India Rising

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Partha Ray

Director, National Institute of Bank Management
Former Adviser to the Executive Director,
IMF, Washington D.C

Prof. Partha Ray

Director, National Institute of Bank Management
Former Adviser to the Executive Director,
IMF, Washington D.C

About the Speaker

A distinguished economist, he holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Mumbai, along with advanced training at the University of Oxford. He has served in leadership roles at the Reserve Bank of India, as Adviser at the IMF, and as Professor at IIM Calcutta. His research spans macroeconomics, monetary policy, banking, and global finance, with numerous books and journal publications to his credit. Widely respected for his expertise, he continues to shape policy discourse and academic thought in India’s financial and economic landscape.

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Senior Advocate | Supreme Court of India

About the Speaker

From aspiring neurosurgeon to one of India’s most celebrated legal minds, Sajan Poovayya’s journey is proof that life’s most transformative paths are often the ones less expected. Choosing law over medicine — guided by conviction, not convention — he graduated from the National Law School of India University and built Poovayya & Co. from the ground up into a nationally respected law firm.

Appointed as Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court of India in 2012 and serving as Additional Advocate General for Karnataka, Poovayya has never shied away from complexity — whether in defending constitutional values, navigating high-stakes corporate battles, or engaging with governance at the highest levels.

His story is about more than legal victories. It’s about embracing risk, thinking beyond the obvious, and having the courage to lead change when it matters most. At India Rising, he brings that spirit to inspire educators and students to make informed, fearless choices that shape the India of 2047.

Dr. Tirthankar Patnaik

Chief Economist

National Stock Exchange

About the Speaker

Dr. Tirthankar Patnaik is Chief Economist at the National Stock Exchange of India. He has over two decades of experience in the Indian capital markets, academic research, credit research in macro and sector strategy, quantitative finance and consumer banking.
He started his career with a stint at the Global Consumer Group of Citibank in India and Europe. His next focus area was equity strategy for institutional clients, initially with Citigroup Global Markets as India equity strategist, and then with Religare Capital Markets Ltd, as the India Strategist and Chief Economist. In his last assignment prior to joining NSE, he was the Chief Strategist and Head of Research for India, at Japan-based Mizuho Bank.

Academic & Industry Engagements

Dr. Tirthankar is a sought-after speaker at top institutes like BITS Pilani and IIMs, and has moderated forums like the IMF-NSE seminar. His focus is on bridging academia and industry, and preparing students for the future of finance.

Thought Leadership & Publications

At NSE, he leads key research including the Market Pulse report and the NSE-EY Cost of Capital – India Insights 2024. His insights are regularly cited by leading media, including Bloomberg, for their relevance to market movements and economic policy.

Expertise & Recognition

A Ph.D. economist with hands-on market experience, Dr. Patnaik advises on macro trends, regulation, and capital markets. Known for simplifying complex ideas, he champions interdisciplinary skills—economics, tech, and data—for the next-gen finance professional.

Panelists/Speakers

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Senior Advocate,
Supreme Court of India

About the Speaker

Ms. Namita Mehta

President and Partner, The Red Pen
Master’s in Biochemistry - University of Oxford

About the Speaker

Namita drives business growth and strategic partnerships at The Red Pen. She represents the firm on global education forums and has been instrumental in building alliances, including a landmark collaboration with U.S. News & World Report. Her accolades include the BW Education 40 Under 40 award, judging the PIE Education Awards in 2024 and 2023 and being recognised as one of The PIE Live Asia Pacific’s 50 Voices in Leadership. She was shortlisted twice for the HerRising Awards in the “Women in Education” category. As a thought leader, she speaks on panels hosted by institutions such as HSBC, Ashoka University, IC3, and Master’s Union. She also contributes to leading publications like the Economic Times, Mint, and Hindustan Times. She serves on the advisory board of The Outreach Collective.

Prof. Chandan Gowda

Professor and Dean, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences
PhD in Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

About the Speaker

Prof. Chandan Gowda obtained his Bachelor's degree in Arts (social science) from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru and an MA in Sociology from the University of Hyderabad. He obtained his PhD Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh in Cultural Studies. He then moved to the Department of Sociology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, which had a strong research programme in historical sociology, and obtained his PhD there.

He subsequently took up the position of Associate Professor of Sociology, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion at the National Law School of India, Bengaluru and later served as Professor of Sociology at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. He held the position of Ramakrishna Hegde Chair Professor of Decentralization and Development at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, until recently. His areas of research include Indian intellectual history and modern Kannada literature and cinema.

Besides academic publications, he has translated Kannada fiction and non-fiction into English. He has also directed Sahitya Sahavasa (In the Company of Literature), a series of video lectures of U. R. Ananthamurthy on modern Kannada writers, which was telecast on Doordarshan in 2014. He has organized workshops and panel discussions involving academics and artists, written extensively in Indian newspapers (The Hindu, The Mint, Indian Express, Hindustan Times), and participated frequently in panel discussions on national television. All of these activities have flowed from his belief that he should be engaged in non-academic public fora. He has served on the juries for the Fiction as well as the Non-Fiction Prizes for The Hindu Lit for Life Festivals. He contributed a weekly column, Culture and Politics, in Bangalore Mirror for over five years and has als contributed a monthly column, The Living Stream, in Deccan Herald since 2019.

Dr. Tania Islam

Assistant Professor,
School of Liberal Arts & Design,
Vidyashilp University
Big Panel Moderator

About the Speaker

Dr. Tania Islam is an Assistant Professor in the School of Liberal Arts and Design Studies at Vidyashilp University. Prior to joining VU, she was an Assistant Professor at Adamas University, in Kolkata. Dr. Islam has more than a decade of experience teaching core English, interdisciplinary foundation, and writing courses. She received her Ph.D. in English from Temple University in Philadelphia (U.S.A.) She holds a double Master’s in English: one from the University of Calcutta, and another from Temple University. While at Temple, she received her “Teaching in Higher Education” and “Online Canvas Teaching” certifications as well. Dr. Islam’s research interests showcase her training in core Liberal Arts and interdisciplinary domains. Her doctoral dissertation titled “Things Left Unsaid: Historical Silences and Multiethnic Women’s Fiction” examined the ways in which narratives plug historical gaps. As such, she enjoys the challenge of teaching numerous courses at the same time, but the one course close to her heart will always be a course on food culture which she had designed while at Temple University. Presently, she is working on her first book project, which is a reworking and expansion of her doctoral thesis.

Mr. Vishnuteerth Agnihotri

Co-Founder and Academic Director,
GenWise

About the Speaker

Vishnuteerth Agnihotri is Co-Founder and Academic Director of GenWise, a pioneering organization in gifted education and enrichment learning. With over 20 years in education after a corporate career, he has led several pioneering initiatives - from creating the ASSET diagnostic assessments and Mindspark adaptive systems, to designing My Misconception Mentor, a cross-country teacher development program. At GenWise, he has enabled 100+ advanced online courses and India’s flagship residential summer program for gifted students, while also curating enrichment camps for Emirati students in Sharjah. An IIT Madras graduate, Vishnuteerth has spoken at global forums including NAGC (USA) and UNESCO MGIEP, and continues to advise schools on preparing students for excellence in a shifting global landscape.

Ms. Summiya Yasmeen

Co-founder and Managing Editor,
Education World
Educator Panel 2 Moderator

About the Speaker

Summiya Yasmeen is Co-founder and Managing Editor of Education World, India’s premier human development magazine, where she has shaped educational discourse for over 26 years. With her extensive journalism background from Asia Journalism College and academic foundation from Mount Carmel College, she has established herself as a leading voice in educational media and policy. As a pioneering figure in education journalism, Summiya has dedicated her career to advancing human development through thoughtful editorial leadership and innovative content creation. Her work at Education World has influenced educational practices and policies across India, making her a respected authority in the intersection of media, education, and social development initiatives.

Dr. Lalith Prasad

Head of Training and Professional
Development for South Asia,
Cambridge Assessment
Educator Panel 1 Moderator

About the Speaker

Dr. Lalith Prasad is Head of Training and Professional Development for South Asia at Cambridge Assessment, where he leverages his extensive expertise in educational consulting and nonprofit management. With a Master’s in Education from Kuvempu University, Dr. Prasad brings proven experience in program evaluation, teacher training, and organizational development. His skill set encompasses public speaking, proposal writing, and strategic program implementation across diverse educational contexts. As a seasoned consultant, he has demonstrated success in driving professional development initiatives and building capacity within nonprofit organizations, making him a valuable leader in advancing educational standards and training excellence throughout the South Asian region.

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Senior Advocate,
Supreme Court of India

Ms. Namita Mehta

President, The Red Pen

Mr. Vishnuteerth Agnihotri

Co-Founder and Academic Director,
GenWise

Ms. Summiya Yasmeen

Co-founder and Managing Editor,
Education World
Educator Panel 2 Moderator

Dr. Lalith Prasad

Head of Training and Professional,
Development for South Asia,
Cambridge Assessment
Educator Panel 1 Moderator

Dr. Angelo Michael D'Cruize

Director - Academics,
Presidency School,
Bangalore North

Ms. Geeta Jayanth

Head of School,
Chaman Bhartiya School,
Bangalore

Dr. J. Bhuvaneswari

Director and Principal,
Presidency School
Bangalore South

Prof. Chandan Gowda

Dean, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences,
Vidyashilp University

Dr. Tania Islam

Assistant Professor,
School of Liberal Arts & Design,
Vidyashilp University
Big Panel Moderator

Jury

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Senior Advocate,
Supreme Court of India

Prof. Chandan Gowda

Professor and Dean,
School of Liberal Arts & Sciences,
Vidyashilp University

Session	Description
The Big Keynote	Get ready to dive into "India Rising and Bengaluru's Role in the Growth" with an insider’s perspective on our booming economy.
The Big Debate	Expert Panel Debate - Reimagining India vs Abroad in a Shifting Global Landscape Can’t decide where to study? Our expert panel will discuss the pros and cons, the what-ifs, and the game-changers.
VU's Future Icons	VU Shilpites share how interdisciplinary learning and future-focused education redefined their goals and aspirations.
Learning Workshops	Engage in Interdisciplinary Workshops, led by VU Shilpites and faculty.

India Rising 2025

Aspiring Undergrads Summit

Think the why before the where

INDIA VS ABROAD ?

It’s not about where you go. It’s about why you choose to go.

Event Highlights

Kick off & Keynotes

Brainwaves in Action

Engage & Experience

The Transformative Finale

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Partha Ray

Panelists/Speakers

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Ms. Namita Mehta

Mr. Vishnuteerth Agnihotri

Ms. Summiya Yasmeen

Dr. Lalith Prasad

Dr. Angelo Michael D'Cruize

Ms. Geeta Jayanth

Dr. J. Bhuvaneswari

Prof. Chandan Gowda

Dr. Tania Islam

Jury

Mr. Sajan Poovayya

Prof. Chandan Gowda

Featured Sessions

Workshops

Venue