Fiercely Independent

Kiran Narain nee Kohli, grew up in Kashmir as the youngest daughter of Prem Nath Kohli, forrestor and pioneering botanist of Kashmir and Manager Private Estates to H.R.H. Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir. Growing up in a household of 6 sisters in Kashmir, Kiran's early years were spent in Baramulla until the Kabaili attack (1947) and then Srinagar. She taught English at the Women's College in Srinagar and moved to Calcutta after her marriage in 1965 to an officer of the Indian Revenue Services. She continued her association with Kashmir through the years, visiting her father's home each year and lived there again, once her husband was posted as Commissioner Income Tax with J&K under his jurisdiction from 1970-1985. She served as a social worker and was nominated as a Member of the Delhi Consumer's Forum in the 90’s. She continued writing as a freelance journalist for various newspapers & magazines and until recently was a columnist for The Tribune.

Jyotsna Singh was sent from the magical land of childhood Kashmir to boarding school at Lawrence School Sanawar; although she blesses her mother in hindsight, she never recovered from the shock of moving from Palace to boot-camp! Jyotsna studied Philosophy at Lady Shri Ram College and subsequently taught there, and gained a Ph.d for a thesis on Kierkegaard. In characteristic schizophrenic style, she gave it all up and went to live on a farm in Haryana, then at Ranikhet, in the Kumaon Himalayas with her husband Pradeep, a doctor who worked there through a charitable trust. Jyotsna (alias Jyoti) now lives for part of the year in her beloved Kashmir and runs the Dara Shikoh Centre for the Arts. In her other life, she lives and works in Delhi as a sculptor, enamellist and potter.

Devieka Bhojwani born in Mumbai has close links to the Kashmir Valley. Her late father, Rajbans Khanna, was Commander of the Peoples Militia, that defended Baramulla, against the Kabaili attack in 1947. Her Mother Usha, who lived in Srinagar, was a member of the womens wing, taking up arms in defense of Kashmir. Her mother also set up the Iconic Café Samovar in Mumbai. Devieka studied Textile Design at Sir J J Schools Of Art and went on to set up Brite Ideas an Event Management Company. She was instrumental in setting up ‘Womens Cancer Initiative’, with the Tata Memorial Hospital. Her commitment towards the Womens Cancer Initiative, stems from a strong belief that she has a mission to help people in need. She was recently invited to speak at The Conference Shakti: The Strength of A Woman and TedX, in Pune. She is a founder members of Citizens for Peace, a non-political organization dedicated to building a vibrant, secular, democratic Nation.

Sanjay Suri is an Indian actor and producer who made his debut in 1999 with Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. His big break was 2003’s Jhankaar Beats. He was the co-producer, director and lead actor of the film I AM. He is also co-founder of the film production company Anticlock Films. Born in 1971, in Srinagar, Kashmir, where he spent 19 years of his life, Sanjay developed a strong love for nature and the outdoors. As a child Suri was a star squash player on the state team. He has been honoured by Sandeep Marwah with membership to the International Film and Television Club of Asian Academy of Film & Television. His film I AM was awarded the David Flint Honorary Award for promoting human rights. The film also won the Best in Asian Cinema Award at the International Kerala Film Festival, went on to win the Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the Florence 'River to River' Festival in 2010 and was presented at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.