Some aspects of the work my colleagues and I do as a part of Blossoms
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Support us in our journey of transforming the lives of children and individuals from socially & economically excluded communities through education & vocational training.
Mr. Kavinder Singh, honoured with the prestigious title of ‘Meerut Ratan,’ exemplifies integrity and proficiency in the legal profession. With an illustrious career spanning nearly 55 years, he is a leading lawyer and one of the most respected citizens of the region. Renowned as an Income Tax Advocate, Mr. Singh’s expertise is widely acknowledged. He completed his schooling in Dehradun, laying a strong foundation for his distinguished legal career.
Avinash Singh Alag , is an accomplished and seasoned Educator. As Founder Headmaster of Blossoms School, Meerut, since its inception on 1st February 1996, he has set a high benchmark in the field of holistic human development through engaging and experiential all round education, which has produced alumni faring exceedingly well, all over the world. The NGO Gyanoday, founded by him on 26th September 2001 has empowered over a million marginalized children and their families in UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi to break their shackles of poverty and deprivation, by providing them every possible opportunity and support, to regain their dignity and live prosperously. A Personal Breakthrough Expert, uplifting the interiority of people, he, currently as a Youth Transformation Coach, is bringing about remarkable sea changes in the lives of countless Youth, all over the world, through his mentorship and training. He is a proven game changer for countless many. He feels that ‘I Can’ is far more powerful than IQ and asserts that the key to success is ‘Action.’ The motto of his work is: Know Yourself. Recreate Yourself. Elevate Yourself. Make A Difference. He is an alumnus of The Doon School and has worked as a Counsellor at the University of New Hampshire, USA, has been a Lecturer at Indian Military Academy Dehradun and at Fort William, Kolkata. He has practiced as a Lawyer at the Bar Council Of Delhi and has received many prestigious awards, among which, to name a few are:The International Duke Of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, personally from His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The ‘Master of Wisdom’ Award for rendering distinguished services in the field of Education and upliftment of the less privileged, from His Holiness , Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of Art of Living, The National Award for contribution towards Education, from Mr. Ashok Ganguly, Chairman, CBSE , The Social Entrepreneur Of The Month Award from DASRA, Mumbai and several Rotary and Lions International Vocational Awards for distinction in the field of Education and Youth Empowerment. He is a prolific and versatile Speaker and Author and has spoken at several distinguished platforms, including TEDx, as also, various conventions and conferences. He has close to 400 YouTube Videos on varied subjects in his channel. He also regularly conducts live sessions on Facebook and Instagram, to inspire and lead the Youth of the world to their highest best versions.
Yogesh Garg did his schooling from Govt. Inter College, Meerut and B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from I.I.T. Kanpur in 1974. Instead of going abroad like many of his classmates, he decided to become an entrepreneur. After working in India for a few years, in 1978, he got a chance to study at Philips International Institute at Eindhoven in Netherlands. Since then he has been running an electronics business at Meerut.His company has been involved in various products like Microprocessor trainers, Railway Track Recording Equipment, Locomotive speedometers, PCO Monitors. Coin Phones and Home UPS under the brand name PEPTELLER. Presently he along with his son is running Systellar Innovations, a firm engaged in promoting solar power plants, solar street lights and solar charge controllers.Yogesh Garg has mainly been involved in R&D and Quality improvement efforts in his company. In 1998, he attended a 15 day course on Productivity Improvement in Japan. He is a qualified Six Sigma black belt holder from AMT Six Sigma Institute, U.S.A. He has conducted several workshops on Quality for industries in Meerut under the aegis of Meerut Management Association.He has also been President of Meerut Management Association in the past. Presently, he is involved in various social organizations like Gyanodaya Vatika, Apna Ghar Ashram, Disha School for children with special needs and Kiddies Kingdom School, Lucknow.
Mr. Yogendra Agarwal is a B.Com (Hons) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi and later did his masters in SMEP from IIM Ahmedabad. He continues to remain an active alumni for Mayo, SRCC and IIM A.He has also served as the president of Meerut Management Association and had a business of publication of text books by the name of Bharat Bharati Prakashan. He was also associated with Tanishq as the North India Regional Warehouse operator of jewelry & titan watches. Presently, he is specialising in General & Life Insurance and has client presence PAN India. He is married to Mrs. Anusha Agarwal, home maker & has a daughter – Surabhi, an Actuary & son – Vaibhav, a lawyer turned insurance professional.
Valentina Trivedi is a writer, performer, educator and life coach who straddles various mediums giving all her work a unique stamp of inherent creativity. She is a published author, a TEDx speaker and a podcaster with five popular podcasts on numerous platforms.She has written and directed short films, among them is ‘Leap of Faith’, a biopic on BKS Iyengar [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013948/ ], the world renowned Yoga guru. Embracing multiple performance forms, she has performed at premiere literature festivals in India and abroad. Among the performance forms she is adept at, is Dastangoi, the revived art of ancient Urdu storytelling. Passionate about children and learning, she specializes in approaching the learning process from a child’s perspective.She has worked in both the formal and informal sectors, proactively initiating and encouraging community endeavours. She was the first woman member of the Executive Committee of the Doon School Old Boys’ Society and is also the first alumna to be a member of the Board of Governors of The Doon School. She is the first lady member of the Advisory Board of Gyanoday.
Vinit Rishi currently holds the positions of Director of Administration, Foundation Secretary and Director of the India Programme at Oak Foundation. Vinit leads the teams responsible for Finance, Grants Administration, Information Technology, Human Resources, and Organisational Development & Capacity Building and oversees real estate and facilities. He also manages the India Programme, focussing on supporting acutely marginalised populations living in the tea gardens of North Bengal and in the Sundarbans.Prior to joining the foundation, he was the CFO at Logispring, – a venture capital firm; managed the Tax & Treasury function EMEA and Asia/Pacific – Iomega Corporation, a NYSE listed company; and was an Associate Partner with Arthur Andersen. Vinit serves on the Governing Council of the European Foundation Centre, as a member of the board of ‘Partners for a New Economy’ and the ‘Tanya’s Dream initiative’, and is a founding member of the Operations Professionals Network.
Business Leader with a proven track record in developing markets, building brands, driving business and stimulating innovation across different sectors specially in Retail, F and B and Service Industry. Known for turning around large businesses and scaling up startups with success. Have worked in different geographies and managed multi-cultural teams with globally respected employers. Now investing in retail start ups in Middle East , India and Africa.A creative ‘outside-in’ thinker, customer driven and commercially astute, challenging the status quo to achieve commercial results and focused on delivering results. Mr. Attri has also served as a board member in multiple organisations such as Akshar Capital, Landmark Group, Mashreq Bank and more. He has completed his schooling from The Doon School and Post Graduation course in Business Management from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi. A passionate People’s person, he inspires and motivates leaders and teams to achieve beyond expectation.
Has initial schooling at St. Mary’s Academy, Meerut and passed Senior Cambridge examination from Col. Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun. Graduated from Meerut College, Meerut and did Masters’ in Business Administration from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. This was followed by a stint at Ballarpur Industries, a Thapar Group Company. Did a diploma International Marketing, Thames University, Woolwich, England. Presently working as a Director at Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt. Ltd., Meerut, which is a Government of India recognized Export House. The company specializes in the manufacturer of Cricket Equipment, under the Brand SG. The company is a leading exporter of sports goods from India, and the SG Brand is a well known Cricket Brand. A former President of Meerut Management Association, Meerut and is currently President of Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Sports Complex, Meerut. A keen sportsman in his younger days, now follow sporting events. Fond of reading and travelling.
A teaching and administrative career spanning 37 years has given him vast international experience in varied types of schools (Boarding; Day; Indian; International; established; new; co-educational and single denomination) and four different curricula: IB. ISC, CBSE and British. His experience with established as well as new schools, boarding schools as well as day schools, has helped him to discern closely the constantly evolving needs of schools and varied demands of different curricula. He has been an active Teacher Trainer and over the years encouraged them to focus extensively on the Emotional & Passion Quotient as well as helping Students in ‘Learning how to Learn’.He conducts official school authorisation visits on behalf of the International Baccalaureate Organisation and has helped many new schools to implement the IB Diploma programme. He has been an International Examiner with the IBO for over 25 years.His Thesis in Education was based on the Middle School Curriculum in particular, and good practices in Education in general. He was awarded his Doctorate in 2007. In Pathways World School as an institution, he sees a tremendous potential and ambience for nurturing the individual needs of each student. “The School’s ethos of carefully blending the values and wisdom of the past with the skills and knowledge required for the future is a motivating challenge”, which he cherishes. Community Service and outdoor adventure is a strong aspect in his concept of holistic education.Under his leadership, Pathways has become a CIS Accredited School, a Global Member of Round Square as well as becoming a K-12 IB Continuum School. He is also a sportsman of high calibre having represented Rajasthan in Ranji Trophy Cricket at the national level, and played in the Tennis Leagues in Italy and Dubai and the Squash Leagues in Dubai, besides being a champion sportsperson in South India during his tenure there as Head of a School. A keen outdoor person and mountaineer, he has also directed plays and coordinated cultural events in schools.
Samir is the Founder & CEO of Tasanaya Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. which specializes in consultancy work for the hospitality and retail industries and technology companies. Areas of work include advising start-up concepts, food technology companies, foreign brands on entry strategy, existing chains on operational optimization, delivery and cloud kitchen brands, digital marketing and social media, growth strategies for F&B brands, executive search and organization development, hotel/restaurant companies on fund raising/sale and PE/VC funds on investments/acquisitions. He is a network consultant with leading international networks including GLG, Coleman and AlphaSights. Samir Kuckreja has over 32 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked in a variety of leading domestic and international brands and partnered with a PE fund. He was CEO & MD of Nirula’s from June 2006 till April 2012. Samir was a co-investor with Navis Capital Partners in the business. He earlier worked with Yum Restaurants and Mars Hotel & Restaurants.Samir is the Chairman of GLEAM India which is focusing on mentoring young professionals from the foodservice industry. He is also a founding member of the Governing Body of the National Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council and Heads the HR and Training Committee.Samir is a Member of the Board of Governors of The Doon School, Dehradun and heads the Technology Committee.Samir was a Trustee from 2014 to 2019 and the President of National Restaurant Association of India from 2009 to 2014. The body represents leading domestic and international chains and does industry research, training programs and advocacy with the government. Samir is a graduate from The Doon School with a BA in Economics Honours from St. Stephens College, Delhi and a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, USA.
Raghuvendra is a B.Com (Hons) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and holds his MBA in Finance from George Washington University, USA. He currently spearheads his family enterprise ‘Galloping Acres Stud Farm’ based out of Pisawa, Aligarh and has maintained a steady record of breeding more than 100 classic winners till date.
Col Naresh Goyal had his basic education at Agra, Lucknow, Calcutta and Meerut. He finished his Graduation from Delhi University and while he was pursuing bachelor’s degree in Law, got selected for the Army and was commissioned in Infantry in the year 1970. During his illustrious career in the Army for over 30 years, he served in India and abroad and participated in active Counter Insurgency Operations in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and had four tenures in J&K under war like situations. He was part of the unit which participated in the liberation of Bangladesh and part of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), where he stayed in Sri Lanka for over two years. He played an active supporting role in Kargil Operations in J&K in 1999. Col. Naresh Goyal retired from service on 30 November 2000. After retirement he decided to join the field of education which he continues to follow till date. Post retirement, he has served as Administrative Officer of the Army Public School Meerut, faculty and Head of the Department of Management Studies at Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Director of Dewan VS Institute of Management and Director of Dewan Institute of Management Studies. Presently he is the Executive Director of Dewan VS Group of Institutions since August 2014. He specializes in teaching Human Resource Management, Leadership Motivation & Team Building and Organizational Behaviour. He has an MA in Sociology, MA in Business Economics, PG Diploma in Business Management, PG Diploma in Educational Management and PhD in Human Resource Management.He is former President of Meerut Management Association, an affiliate of the All India Management Association, New Delhi of which he continues to be a member since 1997.
An Ex Indian Forest Service officer of 1986 batch, Mr. Pant has had a long and distinguished career spanning over four decades. Masters in Physics from IIT Roorkee, Mr. Pant served in the state of Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department besides serving in the Ministry of Health and family welfare, Govt of India, as Joint Secretary, as Chief Vigilance Officer in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, a Maha Ratna Public Sector Undertaking of Govt of India and as Director Youth Services and sports and Secretary State sports Council in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to joining Indian Forest Service, he was on the faculty of The Doon School, Dehradun where besides teaching Physics and Electronics upto Secondary classes, he was actively involved in various sports and other extracurricular activities.In the Environment and Forestry Sector in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, he worked in different capacities at various levels in the field of Environment and Forests, Climate Change and mitigation of global warming, Forest administration, Community participation in afforestation programmes, Zoo and Zoological Park management, Eco tourism promotion, Habitat management of key wildlife species, Promotion of medicinal plants on wasteland, etc. As Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, he dealt with issues pertaining to Health Research, Community Health, Externally aided Projects, Emergency Medical Relief, Creation of health research infrastructure besides administrative matters of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Bhopal Memorial Hospital and research Centre (BMHRC) Bhopal. As Chief Vigilance Officer in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), he initiated streamlining of procurement and infrastructure development procedures, Updating of internal procurement and engineering guidelines of the organization besides various activities of Preventive, participative and Pro active Vigilance . After his retirement on superannuation in August 2018 as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu and Kashmir, he joined National foundation for Communal harmony (NFCH), an Autonomous Organisation under Ministry of Home affairs, Govt of India as Secretary. The Foundation is engaged in providing assistance in physical and psychological rehabilitation of children affected by communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence besides promoting cultural, academic and educational activities across the country in collaboration with various partners at different levels. The Foundation till date has provided assistance to about 14000 children across the country for their education and rehabilitation.He has travelled extensively within India and abroad as member of different delegations of Govt of India, Ministry of Health and family Welfare and Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Jugjiv has experience of working for 36 years in large MNC s like Dupont and ICI, large Indian companies like BILT and also with smaller organisations like Kurlon and Tahiliani Design besides also operating as a freelance consultant in a variety of industry segments. He has been involved with Sales, Marketing and in running businesses-both in product companies and in service organisations. He is currently associated with running a KPO, an ed tech start up and in running an angel investment network. He has been associated with Gyanoday for almost 15 years. He is involved with running the Khalsa College for Girls in Yamunanagar. He is a BA Economics from St. Stephens College, MMS from Bajaj, Mumbai and an AMP from Harvard. He has recently done the course on the social sector from ILSS.
Maj. Gen. Khurana, AVSM is a highly decorated and distinguished Army officer having served the Nation in various capacities for over six decades. The longest serving Director General of All India Management Association, a former member of All India Council of Technical Education and All India Board of Management Studies, he has made salutary contribution to learning and practice of Management in India He was one of the key leaders of Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO) in Asia Pacific Region as its Secretary General and continues to be it’s Honorary Advisor. He has served on boards of governors of many institutions of higher education, including IIM Lucknow; GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi; NOIDA International University, RISHIHOOD University, Sonepat and JKL University, Jaipur. He currently serves on the boards of Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Advisory Council of Synergy Environics.A former Adjunct Professor of Swinburne University of Australia, he was honoured with the Life Time Achievement Award by the World HRD Congress and Honorary Fellowship of the All India Management Association.
Arun Kapur is an educator with more than four decades of experience in the private as well as public education spheres. He has been actively engaged in building learning environments catering to a diverse group of learners – rural and urban, students with special needs, and students who have fallen outside of the formal schooling system. Mr. Kapur’s very first experience as a teacher was at the Doon School, Dehradun. Thereafter he taught in the United Kingdom and on his return to India he was the Principal of the British School, Delhi. Since Vasant Valley School was conceived, in the late 1980’s, he has been at its helm, as the first Head of School and as the Director of the school. Mr. Kapur is currently the Director of The Royal Academy. In 1990, Mr Kapur became the founding Headmaster of Vasant Valley School. He nurtured the school to become India’s leading co-educational day school. Under his leadership, Vasant Valley School laid emphasis on the wholistic development of the students centred around actualization of one’s potential instead of a narrow focus on academic standards. Mr. Kapur is the Chairman of Ritinjali, a non-governmental organization he set up in 1995. Ritinjali works for community development through education and employment opportunities among marginalized societies across India. Through education, both formal and vocational, the organization has empowered youth on the fringes of our education system and given them a second chance. Over the years, Mr. Kapur has been working through Ritinjali on a variety of initiatives and with varied community groups in many educational and development related endeavors. While based in Delhi, Ritinjali’s efforts have reached areas as far-flung as Rajasthan, Tripura, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Orissa, Karaikal, Kargil, Leh, Bihar and Uttaranchal. Ritinjali’s work with the government schools of Delhi and Rajasthan complements its mission of providing quality education through the rejuvenation of the government schooling system. Ritinjali is providing quality education to marginalized children in various slum clusters in Delhi. Ritinjali’s Second Chance School in Mahipalpur, New Delhi, a school for young adults who were deprived of a chance at education, provides vocational training, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurship development programmes as well as schooling through the National Indian Open School system. Ritinjali’s work in mainstreaming young people, who are on the periphery of society and give them a second chance at living lives of honor and dignity, has been very successful. Mr. Kapur initiated Ritinjali’s work in Tihar Jail, New Delhi, which is Asia’s largest jail. Ritinjali is involved in providing free legal aid and conducting counseling, rehabilitation and income generating activities for juveniles and women inmates and their children in jails 5 and 6 respectively. The jail authorities have acknowledged these efforts and Ritinjali was awarded the ‘Best NGO of the Year Award’ in 2003. Ritinjali’s Night School is an evening programme that imparts basic education and life skills training to boys who work as coolies at the INA Market, New Delhi. In 2001, Mr. Kapur started Pallavan, a chain of Pre-Schools spread over the National Capital Region. There are currently three branches and the Pallavan Pre – Schools have consistently been among the top play schools in the capital city. In 2006, Mr. Kapur founded Pallavanjali, an organization dedicated to promoting inclusive education responding to the diverse needs of all learners. The ultimate objective of Pallavanjali is to design, develop, sustain, and replicate a paradigm of inclusive education for all learners. To achieve this goal, Pallavanjali runs a School, an Open School (accredited by NIOS), an Intervention Centre (to identify and assess the child’s special needs at the earliest stages of development), and also conducts programmes for Career Training. Pallavan in Jhalawar, Rajasthan is another institution set up by Mr. Kapur, which is proof of how high-quality education based on wholistic development can be provided in a rural setting at low cost. Set up in July 2008, the school caters to students largely from Jhalawar and the adjoining districts. It has adopted cutting edge educational practices and technology, rooted in Indian culture and traditions. Its aim is to promote global citizenship in the context of the changing world scenario. Additionally, Mr. Kapur has contributed to multiple forums on education planning and policy formulation and been actively involved in various Education Committees set up at the State, as well as at National level. He has been a Member of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), as well as the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT). He has also worked as Member of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) set up under the Right to Education Act, 2009 as well as the Executive Committee of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). He was also a Member of the Chief Minister’s Advisory Council, Rajasthan working in the areas of Education and Skill Development. He is currently a Member of Board of Governors, the Doon School, and the Scindia School. In 2013, Mr. Kapur established the Centre for the Escalation of Peace. As the Chairman and Founding Member of the CEP, he has worked to create platforms and establish programmes, which encourage the free exchange of ideas across borders, with a distinct focus on empowering young minds. The work of the CEP revolves primarily around the three ‘pillars of calmness: Youth and Education, Trade & Sustainable Development and Society and Culture. Some of the initiatives of the organization include the ten rounds of the India-Bhutan Track II Dialogue, the India-Bhutan Youth Summit, and the IndiaBhutan Cultural Exchange and Art Camp which help enrich the people-to-people relationship between the two countries and create a pool of potential ambassadors, in both countries, who will carry forward the friendship. The initiatives also include Conferences to explore the life and legacy of Guru Padmasambhava, Asia Pacific Schools Initiatives which brings together students and teachers of the Asia-Pacific region to create a network of future leaders, Philosopher’s Retreat and numerous public sessions and panel discussions as a constant effort to bring together thinkers and leaders to share ideas and contribute towards humanity in the ever-changing world. Mr. Kapur currently spends his time between India and the Kingdom of Bhutan. He is the Director of The Royal Academy, an initiative of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The Royal Academy draws its vision from His Majesty the King of Bhutan who has always recognised the importance of education in enriching the lives of his people and society; nurturing successive generations of leaders; narrowing emerging economic and social disparities; and building a strong, secure, and prosperous nation, and has always prioritised the development of the education system in Bhutan. The Royal Academy aspires to stand out as a center of excellence, one that leads in thought and creates new standards in education worldwide. This vision of The Royal Academy is actualised through a continuously evolving curriculum and innovative pedagogy encapsulated in inter-connected centres of the School, the Education Research centre, and the Teacher Development centre. The curriculum at the Royal Academy is based on Mr. Kapur’s concept of the ‘Five Areas of Development’, first expressed in his book ‘Leading Out’ (2011). The Five Areas of Development framework endeavors to promote the wholistic development of all learners and help them actualise their potential and be leaders in their own rights. This unique learning framework has received worldwide acclaim and was chosen as one of the global innovations shaping the future of education continuously for the last three years by HundrED, a not-for-profit organization based in Finland. He is also the Executive Director of Pallavan Learning Systems, an educational research organization. It specializes in creating education centres of excellence with innovative learning spaces and systems so that learning takes place seamlessly. It conducts research, seminars and conferences for the creation and dissemination of new knowledge so that what it does remains current and relevant to the rapidly changing times. Mr Kapur conceived and developed Paradise Valley Private School. Powered by Pallavan Learning Systems (PLS) and under the supervision of the Ministry of Education in Oman, it is a new inclusive school of the highest educational standards, encouraging learners to actualize their potential and become exemplary practitioners of inquiry, rigour, compassion, reflection, and creativity. All students are nurtured to achieve their best, regardless of their background or levels of ability. Mr Arun Kapur is the Advisor to the Board of Directors. Arun Kapur has authored the books Transforming Schools: Empowering Children (Sage Publications, 2007) and Leading Out: The True Purpose of Education (Ritinjali, 2011), which focus on his educational philosophy of wholistic development in Five Areas (Cerebral, Emotional, Physical, Social and Spiritual), and describes self-directed learning as the ideal basis of education for actualizing one’s innate, dynamic potential. His book, Serene Strength (Ritinjali, 2020) explores the role of education in the making of a Person of Substance tempered with Serene Strength. His latest book Unlearning: Augmented Intelligence and the Role of Technology in Education is a collection of 13 articles encompassing his theories on education and the increasing role of technology in shaping education in the 21st century. Arun Kapur has worked with learners from all age groups and all sections of society, and with his deep understanding of learners and conviction that education is the best route to self-actualization, he has made tremendous contributions to the global field of education. His curriculum of The Five Areas of Development has been recognized by the HundrED organisation of Finland as one of the 100 most inspiring global educational innovations for five consecutive years since 2017. In December 2019, Arun Kapur was awarded the Druk Thuksey Award by His Majesty The King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for his rich contributions to education in Bhutan.
Anuj is the Founder & CEO of Lagoon Advisory Partners and its predecessor, Lagoon Capital Partners. Prior to setting up Lagoon Capital, Anuj was the Head of Investment Management at QInvest . He has also served as QInvest’s representative to the board of Ambit (India), FIITJEE (India), Intercat Hospitality (UAE), and Al Nakheel/AG Middle East (Qatar). Previously, he served as Co-Founder and Partner of the Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund, a private equity fund formed by former US President William Jefferson Clinton and The Yucaipa Companies, where he played an integral role in all aspects of the fund’s formation, fundraising, staffing, investing and portfolio management activities. Mr. Khanna is a Career Asset Management & Investment Banking professional with 30+ years of Developed & Emerging Markets experience with leading global financial services institutions. He also has a recognized track record of achievement as a successful business builder and leader across multiple asset classes and markets.
Lt. General Matthew Thomas was presented with the Korean Veterans Medal and is also known as the Star of Honor of Ethiopia. He was with the lead troops of 50 Indep Parachute Brigade in the war to liberate Goa, Daman & Diu in 1961. He took part in the 1962 India-China war. He raised the Young Officers Wing at the Infantry School. In 1970, he was selected as the Founder Commandant of the Army’s Counter Insurgency & Jungle Welfare School at Vairengte (Mizoram). He commanded the 50 Indep Para Brigade in the 1972 Indo-Pak War which liberated East Pak and created Bangladesh. He was appointed GOC 9 Infantry Division and Director General National Cadet Corps (1978). He was also appointed Commandant Indian Military Academy (1980). He was appointed to the GOC 10 Corps (1983). He later became a writer on military and international affairs and in 1986 started a military journal – INDIAN DEFENCE REVIEW. He also launched a military and foreign affairs journal, DEFENCE TODAY.
