Our esteemed Advisory Council consists of distinguished leaders in the fields of science, business, law, education, and academia.
Prof. Jagdish K. Math
Prof Jagdish K M, with a distinguished contribution for over 40 years, as ISRO Scientist, Technology & Business Leader, Professor of Practice,  Thought Leader, Social Entrepreneur, Holistic Coach & Mentor for MSME. He Specialised in Remote Sensing at IIT Bombay before joining ISRO in 1984 as a Scientist, at the National Natural Resources Management System. A key member in establishing Digital Image Processing Systems at Regional Remote Sensing Centres. Key role in the design and development of innovative Remote Sensing applications for Forestry, Water, Agriculture, Watersheds, and Utilities. He established and built ESRI India Global Geomatics Practice, where he designed and delivered Innovative Geomatics Solutions for Forest Management, Cadastral mapping, Crop mapping, Utilities, and egovernance. Chief Architect for Enterprise GIS for Reliance Group. RS/GIS Applications helped in saving Costs, and time resulting in offering affordable Telecom, Infra, and Retail Services for the Masses, bringing the Telecom and Retail revolution, and boosting the rapid development of India. A social Entrepreneur at heart-initiated startups in Education, Research, Health, and Fintech. He continues to pursue research in Space & Spirituality.Â
Dr. Pandit B. Vidyasagar
Prof. Pandit B. Vidyasagar is the Former Vice-Chancellor, SRTM University, Nanded. A former Professor and Head, of the Physics Department, at Savitribai Phule Pune University, he has forty years of expertise in academic management, teaching, and research. Prof. Vidyasagar’s research contributions in the fields of space physiology and photosynthesis have been acknowledged at both the national and international levels. He has held numerous key positions and served as chair of committees established by the UGC, the State Government, and the University. In addition to supervising 18 Ph.D. and 19 M.Phil students, he has mentored 100 research publications, 20 books, more than 500 articles and lectures, 25 radio speeches, and 25 science-related films to his credit. He is also a multiple-award winner and is on the board of trustees for Vidya Niketan.
Dr. Vyankatesh Gambhir
Professor Vyankatesh Gambhir, a retired Associate Professor with 34 years of experience at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, has a distinguished career. During his tenure, he spearheaded numerous collaborative initiatives in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, Pratham, and UNICEF. He is also an accomplished author, with his works published by prestigious institutions like HBCSE, Oxford University Press, and CSIR. Prof. Gambhir is the visionary behind the ‘Yes, You Can Do It’ program, which he presented at events such as the Indian Science Congress and Children’s Science Congress. Moreover, he played a crucial role as the Team Leader for Indian teams participating in the International Junior Science Olympiads. Additionally, he appeared on radio shows for 15 years and created over 100 educational television programs, where he addressed various scientific inquiries. Prof. Gambhir’s contributions have earned him recognition, including awards from the Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, the Homi Bhabha Award, and the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Rashtra Chetna Award.
Dr. Sanjay Bapurao Pujari
Dr. Pujari established the trust Dr. Kalpana Chawla Science Centre, Karad for the dissemination of science and space education after being inspired by Drs. APJ Abdul Kalaam and Kalpana Chawla. With 33 years of teaching expertise, he has primarily used creative methods of delivery, such as puppetry, acting, and science-based magic shows. He has been working tirelessly for the past 17 years to make science more accessible to young people in India. He has earned a lot of accolades for these efforts. He is a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology’s National Award for Popularisation of Science in India. He has won numerous honours, including the famous M. V. Chiplunkar award from the Physics Department, the Savitribai Phule Pune University, and the Sanman Puraskar from the Marathi Vigyan Parishad in Mumbai.
Mr. Narayan Bhargava
Mr. Narayan Bhargava, a qualified Chartered Accountant and Cost Accountant, defied convention by venturing into entrepreneurship early in his career. As the Founder and CMD of Narayan Bhargava Group (NBG), he established the company with a strong commitment to ethical values. His vision was to identify societal challenges and develop innovative solutions. Over time, NBG has grown into a highly respected and profitable business solution provider, earning the admiration of both customers and employees. In addition to his corporate endeavours, Mr. Bhargava serves as a trustee on the board of Vidya Niketan Trust, actively contributing to the KCSA project and demonstrating his commitment to corporate social responsibility through initiatives undertaken by the Narayan Bhargava Group.
Adv. Mr. Madhav S. Bhonde
Mr. Madhav S. Bhonde, a former advocate, abandoned his legal career to fulfil his late brother Shri Bapusaheb Bhonde’s dream of establishing an exemplary school. Through his wise leadership, the school has evolved into a renowned educational institution known for its high standards. Notably, the school’s infrastructure embraces eco-friendly features such as water harvesting and solar panels. Since 2004, Mr. Bhonde has served as the Chairman of Vidya Niketan Trust, overseeing Adv. Bapusaheb Bhonde High School, an English medium school located in Lonavala, Maharashtra. Additionally, he has previously held the position of Councilor in the Lonavala Municipal Council. Driven by his commitment to providing quality education and contributing to the nation’s development, Mr. Bhonde facilitated a unique collaboration between Vidya Niketan Trust and the Kalpana Chawla Science Centre, Karad Trust. This partnership led to the implementation of the Kalpana Chawla Space Academy project, furthering his dedication to educational excellence and national progress.
Mrs. Radhika Madhav Bhonde
She holds a degree in electrical engineering and is currently serving Vidya Niketan Education Trust since 2010 as a Trustee and Secretary and a Sanskrit instructor. The school has attained greater heights of excellence under her leadership. Being a multifaceted personality, she is a Geeta Pariwar trainer for all levels, president of the Vasant Vyakhyanmala Samiti in Lonavala, and vice president of the Ram Mandir Trust in Lonavala. She is a gifted speaker with a strong command of Marathi and Sanskrit languages.