Humble and focused are just a few words often used to describe Ajesh. With over a decade of experience in Hospitality, he is keenly focused on providing guests with the highest level of satisfaction and comfort. He was born in Kerala, God&rsquo;s own Country, and started his career with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts.

Prior to joining the Kautilya School of Public Policy, he worked as an executive in the food and beverage services section of GITAM Hospitality. He loves traveling and believes that traveling gives your mind a break from the monotonous pattern of life.

Ajesh Panicker

Aryaman completed his Master&rsquo;s in Sociology from South Asian University, New Delhi. Before coming to Kautilya, he worked as a Research and Documentation Manager at Anjali &ndash; a Mental Health Rights Organisation in Kolkata. In the past, he has worked with organizations such as Primus Partners, Sanlaap, South Asian Forum for Environment (SAFE), Hope Foundation, and Sappho For Equality, Kolkata. Aryaman&rsquo;s academic interests include gender, sexuality, urban sociology, media, technology, and culture. He envisions a career in research and education.

Aryaman Chatterjee

Akshara.K.Nair is a Policy enthusiast who utilizes her research and analytical skills to provide impactful policy outcomes. She has worked with organizations including International Model United Nations, We Citizens Foundations, B-PAC,International Institute for SDG and Public Policy Research and Center for Public Policy Research. During her internships, engaged with Policy analysis, Education and Governance.

Akshara holds Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in English, History and Political Science, both from Christ (Deemed to be University). She has also been School Level Student Council Representative during her post graduation . She has earned an understanding of qualitative research through her thesis on &ldquo;Politics of Education: A Study of Select Education Policies&rdquo; and &ldquo;Artificial Intelligence in Policing: Innovation, Challenges and Search of Responsible Implementation.&rdquo;She has also been engaged in organizing conferences and also co- presenting a paper on &ldquo;Examining Intertwined effects of Urbanization, Climate Change and Air Pollution on Respiratory Health in Bangalore&rdquo;.

In addition to academics, Akshara enjoys theater and has participated in two plays during undergraduate studies. She also enjoys learning multiple languages, music and reading.

Akshara.K.Nair

Dheeraj Kumar has over nine years of experience across the insurance, eCommerce, SaaS, and education sectors, with a proven record in business development, account management, consultative sales, strategy, and placements. He has thrived in both B2B and B2C environments, consistently meeting growth targets while leading large teams and managing client portfolios. His entrepreneurial drive also led him to co-found two eCommerce startups. Over his career, Dheeraj has honed his skills in leadership, customer service, ownership, resilience, and problem-solving.

He holds a B.Sc. in Electronics (Hons.) from the University of Delhi and a PGDM in Technology and Business Management from Masters&#39; Union, Gurugram. At Kautilya, Dheeraj leverages his business expertise to connect academic talent with impactful careers in public policy, contributing to India&#39;s evolving public policy landscape. What matters most to him is creating a positive impact throughout his career.

He believes that success is shaped by present actions and that cultivating gratitude helps overcome challenges and achieve any goal. Outside of work, he finds solace in nature, with the mountains of the North India holding a special place&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;heart.

Dheeraj Kumar

Gayatri hails from Valluvanad, a former princely state in Kerala. Her love for Economics encouraged her to attain M.A. in Economics from St. Joseph&rsquo;s College Tiruchirappalli. Thereafter, she worked in Xylem Learning,&nbsp; an edtech company as an Online Economics faculty, where she hosted live sessions for school students.

In 2024, she joined the Kautilya School of Public Policy as an Academic Associate and had the opportunity to work with several professors.

An Ex NCC cadet, who represented Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate in RDC 2019 and represented India in Kazakhstan as Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) candidate in 2019.

Her interest also lies in Indian semi classical dance forms and music. Always excited to acquire knowledge in new domains as it keeps her enthusiastic.

An ardent believer of &quot;When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it&quot;.

Gayatri Kezhepat

Gracy Singh is an Academic Associate at the Kautilya School of Public Policy. She holds a&nbsp;Master&rsquo;s degree in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a Bachelor&rsquo;s&nbsp;degree in Sociology from Banaras Hindu University. Her academic interests include learning&nbsp;techniques in social research, statistics in social sciences, and urban sociology. 
Gracy has hands-on experience working with datasets and using tools like SPSS to draw&nbsp;meaningful insights into contemporary social and policy issues. She has worked on diverse&nbsp;academic projects, including analyzing World Value Survey data, studying feminine leisure&nbsp;among middle-class working women, and exploring the use of behavioral nudges in&nbsp;environmental sustainability projects. 
Her broader academic journey reflects her commitment to combining sociological theory with&nbsp;data-driven research to address contemporary social and organizational challenges.&nbsp;Additionally, Gracy has qualified for the UGC NET and GATE exams, further reinforcing her&nbsp;expertise in the field.

Ms. Gracy Singh

Gukan Karunakaran is a B.E. Civil Engineering graduate and a passionate self-learner who thrives on challenges that push boundaries. With over four years of hands-on experience in managing complex and large-scale infrastructure projects, he has built strong expertise in project planning, execution, and coordination. His work reflects a thoughtful blend of technical precision and creative problem-solving, grounded in practical engineering principles and a respect for traditional methods.

In addition to his technical background, Gukan is an accomplished Visual Designer proficient in Adobe Creative Suite. He specializes in crafting impactful brand identities, digital creatives, and marketing materials that effectively merge strategy with visual storytelling. His design philosophy centers around clarity, purpose, and human connection, ensuring every visual serves a meaningful intent.

Recognized for his proactive mindset and dedication to excellence, Gukan continually enhances his skill set through certifications and self-directed learning. Beyond his professional roles, he is an active social worker and community volunteer, contributing to causes related to education, sustainability, and social welfare.

Motivated by curiosity and guided by integrity, Gukan strives to create lasting value by combining engineering expertise, design innovation, and community impact in every endeavor.

Gukan Karunakaran

Pinaki is a Program Associate at the Kautilya School of Public Policy. She also volunteers with Prayas NGO and supports the research team at Pink Policy Dialogues, a Chandigarh-based think tank focused on urban women. She holds a Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy (Class of 2025) from the Kautilya School of Public Policy. Her areas of interest include business, governance, and technology. Pinaki has presented five research papers and has published two blogs and a journal article.

Pinaki Gakhar

Honest and humble, M. Pranay Kumar is a seasoned professional with over 8 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He is deeply focused on ensuring guest satisfaction, with a particular emphasis on creating comfortable and memorable events. Born in Hyderabad, Pranay&#39;s journey in hospitality began with Accor Hotels, where he built a strong foundation in guest service and operations.

Before joining the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Pranay worked as an executive in the hospitality department at GITAM Hospitality, further refining his expertise in the industry. His passion for hospitality. He believes that &quot;Music is the universal language of mankind, and travel is the best way to understand it.&quot; 
Pranay&#39;s story highlights the value of dedication, humility, and a genuine passion for creating exceptional experiences for others, whether through a welcoming event or a thoughtful moment of hospitality.

M. Pranay Kumar

Ranjeeta Sinha is an educational consultant with a passion for learning and training. She holds a master&rsquo;s degree in International Business from EMLV Business School Paris and a Masters in Economics from Osmania University. She has worked in diverse cultural settings in France and India, gaining valuable insights and experiences in various fields and sectors. She is fluent in five languages, including Hindi, English, French, Telugu, and Bishnupriya, and a bit of Malayalam. She enjoys learning new languages.

She is a certified education counsellor by Education New Zealand. She has also acquired various certifications in topics such as Agile Methodology, Inbound Sales, and PMP for Business Development, demonstrating her diverse skill set and expertise in different fields and sectors Through her education counselling sessions, she strives to help others discover their potential and achieve their dreams.

Ranjeeta Sinha

Romil&nbsp;Negi is an Academic Associate at the Kautilya School of Public Policy. Born and brought up in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, he holds a Master&rsquo;s degree in Economics from the University of Hyderabad. His interests include economics, finance, and behavioural economics, with a focus on data-driven research and analysis.

He interned at the Reserve Bank of India, where he worked on optimizing currency management in India by forecasting currency circulation and analyzing transportation supply chains.&nbsp;Romil&nbsp;has also undertaken academic projects in financial modelling and risk analytics, and has published research on MSMEs and macroeconomic challenges in India.

Romil Negi

Ruthu Aramandla is a dedicated professional with a B.Tech in Computer&nbsp;Science and over 4.5 years of experience in the EdTech sector. She&nbsp;began her career as an Executive &ndash; Student Support and later advanced&nbsp;to a leadership role as a New Franchisee Lead Management Officer.&nbsp;Known for her strong work ethic and passion for delivering excellence,&nbsp;Ruthu focuses on improving processes and building positive client and student relationships. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and&nbsp;exploring new places, embracing new experiences to broaden both her personal and professional horizons.

Ruthu Aramandla

Shivangi is working as General Manager (Programs) at Kautilya School of Public Policy. She has previously worked as a Program Manager and Executive Assistant to the Dean at Kautilya. Earlier, she was a Teaching Assistant to Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Dr Mekhala Krishnamurthy. She hails from a small village in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. After completing her schooling locally she completed her Bachelors in Mathematics from the University of Delhi. She also did Young India Fellowship and Master in Liberal Studies from Ashoka University. She is a trained dancer in Kathak. She loves Hindustani poetry and Hindustani classical music. She aspires to build a career in education and institution building.

Shivangi Sharma

Shivangi did her Master&rsquo;s in Law (IPR specialization) from Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Studies, IIT Kharagpur. She did her under-graduation i.e., B.A.LLB from the University of Petroleum &amp; Energy Studies, Dehradun. Her primary interest is in IPR provisions and their impact on worldwide health equity. Her Master&rsquo;s thesis titled &ldquo;Free Trade Agreements and TRIPS Plus Provisions: Impact on Access to Medicines in Asian Countries&rdquo; further helped in determining her inclination toward global pharmaceutical policy patterns. She is also deeply interested in India&rsquo;s global pharmaceutical strategies as it is slowly accomplishing the vision of &ldquo;global pharmacy&rdquo;.

Her professional experience includes working as an Academic Associate at the Kautilya School of Public Policy,&nbsp; wherein she assisted distinguished professors like Dr. Faizan Mustafa, Dr. Judith Spiegel and Dr. Chandra Commuri. She has also been the Executive Assistant to Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Dean&nbsp;at Kautilya School of Public Policy&nbsp; where she was responsible for managing his office.

Shivangi Pandey

Shahana holds a Master&rsquo;s degree in Economics from the University of Hyderabad, with research interests in financial literacy, behavioural economics, gender and labour issues, and applied economics. She qualified UGC-NET (2025) and has research and internship experience with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) and Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), alongside her own entrepreneurial pursuits.

During her internship at MOSPI (NSSO - FOD), she gained hands-on experience with large-scale national surveys, including the PLFS, ASI, CPI, TUS and ASUSE. At KILA, she conducted field research on age-friendly governance in ArimpurGrama Panchayat, a recipient of the Vayosevana Award 2021.

Her Master&rsquo;s dissertation, &ldquo;Financial Literacy Perception Gap and Its Influence on Financial Behaviour: An Empirical Study of Kerala&rdquo;, supervised by Prof. PhanindraGoyari and Dr. Motilal Bicchal, was selected for presentation at the 11th International Conference on Finance and Economics (ICFE 2025). She was awarded the OBC medal for securing the category top rank in her MA examination and received the NSP Postgraduate Scholarship in recognition of her undergraduate&nbsp;performance.

Shahana Zakhir

Sudhashree, a visionary with a passion for transformative public policy, hails from the steel city of Rourkela, Odisha, embodying a unique blend of intellectual rigor and pragmatic execution. A graduate in Biological Science, she further refined her expertise with a Master&#39;s in Public Policy and Management from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. Her academic foundation is complemented by a distinguished fellowship with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, which catalyzed her commitment to effecting meaningful societal change.

 
With over two and a half years of experience in the realm of public policy and grassroots implementation, Sudhashree has adeptly steered community-based initiatives, particularly in the area of women&rsquo;s empowerment. Her collaboration with UNICEF and its partner organizations has not only strengthened her capability in managing multi-stakeholder projects but has also amplified her passion for advancing sustainable and inclusive development outcomes. A dynamic and strategic thinker, she excels in crafting innovative solutions while fostering impactful partnerships that deliver tangible results.

 
Beyond her professional achievements, Sudhashree harbors a deep affection for plants, finding solace and inspiration in their growth. Her connection to nature nurtures a sense of patience and mindfulness, values she seamlessly integrates into her work and personal life. A passionate traveler, she delights in exploring diverse cultures and landscapes, drawing inspiration from the world around her. An avid reader with an insatiable curiosity, she thrives on building meaningful relationships and exploring new perspectives. With an unwavering commitment to progress, Sudhashree continues to position herself as a changemaker, eager to influence the future of public policy through thought leadership and conscientious action.

Sudhashree Sahoo

Anagha T. V. is a Doctoral Scholar at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, working under the guidance of Dr. Vishnu Pillai in the area of technology and society. She holds an M.A. in Public Policy from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru, and an M.A. in Development Studies from IIT Mandi. She completed her B.A. in Political Science, Economics, and Journalism at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, where she received the M/s Kamat Yatrinivas Golden Jubilee Prize and the Mrs. K. P. Janaki Prize for excellence in Political Science.

Anagha has gained diverse research and field experience through internships with government and development-sector institutions. She previously worked with the District Administration, Kannur, on CSR management, departmental documentation, and data processes for anti-drug and anti-violence campaigns. At Kerala Institute of local Administration, she contributed to the Local Action Plan on Climate Change with a gender-focused lens and supported research on human&ndash;wildlife conflict. Her early internship with Kerala Kaumudi involved feature reporting on society and culture.She has also co-authored a research article on gender equity and women&rsquo;s empowerment through Kudumbashree in Kerala, published in Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal (University of Warwick).

Her interests include gender and development, local governance, digital governance, social inclusion, and evidence-based policy research, with a commitment to strengthening participatory governance and equitable development outcomes.

Anagha TV

Jisna Sabu is a Ph.D. scholar at Kautilya School of Public Policy, currently pursuing her research under the supervision of Dr. Amrendra Pandey. She hails from Kerala and has qualified the UGC-NET examination in Economics.&nbsp;

Prior to her doctoral studies, she worked as a Guest Lecturer in an aided college in Kerala, gaining valuable academic experience. She completed her Master&#39;s degree in Economics from the Dr. John Matthai Centre, University of Calicut, Thrissur.

Her academic interests lie in economics, public policy, and socio-economic development, with a strong inclination toward research and teaching.

Jisna Sabhu

Rhythm Prashar is a PhD Research Scholar at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, under the&nbsp;supervision of Dr. Kanica Rakhra, with research specialisation in Global Affairs. She holds&nbsp;Masters in Politics and International Relations from Central University of Gujarat. She has&nbsp;qualified UGC NET in Political Science. She completed her Bachelors in Science from&nbsp;P.G.G.C.G, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Rhythm Prashar 

Lalitha has a total of nine years of experience in the hospitality sector. She has worked for four years in housekeeping and five years as an attendant, gaining strong experience in meeting guest needs and professionally supporting staff requirements.

She is known for being disciplined, responsible, and highly guest-focused. She consistently ensures that both guests and staff feel comfortable and well supported. Maintaining cleanliness, managing tasks efficiently, and handling situations with patience are among her key strengths.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, she enjoys stitching and designing sarees, an interest that nurtures her creativity and sharpens her attention to detail.

 
She is the one who greets everyone with her beautiful smile and is always available when needed.

P. Lalitha

Venkata is a long-time resident of Rudraram and has over 11 years of experience at different schools in GITAM, in the hospitality and support services sector. He began his career at GITAM as an attendant and has since become an essential part of the institution&rsquo;s day-to-day functioning.

Beyond his role, Venkata is known for his warmth, humility, and genuine willingness to help anyone who needs assistance. Students, faculty, and staff alike appreciate his steady presence and friendly nature. He is often our last resort for coordination and the one who makes sure everything is ready exactly when required, keeping the school running smoothly with quiet dedication.

&nbsp;

N. Venkata Raman

Mallesham, born in Hyderabad, has 29 years of experience and has been working as a driver at GITAM since 2010. He has been part of the Kautilya School of Public Policy since it began in 2021, supporting the team with safe and reliable transportation.

He has good hands-on knowledge of mechanical and automobile systems, which helps him take care of vehicles with confidence. Known for his calm nature and dependable service, he is someone everyone trusts and relies on.

Suryapeta Mallesham

Aluri Chakradhar Sarma brings 25 years of experience in the media industry, covering outdoor news reporting, studio operations, and editing. He has worked with leading television networks such as ETV, I News, AT News, Raj News, and CVR News, where he gained strong expertise in studio discussions, production workflows, and post-production.

He has developed a specialization in studio management, managing lighting, camera positioning, and set adjustments with precision to suit different formats and participants. His ability to work across multiple camera systems and edit footage effectively enables him to deliver consistently high-quality outputs.

 
Since joining the university, he has greatly enhanced in-house media capabilities. Events such as Change Makers and other campus programs, which were earlier outsourced to vendors, are now handled entirely by the internal team under his leadership.

Aluri Chakradhar Sarma

Jitendra Biswal was born in Balu Gaon near Chilika Lake in Odisha. He completed his Diploma and B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering in Hyderabad from JNTU. With over 15 years of professional experience, he has worked with organisations such as ETV, News18, and GITAM (Hyderabad).

He is deeply interested in video editing, podcast production, short-form content creation, and event management. A passionate traveller, he enjoys visiting historical places and learning about the past. He also loves swimming and playing badminton.

An avid learner, he strongly believes in applying what he learns and values insights gained from peers, juniors, and anyone who can offer a new perspective.

&nbsp;

Jitendra Biswal

Vemali V. Seshagiri Rao brings 24 years of experience in the media industry, having worked across the full spectrum of television production&mdash;from field reporting to complete studio operations. His career includes key roles at leading networks such as ETV, TV9, TV5, and CVR News, where he handled live news coverage, in-depth studio discussions, and end-to-end editing.

He specializes in studio management, a role that requires precise control over lighting, camera placement, and set configuration to suit various formats and subjects. His work reflects strong technical judgment, quick decision-making, and a deep understanding of broadcast standards.

Over the course of his career, he has been a two-time recipient of the State Government&rsquo;s Best Video Journalist Award, represented TV9 in Atlanta, USA for more than a year (2012&ndash;2014), spent five years in NCR Delhi with ETV, and completed a one-year assignment in Patna, gaining valuable exposure to diverse news markets and international media environments. This extensive background has equipped him with a practical, adaptable skill set and a consistent record of delivering reliable results in both field and studio environments.

Vemali. V. Seshagiri Rao

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