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Our Story

In 2018, we planted the seeds for the foundation for Indian School of Democracy in the hope that it would eventually become an institution that nurtures principled leaders. The people at Indian School of Democracy come from politically and socially diverse backgrounds, but we share the same unwavering principles, vision and values that reside in the idea of sarvodaya.

We are passionate about nation-building and carry an unflinching commitment to India and its people.

We are looking for 2 new team members, find more details here:

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Meet the Team

CO-FOUNDER

Prakhar Bhartiya

Prakhar Bhartiya is a Teach for India 2009 Fellow and founder of the grassroots leadership organization Youth Alliance (YA). He built YA from the ground up and created immersive journeys into rural India for the youth. A mentor to multiple social entrepreneurs, Prakhar also serves on the board of other non-profits such as Kat Katha that works with sex-workers in Delhi and Shikshartha that works on contextual education in tribal Chattisgarh.

In 2018, he transitioned from Youth Alliance to co-found, Indian School of Democracy. He did his MPA from Columbia University. He makes work fun for himself and for those around him. Conversations over coffee are his food for thought. Inspired by Vinobha, he wants to walk across India and commit his life towards connecting hearts.

CO-FOUNDER

Hemakshi Meghani

Hemakshi Meghani graduated from Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) with a Master’s in Public Policy as a World Bank Graduate Scholar. She started her journey as a Teach For India fellow, has worked with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and was a part of two start-ups in the education and socio-political consulting space. Hemakshi is among the 18 social entrepreneurs selected globally to be a 2022 Echoing Green Fellow.

Hemakshi has attended and facilitated various leadership forums across the world, and is a trained coach in adaptive leadership. She is very passionate about politics, bottom-up social reform and making democracy work for every citizen of the country. She enjoys travelling to remote parts of the country, and going on outer and inner journeys. Hemakshi’s dream is to become a farmer someday.

PROGRAM LEAD

Ankit Navasha

Ankit has worked as a Right to the City activist, and primarily advocated for housing and social security of informal workers. He has studied journalism and Social Work from University of Delhi and has written extensively for news portals. He has previously worked with Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) and National Hawker Federation.

Sr. ASSOCIATE ADMIN & FINANCE

Rajan

Rajan is a dynamic professional with a strong foundation in Finance and Administration since 2019, he holds a B.COM degree from Delhi University. Rajan thrives on meeting new people and building friendships, and his passion for his work shines through in everything he does. Known for his friendly and positive attitude, he is a valuable team member who also enjoys clubbing. With dreams of becoming an entrepreneur one day, Rajan is always striving for the optimisation of resources .

PROGRAM MANAGER

Pousali Sarkar

Pousali is a graduate of political science from University of Delhi and a Young India Fellow. Her work lies at the intersection of political literacy, active citizenship and delivery of government schemes to the most vulnerable sections of the society. She has worked on a project with Azim Premji University on service delivery of MGNREGA and PDS entitlements to the migrant workers from Jharkhand. Alongside this, she enjoys theatre, art and connecting with people through literature and songs.

Sr. MANAGER

Sameer

Sameer holds a post-graduation in Development Studies and a Master's in Peace Studies. Driven by a passion for peace-building, he has contributed to the Youth Peace and Security agenda in South Asia. As a humble social entrepreneur, Sameer founded a company advocating for a borderless world. He appreciates exploring diverse cultures and histories through food and aspires to become a chef. Sameer's diverse interests include philosophy and spirituality,

Sr. ASSOCIATE OUTREACH

Ubair Sofi

Ubair helps us find participants from across the country. In 2017, he graduated from Uttarakhand Technical University with a B.Tech degree. He has previously worked as a consultant for the Ministry of Jal Shakti on the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and Jal Jeevan Mission.
He enjoys trekking, travelling, and interacting with people from different walks of life.

Sr. ASSOCIATE, PROGRAM

Anupama

Anupama is a graduate in Journalism from Delhi university and a postgraduate in Social work- Criminology and Justice from TISS. She has previously worked as a political consultant at IPAC and a youth development professional at Pravah. Passionate about having young people in politics, she hopes to derive from both experiences and lend a hand in the cause of building principled moral leadership and have young people engage more in this domain. Alongside this, she enjoys listening to music from across the country and beyond (self-certified BTS ARMY), occasionally picking up the ukulele and is really good at cracking bad jokes

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

Vishal Das

Vishal, born and raised in Pakur, Jharkhand, discovered his passion for photography through his smartphone camera. A self-taught photographer, he pursued a Dual Diploma in Photography and Filmmaking from the Delhi College of Photography. His early exposure to stunning landscapes and nature helped him develop his skills in composing images. In Delhi, he gained valuable experience in commercial photography, learning to shoot products, food, and models with heavy studio lights and equipment. Despite having limited resources, he produces professional-grade images.

Proficient in photography, graphic design and fine arts, he has a keen eye for setting up and visualizing props in his photos. Vishal has worked on numerous significant events and projects in collaboration with government ministries, well-known companies, and reputable social organizations, enhancing his experience and reputation in the field.

He also enjoys staying on top of trending memes often using them to inject humor into his work.

Sr. ASSOCIATE COMMS. & LEADERSHIP

Zohran Jilani

Zohran Jilani is a peace advocate. Currently, he is working with the Leadership & Communications Team. He has completed his Graduation in Social Work and a Master's in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding from JMI. He has design & facilitation experience in the field of communal harmony & youth leadership. He identifies peace, justice, and equality as his core values. He is passionate about working on communal harmony and human rights. Besides this, Zohran enjoys reading and writing poetry. He has come up with a quote to define the purpose of his work:
"In kaavisho'n ke sholo'n ko abhi aur tapaana hai,
Mujhe muhabbat ka ek shaher banana hai."
I still need to fan the flames of endeavour further, since my goal is to create a city of love.