Mankiran Chowhan (Vice-President)

Mankiran considers herself the “sum of many parts”: Leading the Financial Services & Consumer industries for Salesforce India, she’s a technology business leader fuelled by the mission of accelerating a high-performance growth culture. In the past, she served as Managing Director, SAP Concur, as well as Country Manager, Sales at Gartner. An actively involved mom of two boys, she also loves picnics in the park, board games, sports, library visits, travelling and adventure — sky diving, scuba diving, roller coasters? Count her in! A mentor once told her, “When you’re green, you grow; when ripe, you rot,” leading her to become a big believer in the growth mindset, constantly challenging herself to learn something new each day, even if it’s just the new slang from the kids – “Ohio/skibidi/mid are the latest additions to my vocab :), ” she says.

Jyotsna Brar (Treasurer)

Jyotsna retired as Principal of Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun, after a tenure of 16 years. In her 35-year long career as a teacher, she spent time with children, books and other teachers who brought vast and varied learning and knowledge. Despite her administrative responsibilities, she remained happiest interacting with students and colleagues in and outside class. Her love of literature, languages, the outdoors and the arts found scope in the academic and co-curricular aspects of education. Having gained extensive experience in administration in the later decades of her career, she served on the governing bodies of several eminent schools and education boards of the country. Settled in Dehradun after her retirement, travel, music, books and nature remain her great interests. She continues to give her time to professional development programmes for teachers and advisory work for schools and local social sector institutions.

Jo Chopra (Secretary)

Jo is one of the founders of Latika and currently serves as its Executive Director. She has one husband, three children and four grandchildren (one of whom is still on the way). She loves both writing and reading (usually finishing 7 or 8 books every month) and is currently passionate about architecture and design. She is amusingly fluent in Hindi and, until osteoporosis struck, was an intrepid walker. She is now a very cautious and mindful one.

Dr. Satendra Singh (Member)

Dr. Satendra Singh is a Professor of Physiology, Co-founder of the Health Humanities Group at University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi. He is a MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics fellow and Bucksbaum International Scholar at the University of Chicago. He is also an executive member of the Delhi Medical Council.

As a firm believer in diversity and inclusion, he believes in breaking not just physical barriers but also attitudinal barriers. He is the first Indian to be awarded the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was also awarded the National Award in 2021 by the Hon’ble President of India. He is the organizational head of ‘Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change’ – a group of health professionals with disabilities for social justice.

Savita Thapliyal (Member)

Savita is an old friend of the Foundation who has served on our General Body for many years. She is a trained special educator and worked with us for many years in various capacities (including as a volunteer). She began as our office manager back in 1997 and in 2004, she took over as the head of our adult training centre. After her resignation in 2009, Savita became a well-regarded expert on sexuality and disability, conducting workshops and trainings around the country. She has actively supported us in this regard as well.

Savita lives in Vasant Vihar and regularly attends our functions, drops in at Latika Vihar often and knows many of the team personally.

Sachin Sachdeva (Member)

Sachin is a co-founder of Gramin Shiksha Kendra, an organisation helping local communities inspire government schools to improve their standards. GSK works with over 70 schools around Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan.

With over 25 years of experience in the voluntary vihars of India, Sachin is a systems thinker with a clear sense of what works and what doesn’t. Currently the director of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s India programme, he has been on both sides of the desk: giving funds as well as seeking them for his own organizations. His sense of humor and strategic mind are enormous assets for Latika in this season of rapid growth.