Indian Fellows 2025-2026 Archives

Vijay Kumar

Mr. Vijay Kumar is a Librarian at DBRA CM SHRI School, BT Block, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. With 25 years of experience serving elementary, secondary, and senior secondary students, he has actively integrated library activities with curricular learning. He has organized numerous seminars and workshops promoting storytelling as an effective pedagogical tool. He is the Founder Chairperson of Katha Manch Delhi, a platform dedicated to storytelling, language learning, and cultural engagement. He holds an MPhil in library and information science from Annamalai University and a master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Delhi.

Throughout his career, Vijay has served in various academic and educational roles at distinguished institutions. He has presented research papers at national and international conferences and published research reports. In 2025, he received the Best Paper Award at the International Symposium on Digital Literacy organized by IILM University, Gurugram, and was honoured with the Shikshak Samman by Dinkar Society, Delhi.

As an FDAI scholar, Vijay is collaborating with educators from diverse backgrounds, documenting folktales from different regions of the world, and sharing Indian folktales globally, thereby promoting multicultural understanding and multilingual learning.

Nisar Shaikh

Mr. Nisar Shaikh is a teacher and teacher educator with over 17 years of experience in state government schools in Maharashtra. He holds an MA, MEd, and an MA TESOL with Distinction from the University of Leeds, UK, specialising in teacher education, educational technology, and young learners.

Nisar has contributed to teacher education at the state level. As a State Academic Resource Person at the State Institute of English, Maharashtra, he helped design teacher training programs, develop learning materials, and supported statewide English language initiatives such as TEJAS and the Spoken English programme. He also served as a British Council ARMS mentor, guiding government school teachers in conducting classroom-based exploratory action research. His innovative contributions have been recognised through awards, including Best ELT Material Writer and Technology Wizard at successive TEJAS symposia. He has presented his work at national and international conferences, including the MA TESOL Conference at the University of Hull, UK (2023) and the Language in Education Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal (2025).

As an FDAI scholar, Nisar is aiming to master research-backed multilingual pedagogies to support diverse classrooms. Upon his return, he will develop a practical teacher training module with scalable lesson plans to be shared via local workshops, professional learning networks and monthly cluster-level meetings of teachers. This initiative aligns with an NEP 2020 objective to empower rural teachers to bridge the gap between home dialects and standard instruction. Outside the classroom, Nisar is a passionate traveller who loves exploring new cultures.

Neemaben Girishkumar Parekh

Ms. Neema Parekh is the head teacher of Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India Lavad Primary School in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. She has been part of the school community since 2004, serving first as a teacher and, since 2015, as head teacher. With 21 years of experience in education, she holds a master’s degree in psychology, has qualified in the Head Teacher Aptitude Test, and is a certified yoga teacher and Ultimate Frisbee coach.

Neema believes education should prepare children for both academic success and life. Following the principles of the Living Educational Theory, she works to ensure that every child experiences learning that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of social responsibility. She has launched initiatives for students focused on health and well-being, life skills, vocational learning, and sports. Neema has helped advance education throughout Gujarat by writing textbooks, developing teachers, and creating innovative learning programs.

As an FDAI scholar, Neema is deepening her understanding of teacher development and student-centred education. She is particularly interested in exploring innovative ways to support teacher learning and design meaningful workshops that encourage reflection, collaboration, and professional growth. On her return to India, she plans to share her learning with teachers, parents, and professional networks, strengthening educational practice and creating richer learning experiences for children.

Kiran

Ms. Kiran is a Vice-Principal in the government school of Delhi. Prior to her posting as a Vice-Principal she worked as a Senior Secondary teacher of sociology. She started her career as a Primary teacher in Kendriya Vidyalaya. She holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree and a B.Ed. from the University of Delhi. She also holds a master’s degree in sociology and is currently pursuing a PG diploma in school leadership and management from Indira Gandhi National Open University. She has participated in various trainings and seminars conducted by DoE, CBSE, and SCERT including UTCS trainings and leadership development program at IIM Ahmedabad.

Kiran wants to promote and nurture educational practices that integrate empathy, peaceful conflict resolution, and dialogue into the school culture to mould students into happy, compassionate, and socially responsible citizens.

As an FDAI scholar, Kiran is learning innovative pedagogical approaches that not only promote peace education and social-emotional development but also develop a sense of appreciation. Upon her return, Kiran aims to cultivate and strengthen new learnings and findings within her school system.

Anup Dandapat

Prof. Anup Dandapat is Professor of Electronics and Communication Engineering and Dean (Academic Affairs) at the National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya, an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. He brings extensive experience to academic leadership, research, and institutional development within India’s public higher education system. As Dean (Academic Affairs), he has led collaborative academic reforms aligned with India’s National Education Policy 2020, including curriculum modernization, implementation of outcome-based education, strengthening doctoral research frameworks, and expanding interdisciplinary programs. He has also advanced digital academic governance and quality assurance processes to enhance transparency and global engagement. Prof. Dandapat’s academic contributions have been recognized through several distinctions, including the Best Researcher Award (2016), the Leader of the Year Award (2015) from NIT Meghalaya, and the Young Faculty Research Fellowship from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India.

Nazir Ahmad Ganai

Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) is an academician who has transformed the university into an innovation-driven agricultural institution. Under his leadership, SKUAST-K has secured 109 patents and supported the incubation of 95 startups within a span of four years. He introduced a transformative development framework built on four key verticals. One of them is the SKUAST-K Agri-Education Model aligned with the National Education Policy. Another pillar is the SKUAST-K Research and Innovation Model, designed to support a knowledge-based and technology-driven agricultural economy. This model has earned Rank 1 in innovation, with 109 patents and 95 startups. Another vertical is the SKUAST-K extension and outreach model backed by ICT-driven technologies. The fourth is a social development model backed by a Rs 50-billion project, Holistic Agricultural Developmental Program, conceived and developed in-house. It is aimed at laying the foundation for a knowledge- and technology-driven bioeconomy in Jammu and Kashmir. Prof. Ganai is the recipient of many fellowships including Erasmus Mundus Fellowship of Netherlands, Durham International Fellowship for Research and Enterprise, SABRE Fellowship of Edinburgh Scotland, and Educational Leadership Fellowship of Israel.

Mohammed Haris Siddiqui

Prof. Mohammed Haris Siddiqui, Registrar, Integral University, a recipient of the Outstanding Professional Award (2025), and Academic Leadership Award (2024), has close to 20 years of experience in teaching, research and administration. An MTech gold medalist, he earned a PhD in Biotechnology from Integral University in collaboration with University of Lousiana USA and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, under the Young Scientist Fellowship Scheme of Uttar Pradesh Council of Science & Technology. He also serves as the Founder-Director of Integral Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology. Under his leadership the Institute was accredited by ICAR. In his role as Director of Directorate of Admissions and Academics, Prof. Siddiqui has been instrumental in increasing the admissions from within India and abroad in 14 faculties of study. He was Founder-Head of the Department of Bioengineering.

Hmar Lalthanzara

Prof. Hmar Lalthanzara, Professor of Zoology and Principal of Pachhunga University College (PUC, a constituent college of Mizoram University), earned his master’s degree from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, in 1999 and his doctoral degree from Mizoram University, Aizawl, in 2008. He joined PUC as a lecturer in Zoology in 2005 and has continued to teach as associate professor and professor since then. He has over 16 years of undergraduate teaching experience and four years of postgraduate teaching experience. Under Prof. Lalthanzara’s leadership since 2021, the college achieved national recognition by securing a NAAC A+ grade in 2023, a top 50 position for four consecutive years in National Institutional Ranking Framework India Rankings since 2022, and the highest Platinum Rank in Green Audit in 2021. Student enrolment has increased, including international students from the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Pragneshkumar Natvarlal Tekwani

Prof. Pragneshkumar Natvarlal Tekwani, Director, Directorate of Research and Innovation, Dean, Faculty of Doctoral Studies and Research, and Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India, has professional experience of more than 30 years. He received a PhD degree from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, along with Tag Corporation Medal Award for Best PhD Thesis. Presently he is overseeing the Ph.D research programs in the disciplines like Technology, Management, Law, Pharmacy, Science, and Architecture & Planning. He also served as coordinating officer for developing the Bank of Thrust Areas of Research of all the constituent institutes of Nirma University. He looks after the progress of all externally funded and internally funded research project and processing of all the patent applications at the University. He is a member of Academic Council of Nirma University.

Dipak Sinha

Prof. Dipak Sinha is Pro-Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University. He is a distinguished academic leader and researcher at the University, serving since 1999 after completing higher studies at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. Prof. Sinha has contributed extensively to academic leadership, holding positions such as Head of Department, Dean of Students’ Welfare, and Chief Vigilance Officer at Nagaland University. He guided the preparation and submission of the self-study report (SSR) for NAAC accreditation and coordinated institutional data submissions for several years under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). He also steered the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, introducing academic and structural reforms aligned with national priorities and global standards. In his current role, he facilitated the successful submission of the School of Agricultural Sciences to the NIRF in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors category.