Who We Are – chindu

Guiding Minds

Discover the visionary leaders who steer our mission with their strategic insight and unwavering dedication. At Chindu, our guiding minds play a crucial role in shaping our direction and ensuring the success of our initiatives. Learn about the distinguished individuals whose guidance and wisdom propel us forward.

B. Narsing Rao

A Multitalented Visionary of Telugu Cinema and Theatre, Hyderabad

B. Narsing Rao

A Multitalented Visionary of Telugu Cinema and Theatre, Hyderabad

B. Narsing Rao, an acclaimed Indian film director, screenwriter, litterateur, composer, poet, producer, actor, and painter, has significantly influenced Telugu cinema and theatre. He has won five National Film Awards, three Nandi Awards, and numerous international honors while mentoring young writers and artists across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Rosemary Vishwanath

Director, Learning Network, Bangalore

Rosemary Vishwanath

Director, Learning Network, Bangalore

Rosemary Viswanath. Organization Consultant, Managing Trustee, Group Relations India. Has been on staff and directed group relations conferences in India and internationally since 1987. Consults on leadership, strategy, and change processes with not for profit, government and corporate organizations using the group relations lens and with a concern for human rights and dignity. Deeply interested in Buddhist philosophy and practice in the contemporary world.

Mirza Yawar Baig

President of Yawar Baig & Associates, Hyderabad

Mirza Yawar Baig

President of Yawar Baig & Associates, Hyderabad

Mirza Yawar Baig is the President of YAWAR BAIG & ASSOCIATES™. He is an Advisor, Author, Life Coach, Corporate Consultant and published author with over 40 years’ experience and 42 books. His specialty is Leadership Development. Yawar’s core commitment to truth, fidelity and social justice with integrity drives his engagement. Yawar Baig & Associates – Opening the world, one mind at a time.
https://yawarbai.com

Mu Ramaswamy

Professor of Drama & Actor, Chennai

Mu Ramaswamy

Professor of Drama & Actor, Chennai

Mu Ramaswamy is an Indian theatre artist, professor of drama, and actor best known for his dramas Durgira Avalam, a Tamil adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone, and Kalagakkarar Thozhar Periyar, a biography of the life of Periyar. He later moved on to playing major roles in Tamil films starting with Joker (2016) and K.D. (2019).

Rekha Abel

Secretary, Prajwala Sangham, Senior Consultant, Bangalore

Rekha Abel

Secretary, Prajwala Sangham, Senior Consultant, Bangalore

Dr. Rekha Abel, with a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, has extensive experience in education and child rights. She spent 15 years at Catholic Relief Services and later worked as a Senior Consultant to the Andhra Pradesh government. Based in Bangalore, she focuses on child rights, education, and Dalit human rights.

Evan Hastings

Drama Therapist & Educator, USA

Evan Hastings

Drama Therapist & Educator, USA

Evan Hastings is a Drama Therapist, Performing Artist and Academic. Evan’s teaching experience includes Harvard, Lesley University, University of Otago, Evergreen State College, Xaivier’s College Mumbai, and Srishti Manipal Institute. Evan is Faculty at Azim Premji University and serves on the board of Drama Therapy India and the Governing Council of The MIECAT Institute, Australia." https://evanhastings.com

Programme Experts

Meet the talented individuals behind our transformative programs. At Chindu, our team of dedicated professionals brings a wealth of experience and passion to each project. Explore the diverse expertise and innovative approaches they offer to empower individuals, organizations, and communities on their journey to creative and cultural mastery.

Parsapu Suresh Kumar

Cofounder & Secretary

Parsapu Suresh Kumar

Cofounder & Secretary

With over twenty years of experience, Suresh integrates a passion for leadership empowerment and social transformation with strong teaching skills. He guides individuals, groups, and organizations in developing personal effectiveness and social awareness. Suresh is also a singer-songwriter, performing at national and international events, and an accredited trainer at the Centre for Playback Theatre.

Swarna Sabrina Francis

Cofounder and Director

Swarna Sabrina Francis

Cofounder and Director

With over 20 years in social development, Sabrina has creatively led numerous leadership and theatre workshops. She is an accredited Playback Theatre trainer and has performed nationally and internationally. Passionate about process work, she designs unique activities to enhance participants' skills, driven by her dream of a violence-free life for women.

Manola Gayatri

Jungian Artistic Researcher & Consultant

Manola Gayatri

Jungian Artistic Researcher & Consultant

Dr. Manola Gayatri Kumaraswamy holding a PhD from JNU, is a Jungian Artistic Researcher and Consultant. She currently teaches at the Dept of Communication Studies at Mount Carmel College Autonomous inn Bangalore, and holds the position of Research Associate at Wits School of Arts, Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. Her extensive training encompasses various theatre styles, including Adishakti, Kalakshetra Manipur, Grotowski, and Gardziniece.

Goutham Sarika

Programme Associate

Goutham Sarika

Programme Associate

Goutham Sarika brings a vibrant creativity and passion for theatre to Chindu. Her organic energy enhances her role as an emerging trainer in life skill development, organizing impactful training sessions and performances. Dedicated to empowering women, she focuses on addressing gender-based issues to foster community development and empowerment.

Shirisha Purnakanti

Programme Associate

Shirisha Purnakanti

Programme Associate

Shirisha Purnakanti, driven by personal and community narratives, organizes impactful programmes and performances at Chindu with a strong sense of purpose. She specializes in developing theatre and communication skills among students, leveraging her insights to nurture growth and expression in young minds.

Keerthana Jagadhish

Training Associate

Keerthana Jagadhish

Training Associate

Keerthana holds a Master's degree in Psychology. She started as a facilitator at the Themenos Research Center, preserving hereditary knowledge. Transitioning to coordinator roles at Scribe Rites, she also served as a student counselor and trainer at Sri Chaitanya Techno School in Bangalore.

Abhay Srivastava

Training Associate

Abhay Srivastava

Training Associate

Abhay is an independent embodied researcher, actor, yoga practitioner, trainer, and consultant. Drawing on his diverse interests in group work, dreams, somatics, performance, and psychology, he relies on a multidisciplinary approach in his pursuit of self-realization. Committed to personal and communal growth, he actively engages in performance and peer skills, knowledge, and resource sharing.

K Keerthana

Training Associate

K Keerthana

Training Associate

K. Keerthana, a psychology graduate with over 6.5 years of administrative experience in pharma and NGOs, is currently a Child Helpline Project Coordinator in the WCD&SC Department under Mission Vatsalya. She is dedicated to supporting children's growth and marginalized communities, helping them reach their potential with empathy and psychological insight.

Sathyam Talari

Training Associate

Sathyam Talari

Training Associate

Dr. Talari Satyam holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Osmania University, specializing in poverty alleviation and child labor. With extensive experience as a Program Officer in various NGOs, he has expertise in planning, coordination, and community mobilization. He is deeply committed to eradicating child labor and supporting vulnerable children.

Cimba Parsapu

Theatre and Cultural Consultant

Cimba Parsapu

Theatre and Cultural Consultant

Cimba Parsapu, a gold medalist in Theatre Arts, is a passionate theatre practitioner, artistic curator, and musician. With 10+ years of experience and a professional practice across India, Cimba uses the arts to empower underrepresented communities, challenge systemic oppression, and foster healing. His diverse work includes engagements from Delhi to Arunachal Pradesh and South India.

Partners and Patrons

Celebrate the incredible network of supporters who make our work possible. Our partners and patrons are the backbone of Chindu, providing essential resources and collaboration. Meet the organizations and individuals whose generosity and partnership enable us to create lasting impact and drive cultural and creative development.

Guiding Minds

B. Narsing Rao

Rosemary Vishwanath

Mirza Yawar Baig

Mu Ramaswamy

Rekha Abel

Evan Hastings

Programme Experts

Parsapu Suresh Kumar

Swarna Sabrina Francis

Manola Gayatri

Goutham Sarika

Shirisha Purnakanti

Keerthana Jagadhish

Abhay Srivastava

K Keerthana

Sathyam Talari

Cimba Parsapu

Partners and Patrons

National & International Partners

Donors and Sponsors