Nikhil Mandalaparthy is a researcher, organizer, educator, and curator whose interests lie at the intersection of religion, art, and social justice. He has been part of Sadhana since 2016, and he is currently a PhD student in religious studies at Emory University. Nikhil also curates Voices of Bhakti, a digital archive showcasing translations of South Asian poetry on religion, caste, and gender. As a journalist, he has reported on religion and politics in India, South Africa, and the United States. Nikhil grew up in the Seattle area and obtained undergraduate and master's degrees in public policy from the University of Chicago. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in nature, trying out new recipes, and listening to Carnatic music and qawwali.

Neha is a wildlife ecologist and facilitator born and raised in a Wārkarī-Marāthā immigrant family in a suburb of Tovaangar/Los Angeles. Drawn to Sadhana’s practice of bridging Hindu values with social and ecological justice, she joined the organization in 2023 and now co-facilitates Satsang for Collective Liberation and leads grant writing and science collaborations for Project Prithivi. 

Neha’s Hindu practice is rooted in family stories, Kathak training, and balvihar. She brings this foundation to her work, approaching environmental stewardship and organizing as forms of bhakti. She is committed to work that challenges oppressive systems and colonial land relations while co-creating across biocultural traditions, worldviews, and species. Neha lives in Lǔnaapeewàhkiing/New York City and currently serves as a Wildlife & Fisheries Ecologist for NYC Parks. She enjoys dance, poetry, and being outside with friends, human or otherwise.

Shashank is a current doctoral student at the University of Toronto, working on Hindu intellectual history in South India. Growing up, he was raised in a Sankethi-Kannadiga immigrant family in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, with roots in Sai Bhakti and Smarta Śaivism. He now practices within the Trika-Pratyabhijñā tradition while integrating insights from Śrīvaiṣṇavism, devotional traditions, and the Vedānta schools. Shashank joined Sadhana in college as a volunteer in 2016 to bring his faith and concerns about social justice together, and joined the board in 2022.

Shashank received his Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School, with a previous background in international affairs. Inspired by Grace Lee Boggs’ call to “grow our souls”, his work in Sadhana revolves around theological education, serving as a co-facilitator of the Satsang for Collective Liberation. He is committed to developing new formations of Hindu theological learning and leadership in the American academy and opening up possibilities for interfaith dialogue. In his spare time, he writes poetry in Classical Kannada, develops constructed languages, and practices Taekwondo.

Esha Khurana MD MPH is a psychiatrist and therapist interested in the intersection of modern psychology and contemplative practice. She grew up going to a North Indian mandir and has roots in Advaita Vedanta, mahamudra buddhism and Nondual Saivism. Her work explores how relational healing, meditation, and imaginal approaches can support psychological transformation. Alongside her clinical training, she has been drawn to contemplative traditions that examine the nature of mind and suffering, and she is particularly interested in practices that cultivate inner safety, compassion, and curiosity. Esha lives in Pittsburgh with her family and enjoys hiking, writing poetry, dancing and cooking.

Samir studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell University and is currently based in Rockville, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. While serving as a leader in the Hindu and South Asian communities at Cornell University, Samir was inspired by Sadhana’s pillars of ekatva, ahimsa, and seva. It was in this spirit that he began efforts to search for and hire Cornell’s first Hindu chaplain. After graduation, Samir joined Sadhana in 2018. He is driven by the belief in oneness-of-all and the inherent social justice principles within Hinduism. Having learned about Hindu philosophy through Bal Vihar classes, Samir hopes to continue developing inclusive and progressive Hindu communities in the diaspora while strengthening interfaith relationships.

Rucha Modi is an educator, facilitator, and leadership coach working at the intersections of conflict transformation and ethical leadership. She was born and raised in a politically and culturally diverse suburb in California on Tongva (Gabrielino) land, in an inter-caste, savarna Gujarati Hindu family. These experiences continue to shape her commitment to intercommunal repair and social transformation within and beyond Hindu communities.

She holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a B.A. from UCLA, and her teaching and facilitation practice focus on group dynamics and adaptive leadership. She joined Sadhana’s Board in January 2024. In her free time, she enjoys making music with friends and teaching pilates.