Speakers & Presenters

Raj Vedam

Dr. Raj Vedam is an Electrical Engineer, with many years of multi-disciplinary work experience in diverse industries including Power, Aircraft, analog and digital Electronic Design Automation, and Oil & Gas. With several journal and conference papers and patents, he is an innovation leader, with current interests including optimization, modeling and machine learning.

Raj Vedam’s research on the roots of modern sciences, mathematics and technology has led to new insights. Whereas Western narratives favor the origin of astronomy and math (among other fields) as having originated outside India and imported into India during various invasions, Raj Vedam’s multi-disciplinary studies reveal otherwise. His research proposes an ancient Indian civilization that made advances in several fields of knowledge.

As Public Speaker, he has delivered over 300 talks in various cities in India & USA. His YouTube videos have more than 4 million views.  He is a visiting faculty at Hindu University of America (Florida), Rishihood University (Haryana, India), and Arsha Seva Kendram (Coimbatore, India) and offers courses on his research findings. He is on the advisory council of Dharma Civilization Foundation (California).

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Raj Vedam will lead a lecture and intellectual discussion entitled “Science Reveals a New Ancient Civilization” on Saturday, April 20th, from 1:30 to 3:30p.

Sahana Singh

 Sahana Singh is an author and commentator currently based in the United States. With a professional background in environmental engineering, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, with her grasp of diverse subjects such as Indian history, water management, and education. Her first book “The Educational Heritage of Ancient India – How an Ecosystem of Learning was Laid to Waste” has been appreciated for awakening Indians to the role played by India in spreading knowledge around the world. The book has garnered acclaim for its compelling narrative, awakening readers to the profound impact of India’s intellectual legacy.

Building on the success of her first book, Sahana’s second work, “Revisiting the Educational Heritage of India,” published by Vitasta, offers a deeper exploration into India’s distinctive ecosystem of learning. In this work, she meticulously unravels the layers of India’s knowledge-centric society, connecting it with the major academic disciplines pursued today.

Sahana Singh’s work serves as a beacon for those seeking a deeper understanding of India’s cultural and educational roots. Her passion for enlightening others about the enduring legacy of Indian knowledge reflects a dedication to fostering an appreciation for the historical contributions that continue to shape our contemporary world.

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Sahana Singh will present a hybrid session lecture and Q & A entitled “India’s Educational Heritage: When Art Was Not Separate from Science” to onsite attendees via live webinar on Friday, April 19th.

Adinarayanan Venkatachalam

Siddhayogi Adinarayanan, Founding Guru of Anaadi Foundation, is a visionary who inspires contemporary seekers by making the rich spiritual parampara of India relevant to them. The insights that he shares in his various programs come from personal realizations of the Upanishadic truths that emerged from more than 25 years of Yogic Practice, Swadhyaya of Indian spiritual literature and more than 250 days of Mouna Tapasya in complete silence and isolation. He has also co-founded the Anaadi Dharma Gurukulam at his ashram in Palani, India. He has an MS in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University and spent more than a decade in academia teaching courses in Computer Science, Yoga and Mahabharata. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Practice at IIT Delhi. More about Anaadi Foundation here: www.anaadi.org
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Adinarayanan will present a Lecture entitled “Panchakoshiya Vikas: A 5-dimensional Framework for Holistic Education and Human Development” on Thursday, April 18th, from 6:00 to 8:00p.

Acarya Dhyanesh

Acarya Dhyanesh, got his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree specializing in Eco-Village design. During his student days, Acarya Dhyanesh studied Kriya yoga (SRF), Kripalu Yoga, Integral Yoga, Tibetan Tantric Yoga, Kundalini yoga, and with the Hopi till he found his guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Dhyaneshji married Jamuna in Kolkata in 1984 and has three children. Since then, Dhyaneshji has been balancing family life, landscape architecture company Oasis Gardens and Tantra Yoga practices. Dhyanesh started the University Yoga Club at University Of Texas, Austin and has been teaching every week from 1984 with over 7,000 students having participated in his Yoga classes. Ac. Dhyanesh also built and managed a 10 acre urban farm with student cooperatives and 30 family membership with an amphitheater for humanitarian relief benefit concerts from 1997-2012. He also built a 3 acre eco-solar envelope homestead for seminars and collective meditation. In the last 35 years, Ac. Dhyanesh has helped design 20 Yoga Meditation Eco-Villages in California, New York, North Carolina, India, Russia, Phillipines, Italia, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, and Denmark. He also graduated from Tatvika training in Benares, India in 2002 and received his Tantra Acarya training in Puri, India in 2008.
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Acarya will present a lecture entitled “Tantra –  Myth vs Reality: A guided introduction to Tantra Yoga” on Thursday, April 25th, from 7:00p to 8:30p.

Arunkumar Akkineni

Arun is an Austin based technologist who works in the field of Artificial Intelligence as an engineer and researcher. Arun currently serves as a Data Science Manager at Deloitte. Arun is also the first author on the confernce paper on “AI Quality and MLOPs” published in Intelligent Systems Design and Applications – 22nd International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications (ISDA 2022) Held December 12-14, 2022 – Volume 4. Volume 717 of Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, pages 436-448, Springer, 2022. Arun brings a unique background in the intersection of “Artificial Intelligence and engineering AI for its safe and reliable usage”, Business, “Indian Knowledge Systems and its applications” and is deeply passionate about AI and its impact on Art, Indic Education, Aesthetics and Entrepreneurship. Arun brings with him a unique educational background having received a variety of degrees in Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Business Management from the University of Texas At Austin and Georgetown University (Washington D.C.).

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Arun is part of the panel discussion entitled “Artificial Intelligence, The Mind, Art and Aesthetics” on Saturday, April 27, from 2:00p to 3:00p.

C. M. Venkatachalam

Dr. C. M. Venkatachalam was introduced to music at a very early age by his parents. He studied under Late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar and under Kollam Harihara Bhagavatar in Chennai, India. He also learns with his aunt Smt Bala Narasimhan of Ottawa. He considers the Late Sangitha Kalanidhi T. Viswanathan to be his mAnasika guru from whom he derives inspiration for teaching music. Several music students are trained and guided at Doraiswamy Home of Music founded by him in 1997 in San Diego and later in Austin.

Venkatachalam has been active in organizing concerts and also dealing with audio/video arrangements for concerts. He is one of the founding trustees of Indian Fine Arts Academy of San Diego, CA. In 1999, Cleveland Aradhana Committee bestowed on him the title “Kala Seva Mani”. In 2012 Indian Fine Arts Academy of San Diego presented him with the title “Sangeetha Seva Rathna”. He has a Ph D in molecular biophysics. He was a faculty in University of Michigan and University of Alabama in Birmingham. He worked as a senior scientist in a software company for 23 years to develop computer algorithms for designing drugs.

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Dr. Venkatachalam will present a lecture with live musical demonstration by Poornima Rao, entitled “Indian Music: A Guide to Its Features” on Saturday, April 13th, from 3:30 to 4:40p.

Chaya Rao

Chaya Rao is a long time musicologist, music enthusiast and writer/blogger. She was wide exposure to Indian Classical & Western Classical genres. Chaya is also fluent in Rock, Jazz, Blues and motion picture soundtracks from around the world. Chaya comes from a musically inclined family and frequently interacts with great musicians such as Maestro Ilaiyaraja, Ranjini-Gayathri, Guitar Prasanna, Rajesh Uppulapu, Palakkad Sriram and several others. Currently, she learns music theory of the east and west under the tutelage of Sri. Guitar Prasanna. Chaya was an RJ for a classical music program called Raga Cafe at Karma Radio. Chaya is the board of Director at Austin Classical Guitar and a volunteer at KMFA Classical Radio, Austin. Chaya is also a documentary film maker, culinary & travel enthusiast and she has travelled to 30+ countries and experienced the local music of most. Her daytime job/profession is in tech training. Currently, she is the Director of Training Development at Tanium Inc.
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Chaya will present a Lecture entitled “Ragas and World Music” on Saturday, April 13th, from 1:30 to 3:00p.

Dada Nabhaniilananda

Dada Nabhaniilananda, is a Tantra yogi, a meditation instructor, an author, a keynote speaker and a musician. Born in New Zealand, he was ordained as a yoga monk in India in 1979 and has been teaching meditation for 40 years. His book on meditation has been translated into twelve languages and is a standard text for meditation teachers all over the world. In addition to writing both fiction and non-fiction books, Dada has won several international song-writing awards, recorded eight musical albums and performed and spoken in more than forty countries, including playing to more than 10,000 people at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit where he appeared onstage with the Dalai Lama. Dada now lives in Silicon Valley, California, where he teaches courses and workshops at UC Berkeley, Apple, NVIDIA, Google, CISCO, Lam Research Intel and Facebook. Dada has also widely presented on the topic of AI and the Mind in the Silicon Valley.
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Dada will present a lecture entitled “Tantra –  Myth vs Reality: A guided introduction to Tantra Yoga” on Thursday, April 25th, from 7:00p to 8:30p. He is also part of the panel discussion entitled “Artificial Intelligence, The Mind, and Art and Aesthetics” on Saturday, April 27, from 2:00p to 3:00p.

Poornima Rao

Poornima Rao started learning Carnatic vocals from her mother Smt. Vijaya Subramhanyam, got her initial training in Veena from her sister, Smt. Sangeetha Srinidhi and subsequently took advanced training from renowned flute artist from the Mali school, Vidwan AV Prakash. She has studied sugama sangeetha extensively under Smt. H.R. Leelavathi, a recipient of the CCRT Scholarship and a graded AIR and Doordarshan artist. She has composed and directed musical ensembles for groups such as Stage Sanchaar and for community events including features for Indian Raga Labs. She is an active musician and active in local music organizations. Poornima continues to learn from visiting artists and local maestros alike, and teaches Saraswathi Veena and vocals. She currently works  as a Product manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories.

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Poornima Rao will lead a musical demonstration on veena in a lecture along with C. M. Venkatachalam entitled “Indian Music: A Guide to Its Features” on Saturday, April 13th from 3:30 to 4:40p.

Selva Kumaraswamy

Selva Kumaraswamy is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with a rich background spanning over 23 years in the industry. He has held key leadership positions including founding principal of a successful consulting practice, CEO of an early-stage startup, and CTO for several startups. Selva has been practicing meditation for over 2 decades. He has gone through over 1000 hrs. of training teaching meditation, and breath work, and conducts resilience training workshops. In his leisure time, Selva finds joy in playing the drums, engaging in carpentry, and cultivating vegetables on his farm, embracing a well-rounded and fulfilling lifestyle.
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Selva will present a Lecture and Guided Meditation Session entitled “Breathe Well, Live Well” on Friday, April 12th, from 7:00 to 8:00p.

Sitaram Ayyagari

Sri Ayyagari Sitaram garu is a Krishna Yajurvedi with training in Sanskrutam, Carnatic Music, and Jyotishya Sastram. He is a prolific writer and a speaker on various aspects of Veda mantras, Puranas and Itihasas. He founded “Sri Sarada School of Music – Houston” and has been training students in Carnatic Classical Music for a little over 15 years. He is the author of a book “The Science of Arunaprasna” which explains the science behind the Arunaprasna mantras, which are part of Krishna Yajurveda aaranyakam. By profession he is an IT engineer, working in the Oil & Gas industry, and is based in Houston, TX. He is an executive member for IHAR-USA.
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Sitaram will present a Lecture entitled “Mysticism of Vedanta in Carnatic Classical Music” on Saturday, April 27. RSVP detaisls coming soon.

Sowmya Bondugulapati

Born and raised in the vibrant tapestry of India, Sowmya Bondugulapati discovered her passion for art amidst a childhood filled with diverse cultural expressions and the kaleidoscope of nature’s wonders. For her, art  is the profound appreciation of wonder captured in myriad forms. It is the exquisite dance of colors on canvas, the intricate play of light and shadow, and the silent poetry of shapes and lines. In every stroke of the brush, in every sculpture’s curve, she finds the magic of existence unfolding before her eyes. Throughout her growth as an artist, Sowmya has remained deeply rooted in her Indian heritage as she continues to immerse herself in the world of art, constantly seeking new avenues of expression and inspiration.
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Sowmya will present a hands-on workshop and demonstration entitled “The Exquisite Tradition of Warli Art” on Saturday, April 6th, from 12:30 to 1:30p.

Srini Raghavan

Srini Raghavan, a senior technologist by profession, brings in a unique blend of engineering expertise, leadership and artistic sensibilities. He leverages a background in an entrepreneurial neuroscience startup, AI, theater arts and filmmaking( writing, direction, acting) and won several awards. Holding a Computer Engineering degree and a Master of Arts in Sanskrit Studies (majoring in Arts and Philosophy), Srini Raghavan demonstrates a lifelong commitment to learning and cultural exploration. He also serves on the board of Austin City Council. His passion for preserving ancient languages is further exemplified by serving as Education Director and volunteer teacher at Samskrita Bharati, an organization dedicated to reviving spoken Sanskrit. Srini has also served as lecturer at The University of Texas, Austin and taught Kannada language.

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Srini is part of the panel discussion entitled “Artificial Intelligence, The Mind, Art and Aesthetics” on Saturday, April 27, from 2:00p to 3:00p.

Sreeram Venkat

Sreeram Venkat has been learning Carnatic Music since the age of 5. He started learning from Smt. Shyamala Krishna in Kansas and later was under the tutelage of Smt. Geetha Ganesh in Cary, Sri Malladi Suribabu, and Smt. Malladi Vasavi in India. Currently, he is learning from Sri. Madurai R. Sundar in Detroit. He has given concerts and lecture-demonstrations throughout the USA and in India during the December Music Season. Sreeram graduated from NC State with degrees in Physics and Applied Mathematics. He is now doing his PhD at UT Austin in Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

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Sreeram will present a lecture-demonstration entitled “Exploring Mathematics in Carnatic Music” on Saturday, April 6th, from 2:00 to 3:00p.

Sunil Vasisht

Sunil Vasisht is an entrepreneur who has built two healthcare startups in the Houston area. He has had a series of leadership roles at Hewlett Packard Company, where he honed his skills in driving innovation and leading teams to success. Sunil’s academic background includes a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, providing him with a solid foundation in both technology and business. 

Beyond his professional endeavors, Sunil is actively engaged in community service. He has dedicated over 18 years to teaching Vedanta, an ancient Indian philosophy, to groups in The Woodlands, Texas. His commitment to education and personal growth is further exemplified by his leadership of a study group that recently celebrated completing 12 years of continuous Bhagavad Gita study. Sunil also brings together thought leaders and entrepreneurs annually to discuss the influence of the Gita on their personal and professional lives.

As a respected speaker, Sunil shares his expertise in healthcare at prominent conferences nationwide, contributing to the industry’s discourse on innovation and patient care.

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Sunil will present a lecture entitled “10 Big Ideas from Indian Philosophy: What India Can Teach the World” on Saturday, April 27th from 1:00 to 2:00p.

Swathy Vasudevan

Enter the world of Swathy Vasudevan – a luminary Kolam artist seamlessly bridging ancient artistry with modern innovation. By day, she navigates the tech world as an executive, while her passion for preserving culture shines through her intricate Kolam designs. Beyond art, she is a dedicated philanthropist leading the Austin Chapter of Aim for Seva as well as leading Sur Darbar a non-profit to promote and elevate classical Indian music. Passionate about preserving heritage, Swathy joyfully shares this beautiful art form with others, especially the future generations, fostering a legacy of creativity and cultural appreciation. With each Kolam stroke, she paints a pathway to cultural enrichment and artistic delight.

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Swathy will lead a hands-on workshop and demonstration on the art of kolam making on Saturday, April 20th from 12:00 to 1:30p.

Venkatesh Acharya

Venkatesh Acharya is a daytime engineer and during the evenings he dons the cap of dance and yoga teacher. He was born and brought up in a small town on the shores of sun kissed Arabian Sea, Udupi in India. Udupi is famous for food, music and dance. Venkatesh grew up eating, dancing while enjoying music. He is trained in the classical dance form Bharathanatyam and the folk style Yakshagaana, and he conducts yoga workshops regularly.
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Venkatesh will present a group natya yoga workshop on Friday, April 12, from 6:00 to 7:00p

Nilesh Goswami

Nilesh Goswami is a visual artist whose main goal is to understand the supreme truth through art as process. He is a self-taught artist, and his medium is currently digital art. With his father’s guidance, he started exploring art long before he can recall and has been doing it ever since. His most influential teachers and inspirations have been great musicians and composers, such as Thyagaraja, Andal, Surdas, and classical singers including M.S. Subbulakshmi, Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Prabha Atre, along with many others. The aim of his artwork is to reveal the deeper connection between all art forms, especially between visual art, singing, and dancing, and how all of these work together to reveal the Supreme Truth.

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Nilesh will lead a presentation and live demonstration showing his digital art process, addressing the benefits of art-making as it pertains to spiritual development, during Teen Night on Friday, April 26 from 7:00 to 7:45p.

Tara Srinivasan

Tara, a Westlake High School freshman, has studied Bharatanatyam for a decade under the tutelage of Smt. Vidhya Mani. She completed her Arangetram at the Dell Performing Arts Center and was then invited to perform at Guruvayoor temple in Kerala. With 7+ years of diverse dance training in ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop at Alisa’s Dance Academy and as a member of Austin Dance Elite, she was recently selected as a member of Westlake High School’s award-winning dance drill team – Hyline. Tara has mentored young dancers and conducted free camps in Austin and India. Beyond dance, she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and inspired by the efforts of the African community around Kilimanjaro, Tara embarked on a project to raise funds and supplies for them to help make a positive impact on their lives. Tara exudes a passion for both artistry and altruism, embodying a multifaceted personality.

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Tara will lead a hands-on workshop and demonstration on the art of bharatanatyam, addressing the benefits of dance as it pertains to the overall wellbeing of teens, during Teen Night on Friday, April 26, from 6:00 to 7:00p.