Anamika, the Founder of OBLF is a Software Professional, based out of Boston, MA. She has worked for companies like Sun Microsystems, Thomson Reuters/DTCC, The MathWorks, Optum/UnitedHealthGroup, Walmart Advanced Systems Robotics in the USA for 2 decades. With an undergrad degree in Architecture from MNIT Jaipur and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Anamika also has a demonstrated history of working in non-profit management. When she moved back to India in 2010, Anamika spent her time traveling to government schools in Bangalore and interacting with the children. Her experiences at these state-run schools cemented her beliefs about improving the quality of education and enhance learning experiences for children in rural India. Anamika’s mission to instill a love of learning in underprivileged children became the founding philosophy for OBLF and in July 2010, the organization was set up to meet those ends. Anamika has run full marathons for OBLF in Berlin, Mumbai, Chicago, Cape Town and Ottawa. She aspires to also run marathons in the remaining continents for this cause that is very close to her heart.
Arvind is a Senior Advisor to Private Equity firms and was formerly a Partner at New Silk Route. Prior to joining NSR in 2010, Arvind served as the Executive Director at JP Morgan Private Capital Asia, the Asian private equity arm of JP Morgan, where he was part of the founding team. He previously served as Director of TVG Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on telecom, media and information technology investments across Asia, where he started the firm’s India office. Arvind began his career at McKinsey and Company, where he developed strategic initiatives for leading global companies in the information technology and financial services industries, and has also worked at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners and Pequot Capital Management. Arvind has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Sridhar Pabbisetty is a Public policy and Urban Governance specialist. A recognized leader in Public Policy and Inclusive Governance, he has pioneered innovative campaigns and executed legal and policy interventions that lead to tangible reforms. Sridhar’s work earned him the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 from Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore.
As an Anchor Mentor at NSRCEL, the startup hub at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Prof. Sridhar Pabbisetty plays a pivotal role in guiding and nurturing early-stage startups across various sectors.
A former Senior Director at the School of Government, MIT Pune, Sridhar shaped the institution’s curriculum to equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary for political and governance excellence. As the Founding Director of Kautilya School of Public Policy, he laid the foundation for a leading institution that contextualizes global policy best practices to the Indian context.
Sridhar is a sought-after speaker on open governance, inclusive growth, and emerging technology, regularly addressing prominent national and international platforms, including the Harvard India Conference and the Mobile India Conference. A prolific writer, he has co-authored a case study for Harvard Business Review and contributed to Penn Press’s How Think Tanks Shape Social Development Policies. He also pens regular columns in major publications and is a media panellist on national and regional news channels.
A key figure in governance reform, Sridhar has contributed to the drafting of Bengaluru’s Conservation of Lakes legislation and served as an advisor to Sakala Mission, improving transparency and accountability in Karnataka's government. His expertise also includes electoral reforms, having led efforts for the 2008 Karnataka Assembly and 2009 Lok Sabha elections through National Election Watch.
Previously, Sridhar served as CEO of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, a non-profit focused on collective social engagement to improve urban life. He also held key roles as Chief Operating Officer at Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore and Chief Programs Officer at B.PAC (Bangalore Political Action Committee). With experience in the tech sector, Sridhar has worked with companies like Zyme Solutions, Aditi Technologies, and iCOPE Technologies, and has judged numerous startup competitions, including the Acara Challenge.
Sridhar holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and a BE in Computer Science from Bangalore University. His thought leadership spans topics such as empathy-driven government service redesign, social cartography, sustainability, urbanization, and policy reform, including the drafting of new laws, Right to Information, Public Interest Litigations, and social audits.
Dr. Biswanath Majumder, a seasoned leader in healthcare research, has over three decades of experience in translational medicine. He received his education and training at several premier institutes in India and abroad, including Presidency College, Kolkata; Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, and Hyogo Institute of Clinical Research, Kobe, Japan. He did his postdoctoral research in oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. During his 6-year tenure as a Research Associate in the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public Health, Dr Majumder studied HIV-1 host-pathogen interactions and gained critical insights into viral immunopathogenesis, including DNA vaccine approaches. A cancer immunologist by training, Dr. Majumder held senior positions at several deep-tech biopharma companies in India, where his team and he developed precision medicine tools and contributed to the innovative treatment solutions for oncology over the past 17 years. Dr. Majumder received his PhD in Cancer Immunology from Jadavpur University in 2000. He is the lead author and co-author of several highly cited publications and regularly presents his work at international meetings, writes, and serves as a reviewer for prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Presently, Dr. Majumder serves as a consultant and part of the leadership team in a personalized oncology company, and is authoring a book on the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna.
Dr. Amjad Husain is a scientist, entrepreneur, and innovation leader working at the intersection of research, technology, and social impact. He is Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at SRHU and Professor of Translational Cancer Research at the Cancer Research Institute in Dehradun, India. He is also a cofounder of Canfinis Therapeutics and Ulo Labs.
Earlier, he served as CEO of the Innovation and Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurship (IICE) at IISER Bhopal and also led the Centre for Science and Society. He has also held leadership roles in the biotech industry, including at Biocon Biologics, Avesthagen, and Cellworks.
Amjad holds a Masters in Biotechnology from IIT Roorkee, Ph.D. from ICGEB Delhi and completed his postdoctoral research at Harvard University. He has also attended executive programs in Business Management at Harvard Business School and Healthcare Innovation at Harvard Medical School.
With expertise in cancer research, drug discovery and translational science, he brings a cross-disciplinary perspective to innovation. His experience across academia, industry, and startups aligns with the mission of the One Billion Literate Foundation, especially in building scalable, science-based solutions for education and health equity.
Bijit Roy serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at OBLF.
Bijit brings 25 years of experience in public health, nutrition and youth well-being, with a strong focus on community-led action.
Previously, he spent nearly two decades at the Population Foundation of India (PFI), where he led the scaling up of Community Action for Health- a key pillar of the National Health Mission, covering 450 districts and 50+ cities across 30 states, on behalf of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). He also strengthened sexual and reproductive health programs in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and fostered collective civil society action through national networks and alliances, including Advocating Reproductive Choices Coalition.
Bijit has earlier worked with CARE managing nutrition and reproductive health programs in South Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and contributed to national level advocacy on Right to Food. He has served on multiple national advisory and expert groups under MoHFW, National Health Systems Resource Centre and earlier National AIDS Control Organization.
He is a Fellow of the Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System, contributing to its community engagement workstream.
Dr. Sudha Upadhyayula serves as the Chief Operating Officer at OBLF. She has valuable expertise in diverse verticals such as program and people management, process training, operations, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance.
Dr. Sudha brings 21 years of experience in the corporate and social sectors, having successfully managing a wide range of multi-locational programs and multicultural teams.
She is an accomplished professional with an MBA in Human Resources, a PG Diploma in Business Management, and a PG Diploma in International Humanitarian Law. She also holds a Ph.D. in Women's Studies from the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Dr. Sudha believes in lifelong learning and commitment to advancing knowledge to address critical social issues.
Sree Vidya Lakshmi is Chief Financial Officer at OBLF.
She brings over 20 years of experience and has been practicing actively for the past 9 years.
She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005. She has also completed IFRS (ACCA), Internal Audit and has diplomas in in Forensic Audit and Fraud Detection (ICAI).
Sree Vidya Lakshmi has a great love for learning and believes that one should strive to "learn until their last breath." She likes indulging in music, cooking, and traveling.
Mahesh brings over 20 years of rich experience spanning the corporate and social sectors, with more than a decade dedicated to driving impact in the development space. An engineer by training, he has been associated with OBLF since 2014, playing a key role in strengthening operations and field execution. After a brief entrepreneurial stint managing his own farmhouse, Mahesh has returned to OBLF as Director – Operations. His deep commitment to social service and passion for community development continue to anchor his journey with OBLF.
Dr. Roopa Devadasan has been working as a Public Health expert and school teacher, alternately and sometimes in parallel for the past 35 years. Trained in allopathy, there has been ongoing learning in other healing systems along the way, working with tribal and urban populations. The challenge ahead is to discover, in the Anekal Taluk , ground realities of the disadvantaged and to look for more equitable holistic health care solutions. Much work could be in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders, always with the community at the center.
Shalini serves as the Lead, Geriatric & Palliative Care under the Public Health Initiative at OBLF.
Inspired and influenced by Dr. Rajagopal’s work in the field of Palliative Care, Shalini made moved to the social sector from the corporate sector nearly a decade ago. Since then, she has led a team in operations and training as a Chief Executive Officer.
Later, as the National Facilitation Head at Pallium India, she led a team for developing new palliative care centers at government, non-government and private setups across India focusing on integrating palliative care into all levels of the healthcare system.
Shalini is an ex-corporate management professional with 18 years of experience with MNCs such as Genpact and Aon. In the corporate world, she delivered through leadership roles in Operations, Project Management, Business Development, Client Relations, Advocacy and Training & Development.
She is a compassionate go-getter, who enjoys exploring and discovering new opportunities to bring a positive change. With every new opportunity, Shalini endeavors to create innovative, collaborative, and mutually beneficial solutions for all stakeholders. An avid traveler, she loves to explore new places and cultures, learning through the journeys.
Dr. Rohit Kumar Kankar is a development sector professional with deep expertise in program implementation, monitoring & evaluation, public health systems, and ageing-focused programs. With over a decade of leadership experience across research institutions and non-profit organizations, he has successfully delivered evidence-based, scalable, and people-cantered interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable populations.
Dr. Rohit has held senior roles at organizations like HelpAge India and has worked closely with central and state governments to operationalize flagship initiatives such as ElderLine – 14567, senior day care centres, and long-term elder care services. He has also played a pivotal role in shaping geriatric training modules and capacity building efforts through national institutions like the National Institute of Social Defence and the National Institute of Open Schooling.
His strength lies in building robust M&E systems that drive data-informed decision-making, enhance program accountability, and generate real-time insights into social impact. He has led both international and indigenous research and implementation projects, aligning development outcomes with national policy frameworks and donor expectations. His contributions span policy research, impact assessments, capacity strengthening, and strategic advisory on elder welfare.
With six academic publications and extensive participation in national and international conferences, Dr. Rohit is recognized as a thought leader on issues related to ageing, program implementation, and inclusive development. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Panjab University, Chandigarh, with a specialized focus on the social dimensions of ageing in India.
At One Billion Lives Foundation, Dr. Rohit is driving a culture of learning, evidence, and adaptive programming ensuring that the foundation’s work is not only impactful but also replicable and responsive to the evolving needs of India’s most underserved communities.
Ketaki V. Nagaraju is the Lead, Communications & Policy at OBLF. She oversees and manages the organization's communications, and policy and advocacy initiatives.
Ketaki is a strategic communications and research professional with over a decade of experience across the social impact, publishing and media sectors. She endeavors to design integrated communication strategies grounded in evidence, clarity, gender equity and ethical practice.
She draws her experience from extensive associations with mission-driven institutions such as the International Center for Research on Women, the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, among other notable organizations.
Ketaki holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, and a Master’s Degree in English from St.Stephen’s College, University of Delhi.
Kavitha Kanchibhatta is the Subject Matter Expert, English Language Teaching (ELT) at OBLF.
She leads the organization's English Language Proficiency (ELP) and teacher development initiatives and guides curriculum design, training architecture, implementation quality, and continuous improvement across programs.
Kavitha brings over a decade of experience in English language teaching, instructional design, and academic program support across diverse educational contexts. She has demonstrated expertise in designing clear, practitioner-friendly training materials, strengthening teacher capacity, and developing language learning frameworks.
Before joining OBLF, Kavitha managed curriculum delivery at Head Held High Foundation, taught English in India and the United States, and contributed to education initiatives focused on literacy, professional development, and learning quality. These experiences have shaped her understanding of classroom realities and the support teachers need to thrive in diverse school environments.
Kavitha holds an MPhil and Post-Graduate Diploma in English Language Teaching from the English and Foreign Languages University (formerly CIEFL), and a master's degree in English Literature from the University of Hyderabad.
She is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities and has a keen interest in learning design, and community-driven education.
Sonali works as Senior Manager, Academic Products at OBLF.
She has been working in the education sector for over a decade, designing meaningful, engaging, and learner-centered experiences for children, adolescents, and young people.
At OBLF, she manages the development of learning products for students and teachers. She also works on developing the student assessment and tech platforms for monitoring program effectiveness.
Sonali brings a strong blend of field experience, instructional design expertise, and a profound understanding of working with facilitators, community educators, and learners. She has previously designed and led facilitator-led sessions and digital toolkits across areas such as English language learning, life skills, and career readiness. A significant part of her work has involved training and mentoring facilitators, supporting them to build participatory learning environments.
Before OBLF, she worked at Quest Alliance and Dream A Dream.
Sonali holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.
Prakash has over 10 year's experience in empowering educators and holistic development of children, across the Karnataka state. In his current role as Program Manager, he works towards forging new partnerships, ensures effective implementation of programs. trains the supervisors to overcome the field challenges and takes new initiatives for effective operations of the program. As a 'change leader', He is passionate about designing impactful and contextual interventions while ensuring all practices align with the organizational mission and the foundation's code of ethics."
Maruti serves as Operations Manager at OBLF, overseeing district-level program implementation, team support, and government stakeholder coordination.
He also leads internal capacity building efforts and conducts training sessions for community educators.
Maruti has extensive experience working with marginalized communities, underprivileged students, and government school teachers. He brings a unique combination of grassroots exposure, program management expertise, and a passion for designing learning materials and strengthening field operations.
Over the years, Maruti has held diverse roles in team management, stakeholder engagement, and educational interventions. He approaches challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, consistently aiming to deliver better outcomes.
His interests include reading, developing TLMs, and building strong relationships with the education ecosystem, all of which contribute to his commitment to improving program quality and supporting teams at OBLF.
Madhura embarked on her journey with a degree in biology, driven by a fascination with life’s complexities. She worked as an educator and coordinator, guiding students through the challenges of remote learning with creativity and support.
Now, as a Trainer & Coordinator at the One Billion Literates Foundation (OBLF), she collaborates with the team to empower individuals through a livelihood programme, equipping them with valuable skills for their futures. Outside of work, Madhura enjoys getting lost in the world of books.
Utkarsh works at the intersection of education and the social impact sector. As a Training & Design Associate, he helps enhance classroom impact in government schools through teacher training, coaching, and life skills development. A Teach For India alumnus, he has experience in classroom teaching, training, and community engagement, with a strong focus on building learning environments that combine creativity, leadership, and equity. Beyond work, he enjoys comedy, film, and football.
Dr. Manasa MC graduated in medicine from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China. She acquired valuable experience in Clinical Medicine and Neuro-rehabilitation at Apollo Hospitals before joining the OBLFin 2024. As the daughter of a farmer from Anekal and the first doctor in her family, Dr. Manasa possesses a unique and personal insight into the barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing essential healthcare services in Anekal. Her background fuels her commitment to addressing these healthcare challenges and improving services for those in need.
Mohit is a public health professional with keen interest in health systems, health policy, mental health, adolescent health, non-communicable diseases and research. He has rich work experience of working with grassroot level NGOs and has previously worked with Sangath, Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre of Excellence (UHCRCE) and Deepak Foundation. He has been a recipient of Infosys fellowship in public health in the past and was selected for India’s Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) fellowship program in the Cohort of 2023.
At One Billion Literates Foundation (OBLF), Mohit is a part of the public health team and provides technical support to the ongoing Community mental health and Non-communicable disease program. He will also be focusing on expanding public health initiatives at OBLF.
Outside work, Mohit enjoys reading non-fiction books and spending time with nature.
Anamika, the Founder of OBLF is a Software Professional, based out of Boston, MA. She has worked for companies like Sun Microsystems, Thomson Reuters/DTCC, The MathWorks, Optum/UnitedHealthGroup in the USA for 2 decades. With an undergrad degree in Architecture from MNIT Jaipur and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Anamika also has a demonstrated history of working in non-profit management. When she moved back to India in 2010, Anamika spent her time traveling to government schools in Bangalore and interacting with the children. Her experiences at these state-run schools cemented her beliefs about improving the quality of education and enhance learning experiences for children in rural India. Anamika’s mission to instill a love of learning in underprivileged children became the founding philosophy for OBLF and in July 2010, the organization was set up to meet those ends. Anamika has run full marathons for OBLF in Berlin, Mumbai, Chicago and Cape Town. She aspires to also run marathons in the remaining 3 continents for this cause that is very close to her heart.
Sarath Kuravi is an Entrepreneur and Community Organizer spending time building IT services organization specializing in Data Engineering & Analytics and volunteering for charitable organizations. For the past 20+ years he has been highly involved in community related initiatives providing leadership, vision and strategy for furthering the cause of Non-profits. He held board positions and executive leadership positions with IndoUS Chamber of Commerce Northeast Florida, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, Hindu Society of Northeast Florida, Children’s International Summer Villages whilst also volunteering for few other organizations. He received “40 under 40” award from Business Journal honoring 40 of Jacksonville's up-and- coming leaders under the age of 40 contributing to the local community. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from University of Toledo, OH and an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering NIT Jaipur.
Abhi is the founder of a digital marketing agency that has partnered globally with several startups to Fortune 500 companies. With a background in engineering and marketing, he combines his analytical skills with his creative skills to help his clients build and launch innovative brands and marketing campaigns. He's always been driven by a desire to make a real positive impact in the non-profit sector. Using the power of marketing for good, his goal is to help amplify OBLF's story and generate empowering change in creating lasting and scalable social good for all.
Rishwie Cauvery is a technologist, entrepreneur, and investor with over 25 years of experience in financial services, having worked with premier banking and asset management institutions in New York. She brings to every endeavor a strong belief in the power of technology, empathy, and equity to drive lasting positive change.
Throughout her career, Rishwie has combined deep technical expertise with strategic vision to drive innovation and transformation across complex business environments. She is passionate about rural education and animal welfare, and dedicates time and resources to initiatives that create sustainable opportunities and promote compassionate communities.
Rishwie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Mysore, India. In addition to her corporate leadership, she is an active advisor and investor among under-represented founders, supporting ventures that pursue double and triple bottom line outcomes—balancing profit with social and environmental impact.
Dr. Prajna Guha is an immunologist and program leader who has worked on new treatments like immunotherapy and cell therapies to improve care for cancer patients. She has held leadership roles at TriSalus Life Sciences and CharterCare Health Partners, where she has helped build preclinical and clinical programs and led community-anchored research initiatives. An Assistant Professor at Boston University and the University of Rhode Island, Prajna is equally committed to mentorship and expanding access to science in underrepresented communities. Her passion for nonprofit work stems from a strong belief in education and healthcare equity, and she brings to OBLF her blend of scientific expertise, leadership, and community engagement to help empower underprivileged sectors through inclusive opportunities.
Arindam is an accomplished business executive who manages a portfolio of Wipro’s Life Sciences and Medical Device business. Arindam lives in Westborough, MA, USA with his wife and two daughters. He spends most of his time outside of work volunteering for the community and for various causes in trying to help improve the lives of children, women and the needy people in various communities. In his free time, he loves gardening and hiking.
Scott Fortmann is retired after a career as a lawyer in private practice and then a career in human resources with Intel Corporation. Based upon his experiences working with non-profits in the US, Africa, and Asia, Scott believes strongly that the education of children, particularly girls, is critical to reducing poverty and promoting the economic development of communities. Scott joined OBLF in 2021 and serves as President of OBLF USA. In his spare time, he travels and rides his bike.