Constitution of the Academic Advisory Board

Dr. Supriya Rai

Director, K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies

Supriya Rai made a transition to academia in 2003, after a ten-year career with the Tatas, as an officer of the Tata Administrative Service. She received her doctorate from Mumbai University in 2008, on Buddhist meditation. She is currently Director of the K. J. Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies and the Dean of the Faculty of Dharma Studies.

Her areas of interest are Buddhist meditation, Central Asian Buddhism (particularly the work of Kumarajiva), Buddhist ethics, gender issues in Buddhism and socially engaged Buddhism. In pursuit of the latter, she led the initiative to set up an outreach project where the mission is to facilitate spiritual practice and livelihood support in the local community. But these are all veils and illusions. In the ultimate analysis, Supriya Rai is a dreamer who loves the rains and Hindustani classical music.

Prof Richard Gombrich

Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit, Oxford University

Richard F. Gombrich (b.1937) took a first class degree in Oriental Studies at Oxford University in 1961 and a D.Phil. in 1970. Before his retirement in 2004, he held the Boden Chair of Sanskrit at Oxford University and a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College for 28 years.

He supervised 50 graduate theses at Oxford University, most of them doctorates and almost all of them on Buddhism. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Buddhist Studies in 2008. He is the author of over 200 publications. His academic interests are Pali, early Buddhism, Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and the anthropology and sociology of religion.

Dr. Gauri Mahulikar

Dean of Faculty and Professor in the School of Vedic Knowledge Systems, Chinmay Vishwavidyapeeth

Dr. Gauri Mahulikar is Dean and Professor at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, deemed-to-be-university, Ernakulam. She was the Gurudev Tagore Chair of Comparative Literature Professor and former HOD of Sanskrit at Mumbai University where she was instrumental in launching courses in Manuscriptology, Bhakti Literature and Mysticism. She holds a Doctorate in Sanskrit on ‘Vedic Elements in Puranic Mantras and Rituals’.

She has published eight books and over 90 research articles. A passionate teacher, Dr. Mahulikar has mentored several doctoral students, 17 being awarded Ph.D degree and is often invited as a speaker by universities and other organisations. She is a member of the Board of Advisors at Indic Today and of the Academic Advisory Board as Eminent Expert of K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies. She is an eminent expert on the board of CIIL, Mysuru. She is Kulapati of Sanskrit Samvardhan Pratishthan, an NGO working on value education in school children and Vice President of Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Konkan region.

Dr. Prasun Chatterjee

Independent researcher and historian

Prasun Chatterjee is a senior publishing professional and an author, researcher and writing skills coach. He holds a PhD in history on travel and description in early modern India. He has written several articles in peer-reviewed journals and his research interests include gender, travel writing, court culture, circulation of substances and marginalization in early modern India. He is the author of a forthcoming book titled Reconfiguring the Orient: Travel and Description in Seventeenth Century India.

He has been associated with the publishing industry for fifteen years and is currently Deputy Head, Academic at Primus Books. Dr. Chatterjee has formerly been Editorial Director, Pan Macmillan India and Senior Commissioning Editor, Oxford University Press India. As a guest faculty, he also teaches academic writing and historiography at Dharma Studies, Somaiya Vidyavihar.

Dr. Abhishek Ghosh

Dean of Faculty, Dharma Studies

Prof. Abhishek Ghosh currently serves as the Dean of Faculty for Dharma Studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai. He is a distinguished academic and thought leader in the field of Hindu Studies, well known for his popular courses and his understanding of ancient Indian wisdom. He is an award winning professor well known for his innovative approach to education and has almost two decades of international higher education experience. He serves the Jain, Buddhist, and Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham Centers at Somaiya Vidyavihar University housed under the K.J. Somaiya Institute for Dharma Studies.

Dr. Ghosh fosters a holistic and interdisciplinary environment that bridges diverse Dharmic traditions. His leadership is marked by a commitment to preserving and promoting India's rich spiritual heritage while encouraging critical inquiry and dialogue among scholars. Through his work, Dr. Ghosh is advancing the study and practice of these traditions, ensuring their relevance in contemporary discourse. His research specialization is in Vaishnava traditions, and he is the Director of the Institute for Vaishnava Studies, a degree granting research organization in Gainesville, USA recognized by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education. He is an expert in South Asian religions and philosophy, focusing on the preservation and translation of classical texts to make them more accessible to wider audiences. He also serves as the senior editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, the longest-running academic journal in Hindu Studies in the Western world. His research interests include Indian epics, yoga, meditation, and contemporary India, and his expertise in these areas has led him to represent India’s security council reform interests at the United Nations in December 2023 on behalf of the Permanent Mission of India, New York.

Since 2005, Prof. Ghosh has spoken at various forums and cultural events representing Hinduism and India. He has taught at various universities and was a tenure-line professor at Grand Valley State University, Michigan, and an award-winning instructor at the Graham School of General Studies at the University of Chicago, where he taught Asian Classics. He is also active in interfaith engagement, serving as a board member of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies, USA, and has contributed numerous articles and book chapters in various scholarly and public intellectual publications. He received his M.A. & Ph.D. in South Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago in 2014, following a Masters of Studies in Theology & Religious Studies from Oxford University, UK, in 2006.

Dr. Pallavi Jambhale

Centre Head, Centre for Buddhist Studies

Dr. Pallavi Nalawde Jambhale has been associated with the K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, Mumbai for nearly two decades and is currently engaged as Head, Centre for Buddhist Studies. She is involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses related to Buddhist studies and Ancient Indian History,Culture and Archaeology. She has presented various papers at national forums as well as international forums which included ‘Buddhism in Deccan during 2nd C.B.C. to 2nd C.A.D’ and ‘Syncretism in South and Southeast Asia; Adoption and Adaptation’ among others. She is a member of the Board of Studies, AIHC and Buddhist Studies.

She is also an invitee member of Board of Studies, Department of History, Ferguson College, Pune. She also undertakes study tours for students for hands-on practical experience at various Buddhist sites such as Nashik, Kanheri, Kuda, Ajanata and Ellora among others. Her primary areas of teaching, interest and focus remain - specialization in rock-cut architecture, ancient Indian history and culture and Buddhist art and architecture.

Dr. Shuddhatam Prakash Jain

Centre Head, Centre for Studies in Jainism

Dr. Shuddhatam Prakash Jain is Head of Centre for Studies in Jainism, Under the K J Somaiya Institute of Dharma Studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai. He has achieved his education from Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, Delhi. Dr Shuddhatam Prakash Jain has worked in Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University), Rastriya Ayurved Sansthan, Jaipur & Mangalayatan University, Aligarh. Dr Jain has Fifteen years of teaching experience of UG & PG level.
Dr S P Jain has written more than 25 Books with ISBN & presented more than 30 Research papers in National & International Seminars/Conferences.

Dr S P Jain has completed one research project entitled “AARADHANASAMUCHCHYA” funded by Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Delhi. Dr. Jain has achieved an award- “Prof. Ram Gopal Soni Memorial Award of Best Author 2011” for his remarkable written works in Educational field from IPERA (Indian Psycho-metric & Educational Research Association, Patna) & HIBS (Harprasad Institute of Behavioral Studies, Agra).
He has got “Best Citizens of India Award 2014” from International Publisher, New Delhi. and got the award of “Srinath Bhargav Award of Best Spiritual Educationist 2015” form IPERA, Agra. He also got Arhat-Vachan Puruskar 2017 from Kund-Kund Gyanpeeth, Indore.
Dr Shuddhatm prakash Jain has great knowledge of Sanskrit, Prakrit and Philosophy. Dr. Jain guided to 21 PG level dissertations (Research degrees) & one Ph.D. submitted under guidance of Dr. Jain.

Ms Prachi Pathak

Centre Head, Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham

Prachi Pathak has been teaching in UG and PG programmes of Somaiya since 2006. She has actively contributed to the various publications of Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham. She has participated as a Hindu Representative in the Inter-religious Youth Meeting organized by Pontifical Urban University held at Assisi, Italy in November 2006.

Lt. General H S Kahlon

Secretary, Somaiya Vidhyavihar

Lieutenant General H S Kahlon, who retired from serving our country after 4 decades of service. Lt. Gen. H S Kahlon is an astute and result-oriented professional with almost four decades of rich experience in various domains including Capital Procurement, Project/Works Management, Budgeting and Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, Security operations, Maintenance Operations, General Administration and Facilities Management.

He has a notable career, having served in various high-profile roles within the Indian Army and United Nations missions. In his last assignment the General officer was the Area Commander, Headquarters based at Colaba, Mumbai, handling Administration of all Military Stations in the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. He was awarded the Presidential awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal(AVSM) and Sena Medal(SM) for his meritorious services and contributions to the organisation.

While in service, he had administrative command of the Indian Army in peninsular India, with over 30 establishments and 75,000 personnel under his control. He oversaw the working of 9 military hospitals, and premier education institutions and schools of the Army.

His academic credentials include M.Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore; M.Sc in Defence Studies from Madras University; B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Bombay University. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the prestigious national Defence College, New Delhi. Lieutenant General H S Kahlon will oversee the academic and administrative affairs of all the Schools under K.J. Somaiya Trust, Somaiya Vidyavihar Trust. Also He will be involved in Administration for Somaiya (Medical) Trust, K.J. Somaiya (Delhi) Trust, K.J. Somaiya (Gujarat) Trust, Girivanvasi Pragati Mandal, Girivanvasi Education Trust, Maganlal Mehta,K.J. Somaiya hospital and Superspeciality hospital and others. We do hope that under his leadership, we are able to create the world class institution that our founders dreamed of and worked towards.

Mr. Faraz Kagalwalla

Chief Financial Officer of Somaiya Vidyavihar University and Somaiya Vidyavihar & Somaiya Ayurvihar

Faraz is a finance professional with 30 years of experience and has handled important positions with leading Corporates and Start-ups.

Dr. Nandkumar Gilke

Registrar, Somaiya Vidyavihar University

Dr. Nandkumar Gilke is Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering in K J Somaiya College of Engineering for the last 28 years. He served as ex-member of Management Council, Academic Council and Faculty of Technology of University of Mumbai.