes at the NCERT spans nearly a decade. Sonika started her career as a primary school teacher in a village in Rajasthan and has taught in primary schools in Delhi for about six years.

She has taught papers on pedagogy of language and children’s literature as a faculty at the Department of Elementary Education, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She has been involved extensively in-service programmes for teachers and teacher educators. She has designed and taught a paper on early language and literacy as guest faculty at I Am A Teacher. She has served on committees for textbook development (Delhi government, Hindi textbooks post-NCF), review of textbooks and review of children’s literature and committees for curriculum development of teacher education programmes. She has been a member of the Advisory Board to Room to Read. She holds a doctoral degree in education- early literacy from University of Delhi and was awarded the post-doctoral fellowship by the Indian Council of Social Science Research in 2019.

Sonika serves as the Lead for Professional Development vertical of Parag Initiative including the Library Educator’s Course in Hindi and the Children’s Library Course. As the core lead faculty, Sonika oversees implementation, content and strategic direction of the courses. Her areas of interest include development of literacy in the early years, literature for young children and academic development of teachers of young children. She led the Mathura Pilot Project, Reading Development Cell at the National Council of Educational Research and Training as one of the core team members. Her work with the reading and early literacy programmes at the NCERT spans nearly a decade. Sonika started her career as a primary school teacher in a village in Rajasthan and has taught in primary schools in Delhi for about six years.

She has taught papers on pedagogy of language and children’s literature as a faculty at the Department of Elementary Education, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She has been involved extensively in-service programmes for teachers and teacher educators. She has designed and taught a paper on early language and literacy as guest faculty at I Am A Teacher. She has served on committees for textbook development (Delhi government, Hindi textbooks post-NCF), review of textbooks and review of children’s literature and committees for curriculum development of teacher education programmes. She has been a member of the Advisory Board to Room to Read. She holds a doctoral degree in education- early literacy from University of Delhi and was awarded the post-doctoral fellowship by the Indian Council of Social Science Research in 2019.

Suraj Shikhare

Suraj leads Parag’s Accounts and Grant Management. He has worked in the field of Finance and accounts for the last 15 years. Earlier, He worked with Save the Children India for 8 years and prior to this he has worked with Pratham for 4 years. He has a good hold over the functioning of non-profit organizations. He did bachelors of Commerce from Mumbai University and Masters in Business Administration (Executive) from Indian Management Institute. He has knowledge about seeking assignments in Accounts, Finance, Audit, Taxation, Budgeting, Financial Planning, Fund Management, Costing, Bank Reconciliation, Internal Control, Asset Management, Variance Analysis, MIS Reporting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable.

Suraj leads Parag’s Accounts and Grant Management. He has worked in the field of Finance and accounts for the last 15 years. Earlier, He worked with Save the Children India for 8 years and prior to this he has worked with Pratham for 4 years. He has a good hold over the functioning of non-profit organizations. He did bachelors of Commerce from Mumbai University and Masters in Business Administration (Executive) from Indian Management Institute. He has knowledge about seeking assignments in Accounts, Finance, Audit, Taxation, Budgeting, Financial Planning, Fund Management, Costing, Bank Reconciliation, Internal Control, Asset Management, Variance Analysis, MIS Reporting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable.

Tuhina Sharma

Tuhina is a part of the Book Development Team at Parag. She holds a Master’s in Social Work- Children and Families, from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Over the past 3 years of her journey in the development sector, she has worked closely with children and their stakeholders across different settings- including municipal schools and Child Care Institutions. With a deep interest in children’s literature, reading and theatre, she is driven towards safeguarding and ensuring children’s rights by building engaging and imaginative learning environments.

When not working, she enjoys taking long walks, journaling and painting.

Tuhina is a part of the Book Development Team at Parag. She holds a Master’s in Social Work- Children and Families, from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Over the past 3 years of her journey in the development sector, she has worked closely with children and their stakeholders across different settings- including municipal schools and Child Care Institutions. With a deep interest in children’s literature, reading and theatre, she is driven towards safeguarding and ensuring children’s rights by building engaging and imaginative learning environments.

When not working, she enjoys taking long walks, journaling and painting.

Vivek BG

Vivek BG

Vivek is a part of the Book Development Team overseeing the dissemination of PHL and Parag-supported books. Rooted in the cause of children’s education, he has been in the development sector working on digital interventions providing free and equitable access to high-quality lessons and learning materials to children across rural India. He has taken on responsibilities spanning fundraising, donor relations, curriculum development, data analysis, project management, and research for non-profits in the children’s education sector. He has also worked with WWF, ILO, and WCS designing their online certificate courses.

You will most likely find him curled up with a book or painting a mural when not working.

Vivek is a part of the Book Development Team overseeing the dissemination of PHL and Parag-supported books. Rooted in the cause of children’s education, he has been in the development sector working on digital interventions providing free and equitable access to high-quality lessons and learning materials to children across rural India. He has taken on responsibilities spanning fundraising, donor relations, curriculum development, data analysis, project management, and research for non-profits in the children’s education sector. He has also worked with WWF, ILO, and WCS designing their online certificate courses.

You will most likely find him curled up with a book or painting a mural when not working.

Vivek Thakur

Vivek works with Parag as a Library Manager, in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. His key responsibilities focus on managing the Parag library programme which is a part of the Trust’s Integrated Rural Upliftment Programme (IRUP). He holds a Masters’ degree in Management and in Education. Vivek began his career in education as a fellow at Azim Premji foundation, wherein he worked closely with government functionaries, teachers and children of Uttrakhand and Chhattisgarh. He finds interest in Education and Public Policies. He enjoys travelling, spirituality and engages himself in exploring how local available resources can be utilised to teach subjects. Working and being around children motivates him very much.

Vivek works with Parag as a Library Manager, in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. His key responsibilities focus on managing the Parag library programme which is a part of the Trust’s Integrated Rural Upliftment Programme (IRUP). He holds a Masters’ degree in Management and in Education. Vivek began his career in education as a fellow at Azim Premji foundation, wherein he worked closely with government functionaries, teachers and children of Uttrakhand and Chhattisgarh. He finds interest in Education and Public Policies. He enjoys travelling, spirituality and engages himself in exploring how local available resources can be utilised to teach subjects. Working and being around children motivates him very much.