Advisory Board
Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai also fondly known as "Chanakya Pillai" has been awarded the Sardar Patel National award 2009 for his research on Chanakya and his principles. And this first book "Corporate Chanakya" has created a record for the highest number of pre-release sales for any first book of an author. A teacher to his students, an author to his readers, a management trainer, consultant and guide to his clients. His clients- who have been instrumental in his growth, include names like Economic Development Board of Singapore, World Trade Center, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Price Water House Coopers, JP Morgan, Air India, Tata Group of Companies, Aditya Birla Group and many more.
Mr. Ajoykaant Ruia
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
With a Degree in Bachelor of Science and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Mr. Ajoykaant Ruia is also Chairman of Allstate Group and has over 25 years of experience in the group’s activities. He is a:
• Member of the Council of Management, as well as in the Managing Committee of the World Trade Centre – Mumbai
• Vice President in Indo-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
• Member of the Managing Committee of the Property Owners Association,
• Vice President, Maharashtra Tenpin Bowling Association (MTBA)
• Hon. Co-Treasurer of Federation of Accommodation Industry.
• Managing Committee Member of Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI).
Mr. Gaurav Mehra
Advisory Board Member – Creative head
CEO of Interpublicity Group, one of India’s leading ad agencies, Gaurav has spearheaded advertising for the PSU sector. Growing the agency 100 times its size, Gaurav has worked on iconic brands like State Bank of India, LIC, Air India, Bank of Baroda and hundreds more. Devising brand strategies and helping these brands gain equity and brand valuation. Under his passionate leadership, the agency has risen to great heights and won numerous recognitions and awards. His modest and unassuming personality makes him a very popular person across the advertising and media industry.
Col. Lalit Rai (Vir Chakra)
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Col. Lalit Rai, a former officer of The Indian Army who was awarded a "Vir Chakra" for "Bravery of The Highest Order" during Operation Vijay (Kargil War) , by the President of India – K R Narayanan on August 15th, 1999. Col. Rai is presently the President, Human Resources Development and Administration, of a leading Realty & Hospitality Company.
Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala is an MBA from the prestigious Yale University in USA. He has won numerous Awards and is associated with many social causes. He has handled many important positions with Wockhardt, India Center Foundation, Grameen Creative Lab. He is also the Founder of "The World Peacekeepers Movement", an online movement comprising of more than a million peacekeepers, forming the world’s 5th largest army. He is Chairman and Founder of "CSR Advisors", a consultancy service for CSR. Bharat Gaurav, Rajiv Gandhi Excellence, Foundation of the Year, Asia Peace Award and National Award for CSR & Sustainability are just a few of the numerous awards Dr. Huzaifa has been awarded.
Mr. Anup Jalota
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Indian singer and musician Anup Jalota is an institution in himself. He is best known for his performances in the Hindu devotional music bhajan and the Urdu form of poetry – Ghazal. He is popularly known as the "Bhajan Samraat" of the World.
Ms. Aditi Maheshwari Goyal
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Aditi Maheshwari Goyal heads the Department of Copyrights and Translation at Vani Prakashan and is the Managing Trustee at Vani Foundation. She teaches Publishing and Editing at the University of Delhi. She is also on the advisory panel of Jaipur BookMark and is also curator of Hindi Mahotsav.
Ms. Fatema Agarkar
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
State and University topper, Fatema has a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from England, apart from her B.ED AND ECCE and began her journey in the corporate world. She was adjudged Education World’s top 50 young educators in 2014 and is also a recipient of several awards for outstanding contribution to education in 2013, 2015. Commerzbank, Times of India and Egon Zender International as diverse organizations were perfect foundation before she co-founded three premier K-12 national and international schools in Mumbai.
Ms. Meghna Pant
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Meghna Pant is a multiple award-winning author, speaker and journalist. Her short story collection Happy Birthday! was published in July 2013 by Random House India to critical acclaim. The book was long listed for the Frank O’Connor Prize (2014), the world’s biggest short story award. Her debut novel One & A Half Wife was amongst the best seller list across many bookstores, the novel went into multiple reprints. It was short listed for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, the Cinnamon Press Novel Writing Award, and Word Hustler’s Literary Storm Novel Contest. One & A Half Wife won the national literary Muse India ‘Young Writer Award’.
Ms. Zaarra Khader
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Zaarra Khader’s book " The Forbidden One" was awarded as the best short stories book at the Lit-O-Fest 2015. The young and fearless writer is also a media maven and a creative thinker. She has been associated with media and advertising since last 12 years , she has written countless scripts for brand campaigns and TVCs and is the brain behind several award winning media campaigns.
Mr.Mahendra Jadeja
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr. GD Singh
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr. GD Singh
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Col. Lalit Rai (Vir Chakra)
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Col. Lalit Rai, a former officer of The Indian Army who was awarded a “Vir Chakra” for “Bravery of The Highest Order” during Operation Vijay (Kargil War) , by the President of India – K R Narayanan on August 15th, 1999. Col. Rai is presently the President, Human Resources Development and Administration, of a leading Realty & Hospitality Company.
Mr. Pankaj Dubey
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Pankaj is an Indian Author, screenwriter, Director and Producer from Mumbai.
He was awarded with the Youth Icon Award for Social Entrepreneurship in Gulbarga, Karnataka in 2010 for initiating India’s first street film festival for children in slums and villages, the SadakChhaap Film Festival.
Dubey’s debut novel is called What A Loser! in English and Loser kahinka! in Hindi. He is directing a feature film, What A Loser!, adapted from his novel.
Pankaj Dubey has been selected amongst three Asian Authors for the prestigious Writer’s Residency in Seoul Art Space_Yeonhui, Seoul, South Korea.
Dr.Amod Sharma
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr.Amod Sharma has been one of the youngest and first board member of Air India within the company.He has been functioning as Director and Member on the Board of Air India, Indian Airlines and Air Indian Express.
Shri Amod Sharma has also been the Cheif Editor of In House Magazine called “VIMANIKA” which is circulated in flight abd various offices.The magazine was awarded the best Hindi magazine published by Government Undertaking by the Hon’able President of India and “VIMANIKA” was also given 1st prize by Ministry of Civil Aviation.He has always been making himself available of social cause and public welfare.
Mr. Ajoykaant Ruia
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
• Member of the Council of Management, as well as in the Managing Committee of the World Trade Centre – Mumbai
• Vice President in Indo-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
• Member of the Managing Committee of the Property Owners Association,
• Vice President, Maharashtra Tenpin Bowling Association (MTBA)
• Hon. Co-Treasurer of Federation of Accommodation Industry.
• Managing Committee Member of Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI).
Mr. Aneel Murarka
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Aneelis the Managing Director of Mirachem Industries. He is a philanthropist with an interest in students’ welfare and education. He is very closely associated with NGOs, including ALERT India (which works for Leprosy Control), NASEOH, which works for underprivileged children, and the National Association for the Blind (NAB)
Murarka has written five books. Creating Ripples is the story of his father KaashiMurarka, from his humble beginning to his rise as an industrialist. Remembrance is a biographydedicated to Shri ChiranjilalMurarka, his grandfather. Navashakti is a biography of his mother MeenaMurarka. The fourth one is of his grandmother Badamidevi C. Murarka. Spiritual Awareness is a compilation of writings by Prof. V A Shenai
Mr.Krishna Prakash
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Krishna Prakesh Bahadur (K.P. Bahadur) was an Indian writer from Allahabad, India who authored a large number of books, including many works of history, philosophy and poetry.
Bahadur is the author of over fifty works[2] of religion, philosophy, history, sociology, fiction, humour, and translation, as well as children’s books
Mrs.Meghna Pant
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Meghna Pant is an Indian author, journalist and speaker. She has been felicitated with various honours and shortlists for distinguished contribution to literature, gender issues and journalism, and named one of India’s best writers by various publications.
Pant has been invited as a speaker for top literary festivals and conferences, including the Jaipur Literature Festival , Young Makers Conclave, #RiseWithTwitter, The Feminist Conference, the Kala Ghoda Literature Festival, the Pune International Literary Festival.
Dr.Radhkrishnan Pillai
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai is a Ph.D from the University of Mumbai, Department of Philosophy. He trains leaders and aspirants from various fields including Corporate, politics, academics, military etc. Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai, better known as #CorporateChanakya has nearly 20 years of working and business experience with over 200+ articles for various mediums! An amazing author, speaker and Management Guru, Lit-O-Fest is thrilled and proud to have Dr.Radhakrishnan Pillai on Board!
Mr.Anup Jalota
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Indian singer and musician Anup Jalota is an institution in himself. He is best known for his performances in the Hindu devotional music bhajan and the Urdu form of poetry, ghazal. He is popularly known as the “Bhajan Samraat” and he will be joining the Lit-O-Fest Mumbai team as an Advisory Board Member. He was very involved in previous editions of the festival and we are eager to see what he has in mind for this years edition of the festival. Our Festival Director Smita Glk Parikhconsiders him to be her good luck charm.
Mr.Hariharan
Advisory Board Member / Speaker
Hariharan is an Indian playback and ghazal singer, whose songs have been featured mainly in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Bhojpuri films. He is an established ghazal singer and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music.