Under The Banyan

Meet the Team

Under the Banyan is shaped by a collective of practitioners, facilitators, and mentors who bring together lived experience, professional depth, and a commitment to thoughtful learning.

Our team comes from diverse fields — education, arts, social impact, wellness, technology, finance, and community building — and is united by a shared belief: that learning happens most meaningfully through presence, curiosity, and relationship.

Rather than teaching from a distance, we work alongside participants — listening closely, asking careful questions, and offering guidance drawn from years of practice in the real world.

Niraj Prakash — Founder and Director of Under The Banyan

Niraj Prakash

Founder & Director
Bridging inner grounding with real-world readiness.
Arvind Dixit — Finance Educator and Mentor

Arvind Dixit

Finance Educator & Mentor
Bringing clarity, calm, and long-view wisdom to life decisions.
Pervin Bhasin — Learning and Development Practitioner

Pervin Bhasin

Learning & Development Practitioner
Holding transformative spaces with empathy, courage, and joy.
Shantnu Tandon — Social Entrepreneur and Educator

Shantnu Tandon

Social Entrepreneur & Educator
Grounding education in service, imagination, and lived realities.
illesha k — Interdisciplinary Artist and Researcher

illesha k

Interdisciplinary Artist & Researcher
Weaving art, learning, and care into connective ways of being.
Nadezhda Mihaylova — Leadership Coach and Faculty

Nadezhda Mihaylova

Leadership Coach & Faculty
Evoking values-based leadership with presence and precision.
Vishnumohan Rethinam — Legal Advisor and Yoga-Mindfulness Mentor

Vishnumohan Rethinam

Legal Advisor & Yoga–Mindfulness Mentor
Uniting discipline and compassion in an increasingly digital world.
Silvia Andreeva — Mentor, Learning Strategist, and Human Connector

Silvia Andreeva

Mentor, Learning Strategist, Human Connector
Designing learning spaces where structure meets soul.
Manisha Sobhrajani — Writer and Researcher

Manisha Sobhrajani

Writer & Researcher
Listening deeply to histories of resilience, justice, and care.