Dr. Farida Lambe

Member, Advisory Board

Dr. Farida Lambay is one of India’s most respected educationists, social reformers, and child rights advocates. A pioneering leader in the field of elementary education and community development, she has dedicated over four decades to ensuring quality education and equal opportunities for disadvantaged children. As the Co-founder and Trustee of Pratham Education Foundation, she has played a transformative role in building one of the world’s largest and most influential non-governmental organizations working to improve children’s learning outcomes.

A qualified social work professional, Dr. Lambay earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai. She began her career as a faculty member and later served as the Vice Principal of Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, where she pioneered several community-based initiatives linking education with social development. Her innovative Municipal School Project helped integrate professional social workers into Mumbai’s municipal school system, laying the foundation for sustainable collaboration between government and civil society.

In 1994, Dr. Lambay co-founded Pratham Education Foundation with the vision of ensuring that every child is in school and learning well. Under her leadership, Pratham developed innovative, scalable, and evidence-based learning models that have reached millions of children across India. The organisation’s programmes in foundational literacy and numeracy, community-based learning, and volunteer engagement have significantly influenced national education policy and have become internationally recognised models for improving learning outcomes.

Beyond Pratham, Dr. Lambay has initiated and nurtured several landmark social initiatives, including Prerana, an organisation working for the protection and rehabilitation of women and children in red-light areas, and YUVA (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action), which focuses on youth engagement and social development. Throughout her career, she has actively worked on issues related to child labour, early childhood education, women’s empowerment, disaster relief, and community mobilisation, consistently translating successful grassroots initiatives into public policy.

Dr. Lambay has served on numerous national and state-level committees related to education, child protection, and social welfare, including the Government of India’s Committee on Child Labour, the National Advisory Committee under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, the Maharashtra State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the Sachar Committee. Her expertise has contributed significantly to policy reforms in education, child welfare, and inclusive development.

In recognition of her exceptional contribution to education and social development, Dr. Lambay has received numerous honours, including the Ahilyabai Holkar Award from the Government of Maharashtra, the Sahyadri Navratna Award, and several other national recognitions for her lifelong commitment to educational equity and child rights.

As a Member of the Advisory Board of the Sharad Pawar Inspire Fellowship, Dr. Farida Lambay brings unparalleled expertise in education, social innovation, child development, and community leadership. Her lifelong commitment to inclusive education, grassroots empowerment, and evidence-based social transformation provides invaluable guidance to the Fellowship’s mission of nurturing compassionate, socially responsible, and future-ready leaders in Agriculture, Education, and Literature.

Mr. Girish Kuber

Member, Advisory Board

Mr. Girish Kuber is one of Maharashtra’s most respected journalists, authors, editors, and public intellectuals. With over three decades of distinguished experience in journalism, he has established himself as a leading voice on public policy, economics, politics, history, and governance. As the Editor of Loksatta, the Marathi daily of the Indian Express Group, he has significantly enriched public discourse through insightful editorial leadership, analytical writing, and an unwavering commitment to independent journalism.

A graduate in Science from the University of Mumbai, Mr. Kuber pursued postgraduate studies in Journalism at Savitribai Phule Pune University. He began his journalism career with Maharashtra Times before serving as Political Editor of The Economic Times. In 2006, he joined the Indian Express Group and later assumed the role of Editor of Loksatta, where he has led the newspaper with a focus on evidence-based reporting, thoughtful commentary, and intellectual rigor. He was also awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship by the Government of the United Kingdom, reflecting international recognition of his professional excellence.

Widely regarded for his deep understanding of India’s political economy and economic history, Mr. Kuber has authored several acclaimed books in Marathi and English. His best-known English works include The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation, Renaissance State: The Unwritten Story of the Making of Maharashtra, and The Invisible Enemy. His Marathi publications on history, geopolitics, economics, and contemporary affairs have received widespread appreciation for making complex subjects accessible to a broad readership while maintaining scholarly depth.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kuber has delivered lectures at leading universities, policy forums, literary festivals, and public institutions across India. His writings and public engagements encourage informed debate on governance, democracy, economic development, international affairs, and social transformation. He has consistently advocated the importance of critical thinking, intellectual inquiry, and evidence-based policymaking in strengthening democratic institutions and promoting inclusive development.

Mr. Kuber has been honoured with several prestigious awards for excellence in journalism and public communication, including the S. M. Garge Journalism Award, among other recognitions for his contribution to Marathi journalism and public discourse. His work continues to influence policymakers, academics, students, and readers across India.

As a Member of the Advisory Board of the Sharad Pawar Inspire Fellowship, Mr. Girish Kuber brings invaluable expertise in journalism, public policy, economics, governance, and intellectual leadership. His commitment to informed public discourse, analytical thinking, and knowledge-driven societal progress strengthens the Fellowship’s mission of nurturing future leaders in Agriculture, Education, and Literature, fostering critical inquiry, ethical leadership, and nation-building.

Mr. Satish Magar

Member, Advisory Board

Mr. Satish Magar is one of India’s most respected entrepreneurs, visionary urban planners, and pioneers of inclusive township development. As the Chairman and Managing Director of Magarpatta Township Development and Construction Company Ltd., he transformed a unique idea into one of the world’s most successful farmer-led urban development models. Under his leadership, Magarpatta City in Pune emerged as a globally recognized integrated township, demonstrating how landowners can become long-term stakeholders in urban development rather than merely sellers of land.

Coming from an agricultural family in Pune, Mr. Magar envisioned a development model that balanced economic growth with social equity. Instead of conventional land acquisition, he brought together more than 120 farming families as shareholders in the township project, enabling them to retain ownership and participate in the long-term value creation of their land. This innovative “Farmer Direct Investment (FDI)” model has become an internationally acclaimed case study in inclusive and sustainable urban development and has been studied by leading academic institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Under Mr. Magar’s leadership, Magarpatta City has evolved into a world-class, self-sustained township integrating residential neighbourhoods, commercial spaces, IT parks, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, recreational infrastructure, and extensive green spaces. The township is internationally recognised for its environmentally sustainable planning, incorporating rainwater harvesting, waste management systems, renewable energy initiatives, and nearly one-third of its area dedicated to green cover. The project has become a benchmark for integrated urban planning and sustainable development in India.

Building upon the success of Magarpatta City, Mr. Magar has also been instrumental in the development of Nanded City, another large-scale integrated township in Pune based on the same philosophy of planned urbanisation, environmental sustainability, and community-centric development. His work has demonstrated how visionary leadership, innovation, and stakeholder participation can create economically vibrant and socially inclusive cities.

Mr. Magar has held several leadership positions in India’s real estate sector. He served as the National President of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), where he worked to promote transparency, sustainable development, policy reforms, and professionalism across the real estate industry. Throughout his career, he has consistently advocated responsible urbanisation, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, and collaborative development models that benefit both communities and the economy.

His contributions have earned widespread recognition from industry, government, and academic institutions. Magarpatta City has received numerous national and international awards for excellence in township planning, environmental sustainability, and innovative urban development, establishing itself as one of India’s most successful planned cities.

As a Member of the Advisory Board of the Sharad Pawar Inspire Fellowship, Mr. Satish Magar brings invaluable expertise in entrepreneurship, sustainable urban development, innovation, community leadership, and institution building. His pioneering work in creating inclusive development models and empowering communities aligns closely with the Fellowship’s vision of nurturing future leaders committed to sustainable development, innovation, and nation-building.

Prof. (Dr.) Charudatta Digambarrao Mayee

Member, Advisory Board

Prof. (Dr.) Charudatta Digambarrao (C. D.) Mayee is one of India’s most distinguished agricultural scientists, plant pathologists, science administrators, and policy leaders. With over five decades of exemplary service to Indian agriculture, he has made pioneering contributions to plant protection, crop disease epidemiology, cotton biotechnology, agricultural research management, and science-based policymaking. His work has significantly influenced India’s agricultural transformation by integrating scientific innovation with sustainable farming practices, benefiting millions of farmers across the country.

Dr. Mayee obtained his higher education in agricultural sciences with specialization in Plant Pathology and dedicated his career to research, teaching, institution building, and agricultural administration. He developed internationally recognized disease prediction models and identified disease hotspots for several economically important crops, particularly in semi-arid regions. His pioneering research in plant disease management and crop protection has substantially enhanced agricultural productivity and resilience in India.

A renowned authority on cotton improvement and agricultural biotechnology, Dr. Mayee played a pivotal role in the scientific evaluation and regulatory approval of Bt Cotton in India. As Co-Chairman of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), he led several landmark initiatives to establish transparent, science-based biosafety assessment protocols for genetically modified crops. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing biotechnology as a key driver of sustainable agricultural development in India.

Dr. Mayee has held several of the highest leadership positions in India’s agricultural research and governance system. He served as Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), Government of India, Agriculture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Director of the ICAR–Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, and Vice-Chancellor of Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani. During his distinguished administrative career, he also chaired the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) and served on numerous national committees responsible for agricultural research, biotechnology regulation, and human resource development.

Even after his retirement from government service, Dr. Mayee continues to contribute actively to agricultural innovation and policy. He currently serves as President of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), Vice President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Chairman of AFC India Ltd., and Advisor to the Agrovision Foundation. Through these roles, he continues to promote cutting-edge technologies, climate-resilient agriculture, precision farming, biotechnology, and farmer-centric innovation across South Asia.

An accomplished researcher and mentor, Dr. Mayee has authored numerous scientific publications and guided research in plant pathology, crop protection, biotechnology, and agricultural policy. His scientific leadership has earned him national and international recognition, including the FICCI Distinguished Lifetime Contribution Award, the ICAC Researcher of the Year Award, the Annasaheb Shinde Award, the Padma Bhushan Dr. Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil National Award, and several Lifetime Achievement Awards. He has also received honorary doctorates and has served on international scientific organizations such as ISAAA and the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE).

As a Member of the Advisory Board of the Sharad Pawar Inspire Fellowship, Prof. (Dr.) C. D. Mayee brings unparalleled expertise in agricultural science, research leadership, innovation, and public policy. His lifelong commitment to scientific excellence, technology-driven agricultural transformation, and farmer welfare provides invaluable guidance to the Fellowship’s mission of nurturing future leaders in Agriculture, Education, and Literature, fostering innovation, evidence-based thinking, and sustainable rural development.