विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्

Our Mission & Scholars

About Samvād

"ऋतस्य पथा प्रेत" — Tread the Path of Eternal Truth

Founded in New Delhi, Samvād Institute stands as a premier independent think-tank dedicated to bridging India's civilizational wisdom with contemporary global strategic challenges. We believe that sustainable, futuristic policy emerges at the synthesis of timeless heritage and cutting-edge empirical research.

Our mission transcends traditional intellectual boundaries. We employ quantitative rigor, strategic foresight, and uncompromising investigative journalism to analyze Geopolitics, Economics, Domestic Policy, and National Security. By synthesizing ancient philosophical frameworks—from Kautilya's statecraft to Ashoka's governance—with modern data modeling, Samvād aims to shape a global discourse that is inclusive, multipolar, and grounded in civilizational depth.

Core Executive

Leadership Team

राजीव

Dr. Rajiv Sharma

Founding Director

Former senior diplomat with 25 years of strategic experience. Served as India's envoy to key multilateral forums and previously lectured in International Relations at Delhi University. Author of three books on Indian foreign policy and strategic autonomy.

प्रिया

Priya Mehta

Head, Discourse & Journalism

Award-winning investigative journalist and editor. Formerly led special investigations at leading national publications. Dedicated to cutting through noise to expose policy realities. Recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award.

अरुण

Dr. Arun Kumar

Chief Economist

Renowned development economist specializing in fiscal policy, public expenditure, and sustainable growth. Advised various state governments and national committees. Former Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance.

सुनील

Rear Adm. Sunil Gupta (Retd.)

Strategic Affairs Advisor

Spent 35 years in the Indian Navy, directing maritime operations and intelligence. Widely published expert on Indo-Pacific maritime security and oceanic deterrence frameworks. Former Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command.

Research & Sādhana

Research Fellows & Scholars

अपराजिता

Dr. Aparajita Menon

Senior Fellow, Constitutional Studies

Constitutional law scholar with extensive research on federal dynamics, water governance, and cooperative legislative frameworks. Formerly clerked for the Supreme Court of India.

मीरा

Meera Subramanian

Fellow, Technology & Society

Computer science engineer turned public policy researcher. Examines civilizational language structures, digital public infrastructure, and cognitive sovereignty in AI development.

विक्रम

Vikram Iyer

Fellow, Economy & Trade Policy

Specialist in formalization, MSME productivity, and industrial trade relations. Consults extensively with developmental agencies and national trade associations.

फ़ैज़

Faiz Ahmed

Research Fellow, Environmental Policy

Monitors urban air quality grids, monsoon variations, and ecological transition policies across major metropolitan zones, bridging science with grassroot action.

Scholarly Counsel

Advisory Board

Guiding our strategic vision with distinguished experience across international policy, public administration, and academia.

Amb. Kanwal Sibal (Retd.)

Former Foreign Secretary of India

Diplomatic Affairs Advisor

Distinguished diplomat with over four decades of service. Former Foreign Secretary who stewarded India's foreign policy through critical years of economic liberalization and strategic realignment.

Prof. Subhash Kak

Regents Professor, Oklahoma State University

Science & Indological Studies

Pioneering computer scientist and Vedic scholar. Author of over 300 research papers bridging information theory, quantum computing, and ancient Indian mathematical traditions.

Dr. Ashley J. Tellis

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment

South Asian Strategic Studies

Pre-eminent scholar on South Asian security dynamics. Former U.S. State Department adviser on India-Pakistan affairs and widely regarded authority on India-U.S. strategic partnership.

Dr. Swapan Dasgupta

Veteran Journalist & Former Member of Parliament

Public Intellectual & Historian

Celebrated commentator on Indian politics and civilization for over three decades. Former Rajya Sabha MP, columnist for major national publications, and chronicler of India's conservative intellectual tradition.

Prof. Madhav Nalapat

Vice-Chair, Manipal Advanced Research Group

Geopolitics & Defense Scholar

Distinguished professor of geopolitics and widely published strategic analyst. Known for incisive analysis of Sino-Indian relations, Pakistan's civil-military dynamics, and U.S. policy in South Asia.

Dr. Bibek Debroy (In Memoriam)

Renowned Economist & Former Chairman, EAC-PM

Economic Reform & Civilizational Texts

Legendary economist, Sanskrit scholar, and policy architect. Translated the complete Mahabharata and Valmiki Ramayana into English while simultaneously advising the highest echelons of Indian economic policymaking.

विद्या ददाति विनयम्

Collaborate With Us

We are always looking to partner with research fellows, academic scholars, and organizations whose values align with our pursuit of policy excellence and civilizational depth.

Join Our Network