Living Dharma 2026VU Amsterdam — Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
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VU Amsterdam · Living Dharma 2026

Speakers & contributors

Meet the speakers, moderators and contributors from our 11 September pre-event and the conference programme. Explore their sessions, biographies and LinkedIn profiles.

Aadit Kapadia

Aadit Kapadia

Aadit Kapadia is an engineer and columnist associated with MyIndMakers, writing on politics, strategic affairs and Indo-American policy.

Photo forthcoming

Ajay Shah

Participation is awaiting confirmation. Profile details will be added when available.

LinkedIn profile forthcoming

Ami Ganatra

Ami Ganatrain

Author · Indian knowledge systems

Ami Ganatra is an author, management professional and student of Sanskrit and Indian knowledge systems. Her books make India’s classical traditions accessible to contemporary readers.

Anil Maheshwari

Anil Maheshwariin

Academy of Management · Management, Spirituality and Religion Division

Anil Maheshwari works at the intersection of management, spirituality, consciousness and education. He serves in the Management, Spirituality and Religion Division of the Academy of Management.

Dr. Anita C. Nanhoe

Dr. Anita C. Nanhoein

Ayurveda practitioner

Anita C. Nanhoe facilitates the Dutch-language workshop Ayurveda for Everyday Well-being.

Aparna Singh

Aparna Singhin

IIT BHU

IIT BHU. Presenting: Dharma, Kingship, and Ritual Sovereignty: Governance as a Spiritual Order.

  • MSR Paper Presentations
    Topic: Dharma, Kingship, and Ritual Sovereignty: Governance as a Spiritual Order
    Presenter · Online programme
Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan

Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnanin

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan is an economist and strategy leader whose work spans international trade, public policy, sustainability and economic modelling.

Dr. Biplav Srivastava

Dr. Biplav Srivastavain

AI Institute, University of South Carolina

Biplav Srivastava is Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina’s AI Institute. His work applies artificial intelligence to complex business and societal challenges, with a strong interest in responsible and trustworthy AI.

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Mayanil

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Mayanilin

Neuroscientist and author

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Mayanil is a neuroscientist and author who explores connections between yogic practices and neuroscience. He formerly directed the Pediatric Neurosurgery Research Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. At Living Dharma he presents Yogic Neurosciences of Hanuman Chalisa Pranayama.

Elham Malik

Elham Malikin

Elham Malik co-moderates MSR Paper Presentations alongside Raysa Geaquinto Rocha.

Gaetan Mourmant

Gaetan Mourmantin

Listed in the online programme for Meditation Workshop.

Dr Gijsbert J. Siertsema

Dr Gijsbert J. Siertsemain

Director of Communication and Marketing, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Dr Gijsbert J. Siertsema is Director of Communication and Marketing at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam). He serves as Moderator / Master of Ceremonies for the main programme of Living Dharma 2026.

Gursharan Kaur

Gursharan Kaurin

    Lalit Bhusal

    Lalit Bhusalin

    Lalit Bhusal is an award-winning filmmaker, EU Climate Pact Ambassador, founder of the My Name Is Climate Foundation and co-founder of the DAMROO Foundation International.

    Muneet Dhiman

    Muneet Dhimanin

    Vidyakshetra Gurukulam

    Muneet Dhiman is the Founder and Kulapati of Vidyakshetra Gurukulam. His work advances holistic, experiential and values-based approaches to education.

    Prof. Munya Saruchera

    Prof. Munya Sarucherain

    Prof. Munya Saruchera contributes to Spirituality in Management.

    Photo forthcoming

    Ngoc-Tran Pham

    Ngoc-Tran Pham is confirmed as moderator of the online Meditation Workshop. Further profile details will be added when available.

    LinkedIn profile forthcoming

    Praveen Chaturvedi

    Praveen Chaturvediin

    Prachyam

    Listed in the online programme for Living Dharma through Media.

    Prejaas Kavish Tewarie

    Prejaas Kavish Tewariein

    Listed in the online programme for Meditation Workshop.

    Puja Jha

    Puja Jhain

    IIT BHU

    IIT BHU. Presenting: Cognitive Polarity through Samkhya's and Yoga Darshana's perspective.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Cognitive Polarity through Samkhya's and Yoga Darshana's perspective
      Presenter · Online programme
    Puneet K. Bindlish

    Puneet K. Bindlishin

    Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

    Puneet K. Bindlish works at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on spirituality, Hinduism and leadership. His contributions connect integrative thinking with ethical action, collaborative innovation and higher education.

    Ramakrishna Hosur

    Ramakrishna Hosurin

    NMR scientist · Former Director, UM-DAE CEBS

    Ramakrishna Hosur is a chemist known for his research in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and its applications to biological molecules. He worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and served as Director of the UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences. He is the author of When Science Meets Spirituality and joins the discussion on epistemic dharma and scientific education.

    Priyanka Dutt

    Priyanka Duttin

    Banasthali Vidyapith, India

    Banasthali Vidyapith, India. Presenting: Knowing, Being and Acting: Svadharma as an Ontological Architecture for Higher Education.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Knowing, Being and Acting: Svadharma as an Ontological Architecture for Higher Education
      Presenter · Online programme
    Sudarsana Venugopalakrishnan

    Sudarsana Venugopalakrishnanin

    PhD Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai

    PhD Research Scholar, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai. Presenting: Echoes of the Thunder: A Comparative Study of Ethical Praxis in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Echoes of the Thunder: A Comparative Study of Ethical Praxis in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land
      Presenter · Online programme
    Commodore Sunil Kumar

    Commodore Sunil Kumarin

    Retired

    Retired. Presenting: Dharma as the Core of Responsible Leadership.

    Nisha Pandey

    Nisha Pandeyin

    Advisor, Department of Development Studies, Vivekananda Global University

    Advisor, Department of Development Studies, Vivekananda Global University. Presenting: From Dharma to Public Policy: A Research Framework for Reading the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa in Contemporary Governance.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: From Dharma to Public Policy: A Research Framework for Reading the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa in Contemporary Governance
      Presenter · Online programme
    Prof Ramya Venkateswaran

    Prof Ramya Venkateswaranin

    IIM Calcutta

    IIM Calcutta. Presenting: Indigenous management: Possibilities in research and andragogy.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Indigenous management: Possibilities in research and andragogy
      Presenter · Online programme
    Dr. Sadhna Sargam

    Dr. Sadhna Sargamin

    Institute of Management, Nirma University

    Institute of Management, Nirma University. First author and presenter: Wisdom in Leadership: A Mindful Approach towards Responsibility. Co-author: Prof. Anita Mendiratta.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Wisdom in Leadership: A Mindful Approach towards Responsibility
      Presenter · Online programme
    Prof. Anita Mendiratta

    Prof. Anita Mendirattain

    Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, India

    Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, India. Co-author with Dr. Sadhna Sargam: Wisdom in Leadership: A Mindful Approach towards Responsibility.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Wisdom in Leadership: A Mindful Approach towards Responsibility
      Co-author · Online programme
    Dr Shreya Katyayani

    Dr Shreya Katyayaniin

    IIT BHU

    IIT BHU. Presenting: Faith in Exile: Girmitiya Worlds across Kala Pani.

    Shruti Kanhai

    Shruti Kanhaiin

    Udaya

    Shruti Kanhai moderates Udaya’s interactive workshop on Dharma, Karma, Seva and Abhyasa, helping participants develop a personal compass for purposeful leadership.

    Photo forthcoming

    Dr Siddhartha Saxenain

    SP Jain London School of Management

    SP Jain London School of Management. Presenting: Managed by algorithm, searching for meaning: workplace spirituality under algorithmic management.

    • MSR Paper Presentations
      Topic: Managed by algorithm, searching for meaning: workplace spirituality under algorithmic management
      Presenter · Online programme
    Photo forthcoming

    Vikram Pattarkinein

    Vikram Pattarkine joins the conversation on Spirituality and Sustainability.