Ms. Gitarani Bhattacharya – CHAIRPERSON
Ms. Gitarani Bhattacharya, Trustee (Guwahati) – is a gender rights activist who has led the Assam chapter Assam Mahila Samata Society, a government of India programme for women’s empowerment for almost two and a half decades. She has worked actively in mobilising grassroots women leadership to collectivise and fight for their rights from society and from the state.
Mr. Debojit Brahma
Mr. Debojit Brahma, Trustee (Rowmari, Chirang) – A printer & publisher by profession; Debojit also heads the Bodo Cultural Association; he has also translated and printed a number of books into the Bodo Language.
Mr. V.K Madhavan
Mr. V.K Madhavan, Trustee (New Delhi) – Ex-Executive Director, CHIRAG, a large voluntary organisation working in many districts in the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand; Madhavan is now based in Delhi and heads the India Chapter of WaterAid, U.K ; has experience of working in senior positions in NGOs for 25 years and as a consultant for national and international NGOs.
Mr. Dhananjay Brahma
Mr. Dhanjay Brahma, Trustee (Guwahati) – hails from neighbouring village of Dhahalapara in Rowmari. He is currently working as a lecturer of English in Bengtol College, around 25 kms from the ant’s campus. Dhananjay is very active in the local area and also in promoting the work of the ant among college students and his colleagues.
Ms. Shannon Donna Massar
Shannon Dona Massar, Trustee (Shillong, Meghalaya) – She is co-founder and currently, the Executive Director of Faith Foundation based in Shillong. Shannon and her organization works on issues of child protection, especially against child sexual abuse. In the board of the ant, Shannon brings in experience and insights from other Northeast states and helps guide programme, especially on gender equality and our work with youth and adolescent girls in particular.
Suja Warria
Suja Warria holds dual master’s in psychology and business management (HR). Her career includes roles as Lead Project Manager in Education and Research, Senior Lead in Corporate Sustainability, and Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at Infosys Limited. She also served as Director of Academia at Wequity, focusing on advancing women in technology.
Founders
Jennifer Liang
Jennifer Liang is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in community development and NGO leadership. She holds a MA in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Jennifer is the founder of the Indian Chinese Cultural Association. She played a pivotal role as the founder and Executive Director of the organization “the ant” from 2006 to 2016. She is also a founding trustee of Aagor Daagra Afad, a weavers’ collective in Assam that supports tribal women and strengthens the local economy. In a groundbreaking initiative, Jennifer started the first all-girls’ Lion Dancing Troupe in India, challenging gender norms within the Indian-Chinese community.In addition to her work in these organizations, Jennifer has served as the Northeast Representative for Ashoka Innovators for the Public, a USA-based international NGO. With over a decade of experience in rural development, she has worked across Northeast India, motivating and supporting youth and change-makers.
Dr Sunil Kaul
Dr Sunil Kaul, worked with the Army Medical Corps for ten years before working in the Social Sector. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London and a Certificate in Rational Drugs Use and Essential Drug Management from Robert Gordon University. His core Competence include Organizational Ethics, Strategic Planning, Project Formulation and Ethical Management of institutions. His technical expertise covers maternal and Child Health including Child Nutrition and Child Survival, Essential and Rational Drug therapy, TB, Malaria and on Mental Health Care. He also served as a Development Advisor to the Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam until May 2024.He is currently on the Governing Boards of Jan Swasthya Sahyog, which provides low-cost health services in rural Chhattisgarh; LOCOST, which supplies low-cost, rational drugs in Gujarat; Aagor Daagra Afad, a weavers’ collective in Assam supporting tribal women and the local economy.
Padma Shri Ravindranath Upadhaya
Padma Shri Ravindranath Upadhaya, a distinguished Gandhian and founding trustee, devoted over 50 years to serving the people of Assam. He completed his college studies at Banaras Hindu University and was inspired by Subhas Chandra Bose to join the Indian independence movement. He established the Tamulpur Anchalik Gramdan Sangha (TAGS), in the Tamulpur village of Assam, which is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting village industries like silk, khadi, honey, and oil. TAGS then evolved into a Khadi Gramodyog Training Center. Padma Shri Upadhaya also founded a Peace Centre in Kumarikata village, Nalbari District. Recognized for his exceptional contributions, he was honored with the Padma Shri Award for Social Work. Aligning with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, he initiated the New Weavers’ Training Centre, equipping villagers with skills in cottage industries and providing essential infrastructure such as work-sheds, hostels, oil presses, and bee-boxes. He passed away on April 21, 2010.