IGH’s focus on providing the best educational experience is reflected in the institute’s Faculty Educators. The distinguished team of faculty membershave been selected because of their demonstrated commitment to excellence in their area of expertise and harmony education. Faculty members will be leaders in harmony education innovation at IGH, educating students and staff, advising the academic leads, and raising the overall quality of education by mentoring faculty and residents in their quest to become better teachers.
Surendra Pal
Surendra Pal was born in a simple farmer family in a village in district Ghaziabad of western UP (now in NOIDA). He is a post graduate (M.Tech) in energy system engineering from IIT Bombay with graduation in civil engineering from IIT Delhi.
Professionally, Surendra had been associated with development of gas industry in India working with GAIL INDIA Ltd. ,Mahanagar Gas, Enron and Shell over a period of 22 years.In parallel, he has devoted significant time exploring and understanding purpose of existence in general and that of human beings in sepecific. In this pursuits, he has explored various “spiritual systems and practices” such as ‘Nirankari Mission’, ‘Vipassana’, “Siddha Samadhi Yog’, “sudarshan Kriya-AOL’ and ‘TM’.
He came aross “Jeevan Vidya” in 2010 and found his expectations filfilled. He left Shell in May 2012 to study “Jeevan Vidya/Madhyastha Darshan” as propounded by Shri A Nagraj. He has published a biography of Shri A. Nagraj and is full time engaged in establishing “Chetna Vikas Mulya Shiksha University”.
Rakesh Gupta
Rakesh Gupta, at present is working as “Director – Development” in QuintilesIMS. He has about 22 years of professional experience in IT industry, after graduating from IIT Delhi in Computer Science and Engineering. Most of his professional experience was at Telecom majors like Motorola, Samsung and Nokia. Rakesh has now resigned from his job to leave it in March 2017, to become fully engaged in study and propagation of Madhyasth Darshan and aligning his life along with his family based on this understanding. He and his wife Priyanka have taken up responsibility for setting up the Sustainable Energy Division at Chetna Vikas Mulya Shiksha University CVMS University) at Bemetara, Chhatisgarh. Presently he lives in Bangalore along with his wife Priyanka and daughter Gunjan.
Rakesh came across Jeevan Vidya – Madhyasth Darshan in 2004, and met its Propounder Shree A. Nagraj at Amarkantak in his quest for a meaningful and happy life. He engaged Shree A. Nagraj in dialogue from 2005 until 2016. He transcripted Nagrajji’s dialogues with himself and with other students, which got published in the form of two books (“Samvad Part-1” and “Samvad Part-2”) apart from being available in his blog. These are proving to be useful for study of this Darshan. Additionally, he took the responsibility of translating MadhyasthDarshan core literature into English in Nagrajji’s direction to make this Darshan more accessible to English speaking world. The translation of Manav Vyavhar Darshan was published as “Holistic View of Human Behaviour” in 2012, and while more are underway.
Poonam Nayar, Ph.D.
Dr. Poonam Nayar earned a Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. This has been one of W.H.O. collaborative research centres on mental health. Her doctoral research was to evaluate the efficacy of yogic techniques in the management of anxiety and depressive disorders. During this time, she visited, observed and learned Yoga at various Yoga centres in the country. She coordinated and conducted interdepartmental research to assess the impact of yoga based methods in other medical conditions such as psychogenic headache, essential hypertension and stress related burnout in the nurses. The studies were funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research and results have been published.
During 1990-1995, Poonam taught applied clinical psychology, research methodology, physiological psychology, and statistics at the University of Delhi. She was instrumental in setting up Psychological Services Cell at the South Campus Medical Centre. The Centre offered integrated mind-body treatment for students and faculty members for mental health and stress related problems. The management was based on Yoga as well as western methods of Behaviour Modification. From 2000-2011, as senior students counsellor in Delhi Public School, Poonam conducted individual counselling, group workshops, as well as sensitising teachers to adolescent mental health issues as part of Adolescent Mental Health program. During 2006, she was awarded fellowship to attend the international conference on adolescent mental health by the Royal College of Psychiatry, held in Madrid, Spain. Since 2011, Poonam has been involved in helping to formulate and conduct clinical research at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. The objective of the research is to study the impact of yoga based stress management on the uterine artery blood flow and outcome of artificial reproductive techniques (ART) in infertility. Similar research is being formulated for Neurology, Psychiatry as well as for Women facing domestic violence and abuse.
K. Nishteshwar, Ph.D.
Education:
Dr. K.Nishteswar hails from a family of Vedic lineage. He obtained his degree in Ayurveda from Andhra University 1975 and Post graduate degree MD from Gujarat Jamnagar University 1980. He obtained Phd degree from University of Pune in 1996. He carried out an intensive study of Basavarajeeyam, a popular book of Ayurvedic practice and identified new medicinal plants that were added to Ayurvedic Meteria Medica. He also did Sanskrit Bhasha Kovida from Bharatiya vidya Bhavan, Certified course in food and nutrition, Diploma in AIDS & Family Education from IGNOU. He pursued professional diploma in clinical research. He was conferred Doctor of Science (DSc) by International University of complementary Medicine, Colombo, Srilanka for his research on Arthritis.
Experience and Skills:
33 years of teaching experience in the field of Ayurveda.
HOD of Dravyaguna at IPGT&RA, GAU Jamnagar for 5 years.
Served in central council for research in Ayurveda & Siddha for period of 1 year.
Visiting professor in University of Hyderabad during the year 2016-2017.
Worked as In-charge Principal, Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical sciences for a brief period.
Worked as OSD of Vice chancellor office GAU. He was the chairman of ethics committee of M.P. Shah Medical College Jamnagar.
Participated as expert member of selection committees of different universities.
Served as an expert of project proposal committee of NMPB.
Served as member of educational committee from GAU at CCIM
Acted as convener of administrative committee of IPGT&RA.
Executive editor for AYU International Journal, maintained the standards of the journal and own publication topped the list of all the published papers of that year.
Achivements:
“Best Teacher Meritorious Award” by the Govt. of A.P.
Written 50 books in 3 languages (English, Hindi & Telugu). His book entitled “Herbs in Basavarajiyam” was awarded Vedvyas Award for Best book category by APNA organization, USA.
Supervised several Post graduate & PhD theses (15 Ph.D., 8 M.D, 5 M. Pharma and 4 M.Sc. (Medicinal plants).
Delivered a series of lectures on the subject of “Focusing on Ayurveda” at JEJU University, South Korea
Delivered a guest lecture at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Published nearly 200 papers in various journals & participated in several seminars.
Was awarded several gold and silver medals in recognition to his merit during degree and post graduation (The area of specialization was research on medicinal plants of Ayurvedic Material Medica several ayurvedic herbs, tribal claims were studied indicated in disease like Arthritis, insomnia, cardiac disease and other life style diseases.
Message:
Herbs are the health banks and play a key role in preservation and promotion of health. Ayurvedic concepts for daily regimen and seasonal regimen are conductive to preserving the health and reducing the incidence of diseases. Sincere efforts are being made to facilitate the individuals to appreciate and enjoy the benefits of health concepts through teachings and medical camps. Modern medical research has successfully controlled infectious diseases; however non-communicable diseases (lifestyle diseases) are major burden on health sector. Lifestyle modifications suggested in Ayurveda can help control lifestyle diseases; restore feeling of well being to lead a harmonious life.
Nina Lynn Meyerhof, Ed. D
President and Founder of Children of the Earth, a renowned organization that awakens young people to their inner leadership. Nina is a visionary thought leader recognized for a life of advocating for children and youth. The co-author of “Conscious Education: The Bridge to Freedom”, and “Pioneering Spiritual Activism”. Nina has received many awards for her work from The Mother Theresa Award to the Citizens Department of Peace Award to The International Educators Award for Peace as well as the State of Vermont passed a Resolution honoring her for her life’s work in PEACE, the Seeds of Peace Award and second of recipients for the Public Peace Prize.
Nina advocates for all people to go beyond cultural, ethnic and religious differences and strive for altruistic ethics. She moves around the world assembling adults and young people to focus on the potentials of bringing ethical living skills into world consciousness. Her focus is on the realization that peace must come from recognizing our interwoven unity. Nina is a totally passionate committed world peacemaker and world server. She founded and directed Children of the Earth, a UN NGO , for over 25 years touching into 100 countries. She focuses on inspired inner revolution thus altering one’s behavior for social evolution with constructive actions for building a better world. Nina also trains young people to be these future leaders and have the skills to train others and so the ripple effect of her work continues globally.
Sadhan Kumar Bhattacharya
Sadhan Kumar Bhattacharya is a Metallurgical Engineer by profession. In 1990 he met Shri A. Nagraj, propounder of Madhyastha Darshan – the Theory of Coexistence. Since then and continuously since 1994, he has studied, practiced and lived in the Madhyastha Darshan philosophy in Amarkantak, India. In his words, “I have come to the conclusion that gratitude, resolution, prosperity, fearlessness are the outcome of harmony in study, behavior, work and participation in human order.
Ajay Jain
Ajay Jain is a Mechanical Engineer from IIT Delhi in 1992 and has worked for 24 years in various capacities starting from Graduate Engineer Trainee to Rotating Equipment Engineer, Maintenance Manager, and Engineering Manager. His experience includes working with GAIL (India) a leading oil and gas public sector company for 11 years and with Hazira LNG Private Limited, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Total for around 13 years.He came in contact with Rev. A Nagraj, the propounder of Madhyasth Darsahn- the Theory of Coexistence, in 1990 during his college days at IIT Delhi. He attended some of the workshops conducted by Rev. A Nagraj and is connected with many distinguished students of Jeevan Vidya – the Science of Life, who currently teach the same.
He has witnessed the growth and impact of the Jeevan Vidya concept on people from different walks of life and many families, including its inclusion in many institutes. In his words, “Madhyastha Darshan holds the key to the problems the world is facing today, whether they are linked to interpersonal relationships, conflicts between countries, environmental issues like global warming, acid rains, depleting resources and the ever increasing divide between Haves and Have nots.”
“I consider the message of Madhyasth Darshan as an awakening in the journey of mankind. There is a need to look at the issues afresh from the view point of this new Philosophy. The results are visible in the lives of people. I am sure together we can make the Earth a better place to live.”
Ashok Gopala
During his days in IIT Delhi, Ashok discovered that he was not satisfied with the options offered by the mainstream (modern, urbanized) way of life. Fortunately, he came across Jeevan Vidya – the Science of Life in 1993 through his professor, Dr. Yash Pal Satya. After an initial examination of Jeevan Vidya (JV) he started believing that this was the path he wanted to explore.
Under the guidance of Rev. A. Nagraj, propounder of JV, Ashok together with his wife, Sheila decided to learn and understand JV. This has been a journey of 23 years, and has brought many changes in their personal, family and social lives. At various points in their lives they have, made several choices based on their understanding of JV and moved toward a more harmonious & sustainable way of life. The choices made have been in the domain of occupation, health and parenting.
The family is now based in Bemetara, Chattisgarh, while engaging in the education program of JV. They have a small farm in Bemetara where organic agriculture is practiced through natural farming techniques. This farm provides their family and friends with pure, organic food. Also, as a part of their sustenance, they produce some healthcare products at their home. They, as a family, have committed themselves to a lifestyle based on their understanding of JV.