Dnyanada Naik -Advisory Committee Member
Mrs. Dnyanada Naik is a prolific author, editor and director. She has been Executive Editor of ‘Kishor’, Director, Curriculum and Textbook Development 2009-2012, Director for the Mulyawardhan Department of the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana, Pune and has authored over 50 books. She has been a well known columnist for key Marathi Publications like Maharashtra Times, Sakal and Pudhari and a translator for prominent publishing houses like National Book Trust, New Delhi, Orient Longman Ltd. She is currently working as an honorary lecturer of Public Relations at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune and a Managing Trustee and Founder of ‘Vyankatesh Madgulkar Pratishthan’ which focuses on providing valuable assistance to school dropouts, school students, upcoming writers and imprisoned women. She has also been a jury member for Sahitya Academy, New Delhi and has directed, edited and produced various programs on Doordarshan and All India Radio. Her current literary projects include a historical novel and the rewriting of all of Veer Savarkar’s literature in contemporary Marathi to make it accessible to the masses. Mrs. Dnyanada Naik has graduated from Ferguson College, Pune securing a Gold medal in Philosophy and has done her Masters in Marathi language from SNDT College, Pune.
Dr. Mohini Khot – Advisory Committee Member
Currently Head, Dept. of English, St. Mira’s College, Pune, Dr. Mohini Khot began her teaching career at Lady Shri Ram College in July 1975. She started teaching at St. Mira’s college in 1980 and has been with the institution since. She has delivered lectures at various prestigious institutions such as LSR (New Delhi), St. Mira’s College (Pune), Wadia College (Pune) and Dept. of English (Pune University). Her ardent love for books lead her to become a founder member of a Book Club that meets once a month at Poona Club and has been functioning for almost twelve years. She is also a founder and co-ordinator of two book clubs at St. Mira’s College – one for students and the other for faculty members and organizes students activities like play readings, debates, street plays, talent contests and is the Editor of the College Magazine. Her articles have been published in The Times of India, Intelligent Pune, The Sakal Times and other newspapers. Dr. Khot is alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University where she graduated B.A. Hons. in English in 1973 and stood first in the University. She completed her M.A. in English in 1975 where once again she stood 1st in the University. She acquired M.Phil. in Western Drama in 1986 and Ph.D. in 2003 : “All the World’s a Stage: A Study of Role Playing in Selected Plays” from the University of Pune
Mumtaz Munawar Peerbhoy – Advisory Committee Member
A renowned Urdu poetess, Mrs. Peerbhoy has participated in many national and international mushairas and is famous for her melodious voice. A prolific writer, her poems and articles have been published in many national Urdu magazines and books. Apart from her literary work and associations Mrs. Peerbhoy engages in many social and developmental activities. She is associated with various NGOs working in the field of education, women and children’s welfare. She has been the President of the Inner Wheel Club of Pune Central and Soroptimist International, Pune. She is currently the president of the organization Bazme Khawateen, Pune as well as Marathi Urdu Mahila Sahitya Sammelan, Pune. She is also the Vice President of The Deccan Muslim Institute in Pune, Golden Jubilee Education Trust, Pune and the All India Urdu Sahitya Prishad. Mrs. Peerbhoy is the executive member of Young Women Christian Association in Pune, Maharashtra Medical Education and Research Center, Pune and a member of the Film Writers Association in Mumbai.
Satish Khot – Advisory Committee Member
Satish Khot is a graduate of two of India’s premier institutions. He is a chemical engineer from IIT, Bombay and an MBA from IIM, Calcutta. He has worked for some reputed companies in India. His last job was as CEO of Indo-American joint venture company manufacturing oil field chemicals. For the last 18 years he has been a consultant to companies, his forte being the planning and implementation of projects from start to finish and the turning around of sick companies. He has worked on projects in India and in the Gulf. Satish has always been socially very active and is one of the founder members of Pune Midtown Round Table no. 65. For our years he was a member of the Managing Committee of Poona Club and currently he is President of the National Society for Clean Cities, Pune which is the apex body of all the mohalla committees in Pune. NSCC’s credo is “Pune, A Clean City – Clean in Every Which Way”. He is also on the Advisory Council of Public Concern for Governance Trust. He names sports and reading as his hobbies and has played almost every sport in his time and also served as Secretary of the Maharashtra State Athletics Association. He has started a Book Club at Poona Club to encourage reading, discussion and an exchange of ideas. The Book Club meets every month and has been in existence for twelve years now.
