The Devis

Chitra Visweswaran

Classic act

Chitra Visweswaran is a towering figure in the world of dance, renowned not only as an exceptional dancer, choreographer, composer, and lyricist but also as an intuitive teacher and visionary.

With a rich background encompassing Carnatic music, Western Ballet, Manipuri, Kathak, Rabindranritya, Rabindrasangeet, and theatre, Chitra’s journey in the arts began at a young age. The Padma Shri Awardee’s remarkable body of work has graced some of the most prestigious stages around the world.

Arundhathi Subramaniam

Poet and author

Arundhathi Subramaniam is a leading poet and author of 14 books of poetry and prose. Her most recent work includes the landmark Penguin anthology of Indian female mystic poetry, Wild Women.

Her prose includes the much-reprinted Book of Buddha and the bestselling biography of a contemporary mystic, Sadhguru: More Than a Life. Her awards include the Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry 2020 and more.

Rajavalli Rajiv

Entrepreneur

An ecological entrepreneur who wishes to see a world with zero garbage, Rajavalli Rajiv is a passionate designer and upcycling couturier. She is also an ardent yoga practitioner and an indomitable Reiki believer. br>
A motivational speaker and a counselling psychologist who works on individual empowerment, Rajavalli Rajiv is also a licensed TEDx organiser and a language enthusiast.

Omana Thomas

Educator

Omana Thomas has been the Principal of Sishya, Adyar, since 2002. Her push for inclusivity has led to an overwhelming demand for seats, surpassing the capacity of the original Adyar campus.

In response, she has overseen the expansion of the Sishya brand, collaborating with like-minded trusts to form Sishya OMR and now Ampa Sishya. Omana received the 100 Most Influential Principals of Indian Schools Award, among other honours.

Jerlin Anika

Arjuna Awardee

Starting her career at the tender age of 8, Jerlin Anika faced unique challenges as a deaf and mute athlete. At the age of 13, she made her debut on the international stage at the 2017 Deaflympics, held in Turkey.

Jerlin also competed in mainstream badminton tournaments. In the 2022 Deaflympics, she won three gold medals for India. The Government of Tamil Nadu has supported the Arjuna Awardee's journey.

Khatija Rahman

Musician

Khatija Rahman, a musician from Chennai, is a passionate advocate for freedom and peace. She made her playback singing debut in the 2010 sci-fi action film Robot, performing the title track in Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu alongside musical legends like her father AR Rahman and SP Balasubrahmanyam.

In 2019, she collaborated with the iconic Irish band U2. In 2023, the musician also marked her debut as a music composer with the film Minmini.

Dr Lakshmi Venu

Business leader

Dr Lakshmi Venu is a distinguished leader in the Indian industrial landscape. Lakshmi is the Director of TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, one of India’s largest manufacturers of tractors and agricultural equipment in the world.

She is also the Deputy Managing Director of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited (TMTL), a pivotal division of TAFE. In addition, she holds the position of Managing Director at Sundaram-Clayton Ltd, a leading automotive components manufacturer.

Preethi Srinivasan

Co-founder, Soulfree

Despite a life-changing accident at the age of 18, which left her paralysed below the neck due to a severe spinal cord injury, Preethi Srinivasan Co-founded Soulfree.

It is a public charitable trust established in August 2013, dedicated to supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. She is a published author and passionate advocate for disability rights and inclusion.

Sudha Ragunathan

Music maestro

Sudha Ragunathan is one of India’s foremost Carnatic vocalists. A disciple of the legendary Padma Bhushan awardee Dr ML Vasanthakumari, Sudha has evolved a style of her own where the soul of her music lies in the dynamism of her presentation.

The Padma Bhushan Awardee is also the only Carnatic musician second to Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi to have sung at the United Nations.

Suchithra Balasubramanian

Harikatha exponent

Suchithra Balasubramanian is a multi-faceted musician — Carnatic vocalist, Harikatha exponent, Namasankeertanam artist and playback singer. Being the granddaughter and disciple of the legendary Kalaimamani Thanjavur TR Kamala Murthy, she started her musical journey under eminent gurus at the tender age of three. She has over 10,000 performances to her credit at various sabhas, temples and beyond, across India and overseas.

Dr Sudha Seshayyan

Director, SASTRA University, Chennai

Dr Sudha Seshayyan is a doctor, teacher and administrator. Beyond that, she is an educationist, a spiritual scholar and orator. The prominent author and writer is a Tamil and Sanskrit literary resource who has also been a quiz master and a media personality for over 35 years.