Dr. George Mathew, Chairman
Dr. George Mathew was the Founder Director. He received his PhD in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi He has contributed a number of research articles and papers to national and international academic and research journals and books. Read all about him here.
Mr. Manoj Rai, Executive Director and CEO
Manoj Rai is a development researcher and practitioner, with over three decades of experience in India and twenty other countries. As a UGC Research Fellow, he has conducted many research studies in the field of population sciences. Read all about him on his page here.
Mr. Shri Sudhindra Bhadoria, Member and Treasurer
Sudhindra Bhadoria is a social activist, legal scholar, and advocate for human rights, democracy, and environmental sustainability. He holds a law degree from Delhi University and an MPhil from Jawaharlal Nehru University. His work focuses on strengthening democratic institutions, environmental conservation, and community development. A prolific writer, he has published articles in national and international journals on human rights, environmental issues, and democratic governance. He is also deeply committed to sustainable living, actively promoting organic farming, afforestation, and environmental protection initiatives. Known for his integrity and dedication to social justice, Sudhindra Bhadoria continues to work toward inclusive development and grassroots empowerment.
Shri. C. Narayanaswamy (former M.P.), Member
Dr. C. Narayanaswamy is a former Member of the Lok Sabha, an advocate, agriculturist, and social worker with extensive experience in rural development, Panchayati Raj, and cooperative governance. He currently serves as Chairman of the 5th State Finance Commission, Government of Karnataka, and has held key leadership roles at the district, state, and national levels. As a Member of Parliament, he represented India at the United Nations and the International Parliamentary Union Conference. He has played a crucial role in policy-making for rural development and decentralization, serving as Convener of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Rural Employment & Poverty Alleviation, Chairman of Karnataka Food & Civil Supplies Corporation, and Working President of Karnataka Panchayati Raj Parishad. Dr. Narayanaswamy was instrumental in shaping the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayati Raj Act, 2015 as Chairman of the Core Committee of the Ramesh Kumar Committee. He has been a Member of the Central Advisory Committee in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, a Task Force Member at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and a resource person for IAS and Panchayati Raj training programs at institutions like LBSNAA, NIRDPR, and ATI Mysore. His contributions to the cooperative sector earned him the "Sahakara Ratna" award, while his dedication to rural development and Panchayati Raj was recognized with an Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayati Raj University. He has also received the Ramakrishna Hegde Award for clean and principled public service. A prolific writer, Dr. Narayanaswamy has published articles on Panchayati Raj, decentralization, and rural governance in Economic and Political Weekly, The Hindu, and other leading publications. His leadership and expertise continue to support ISS’s mission of strengthening local governance and inclusive development
Shri Karunakar Patnaik, Member
Karunakar Patnaik is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Odisha with 35 years of experience in governance, public administration, and policy implementation. He has served in key roles across district administrations, government departments, and public sector corporations, gaining deep insights into governance at the grassroots level. Following his retirement, he has been actively engaged with the NGO sector, contributing to research and policy advocacy. His association with the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS), New Delhi, spans over 25 years, where he served as Regional Head of the Bhubaneswar Branch and now continues as well wisher and advisor. A prolific writer, he has authored 12 publications on rural and urban governance and other administrative issues. He is a life member of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and INTACH and currently serves as the Chairman of the IIPA Odisha Regional Branch in Bhubaneswar. His extensive administrative experience and research continue to support ISS’s mission of strengthening local governance and public policy.
Professor Dr Anamik Shah, Member
Dr. Anamik Shah is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in chemistry, drug discovery, and industry-academic collaboration. He served two consecutive terms as Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith and completed his tenure as a professor at the Department of Chemistry, Saurashtra University, on October 31, 2016. Over his career, he has mentored 70 doctoral students and was awarded the BSR Professorship by UGC. Dr. Shah has led over 16 national and international research projects and collaborated with leading pharmaceutical companies, including Alembic Ltd, Dabur Research Foundation, Claris Life Sciences, AstraZeneca, Nicholas Piramal, and Zydus Research Center. He played a key role in establishing the National Facility for Drug Discovery Complex, securing ₹8 crore from the Department of Science & Technology (DST-DPRP) and an additional ₹13.19 crore for the Center of Excellence. His research focuses on anti-HIV, anticancer, and antitubercular drug discovery, with projects supported by NIH-USA, the Department of Atomic Energy, and the National Medicinal Plant Board. He also initiated the Facility for Preservation of Molecular Diversity, preserving over 10,000 research molecules for future applications. Currently, Dr. Shah serves as President of the Indian Society of Chemists and Biologists (ISCB), one of India’s leading scientific organizations, and previously held the position of Vice President from 2002 to 2010. His extensive contributions to scientific research, policy development, and institutional growth continue to align with ISS’s mission of advancing knowledge-driven governance.
Prof. Arun Kumar, Member
Dr. Arun Kumar is a distinguished economist and former Malcolm Adisheshiah Chair Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences, where he served until 2022. He retired from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2015, where he contributed significantly to research and policy discussions. He holds an M.A. in Physics from Princeton University and Delhi University and a Ph.D. in Economics from JNU. An expert on the black economy, development economics, and public policy, Professor Kumar has authored several influential books, including The Black Economy in India, Understanding Black Economy and Black Money, Indian Economy’s Greatest Crisis: Impact of the Coronavirus and the Road Ahead, and Demonetization and the Black Economy. His research has shaped economic discourse in India and beyond. He has been a visiting scholar at Pavia University in Italy and Humboldt and Leipzig Universities in Germany. In recognition of his contributions to development economics, UNAM, Mexico awarded him the Ricardo Prize in Economics. He has been actively involved in social movements, including housing rights, and played a key role in Alternative Economic Surveys and Citizens’ Alternative Budgets. Professor Kumar chaired the 2022 Civil Society Commission on Unemployment, led the Indo-Russian group for pricing the SU-30 MKI, and was part of the First Pay Commission of the Tibetan Government in Exile. He continues to contribute to academic research, public discourse, and policy advocacy, strengthening ISS’s commitment to evidence-based governance.
Professor Renuka Singh, Member
Dr. Renuka Singh is a distinguished sociologist and former faculty member at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. With over four decades of experience, her research focuses on gender studies, diaspora, and Buddhist studies. She has been associated with the Women’s Studies Centre at Delhi University, the Centre for Social Research, and was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research on Women at Oxford University. She has lectured extensively at international universities and seminars and was a Senior UGC Fellow. Currently, she serves as Director of the Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre and Chairperson of the Punjabi Sahitya Sabha, New Delhi. Professor Singh has authored and edited several influential books, many of which have been translated worldwide. Some of her notable works include The Womb of Mind, Women Reborn, The Path to Tranquility, Many Ways to Nirvana, The Path of the Buddha, Dual Identity: Indian Diaspora and Other Essays, and The Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told. Her contributions continue to shape discourse on gender, culture, and Buddhist philosophy, aligning with ISS’s mission of fostering inclusive and informed scholarship.
Professor Saurabh Kumar, Member
Professor Saurabh Kumar is a distinguished diplomat, strategic analyst, and academic with expertise in international security, disarmament, and India-China relations. A Gold Medalist from Delhi University, he served in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), holding three Ambassadorial assignments. His last diplomatic role was as India’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ambassador to the IAEA, UNIDO, and UN Offices in Vienna, alongside his concurrent posting as India’s Ambassador to Austria. During his tenure in the Cabinet Secretariat, he served as a senior analyst in the Joint Intelligence Committee, contributing to high-level policy formulation on strategic issues. He was also Joint Secretary at the Foreign Service Training Institute. Post-retirement, he was on the faculty of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, from 2010 to 2020, focusing on nuclear security, disarmament, and geopolitical strategy. A fluent Chinese speaker, Professor Kumar pioneered the "India in the Chinese Media" project at NIAS, providing in-depth translations and analyses of China’s coverage of India. He was also a key member of the Informal Group on the 1988 Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World. His extensive diplomatic experience, research, and strategic insights continue to contribute to ISS’s work on global governance, security, and international policy discourse.
Prof. Ritu Priya, Member
Dr. Ritu Priya Malhotra is a distinguished public health expert and former professor at the Centre of Social Medicine & Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She holds a medical degree and a doctorate in Community Health, with extensive experience in health systems research, decentralized planning, and policy formulation. She served as Advisor for Public Health Planning at the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) under the National Health Mission, providing technical support for strengthening India’s public health framework. She has been an active member of several national task forces, including those of the Planning Commission, the Ministry of AYUSH, and the National AIDS Control Organisation. Dr. Malhotra is the founder and coordinator of the Trans-disciplinary Research Cluster on Plural Health Care and a founding member of the Trans-disciplinary Cluster on Sustainability Studies at JNU. Her interdisciplinary research continues to contribute to health policy and governance, aligning with ISS’s mission of evidence-based public health planning and decentralized decision-making.
Sr. Advocate Ashok Panda
Shri Ashok Panda is a distinguished Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, practicing since 1976. A dedicated advocate for human rights and judicial integrity, he was a close associate of Justice V.M. Tarkunde and George Fernandes and has been actively involved in the human rights movement since the mid-1970s. He has played a key role in landmark legal cases, serving as Commissioner and Amicus Curiae appointed by the Supreme Court in Bandhua Mukti Morcha and cases related to corruption in high public offices. His legal expertise has contributed to strengthening constitutional values and public accountability in governance. Ashok Panda is also an author, with his book Institutions that Shaped India: Supreme Court, published by Rupa Publications, tracing the evolution of law and judicial processes in India. His work aligns with ISS’s commitment to justice, governance, and institutional accountability.