the team

The individuals in the AJA team represent the dynamic energy of creative India. Each has world class skills within their area of expertise but also possess expertise in communicating the nuances of Indian cultural and intellectual life. All these people comprehend the AJA mission - to faithfully represent and share the wonder of India - its people, its history and its culture.

In the backroom is the team from TBI who bring their strength in the travel industry together with decades of providing logistical support to some of the worlds leading travel businesses.

Both aspects of the team - the creative and the logistical - are vital to delivering this unique way to experience India.

MANU SINGH - TOUR DIRECTOR - Manu Singh, the AJA Tour Director, is a legendary guide who hails from a small village in Rajasthan. The journey from that remote desert environment has seen him complete Masters degree in Tourism and degrees in History and Politics, acquire fluent English and French language skills, travel to every part of India and be invited as a guest speaker in Europe. He will lead AJA programs with knowledge, skill, empathy and joy.	ANUBRATO GHATAK - MAESTRO - Anub is one of India’s most diverse and accomplished musicians playing violin, viola, guitar and flute. He traverses the Western and Eastern traditions with equal expertise. Anub is a conductor and holds an international degree with distinction at the Royal School of Music, London. He has performed in Berlin, Munich and all over India as leader/concert master/assistant conductor.	PRAGYA GUPTA - WOMEN OF INDIA FACILITATOR - Pragya is a woman of many talents and passions: an accomplished theatre actor with The Creative Arts Academy; a poet published internationally; a short film maker with Best Thriller Award from FICCOC. Beyond that she is Founder of 'BLOOD WARRIORS' - A support group 'by & for' Thalassemia Patients. She is also an active PadSquad Member who spreads awareness of Menstrual Health & Hygiene awareness across Bengal.
DR SANDIP KEWALE - VARANASI CULTURAL GURU - Sandip operates the International Music Ashram in Varanasi and is a highly respected tabla player. He holds a PHD from Benares University that examined the lives of famous Hindustani musicians. Beyond that, Sandip is a native of Varanasi who knows each back alley, each story and each tradition. He leads us into places no one travels.	SONA BHOPA - FOLK DANCER - Each program to Jaisalmer visits the family of Sona and her wonderful sisters, cousins, husband and brothers. These people proudly identify as Bhopa Gypsies and are singers, jewelry makers and hospitable hosts.	NISHIKANT PALANDE - PAINTING INDIA LEADER - Nishikant is the founder of ‘ThoughtLine Design Studio’. He graduated from Sir J.J. School of Applied Art Mumbai and has won a host of awards at Asia Pacific Adfest, Cannes Lions 2011 and the Goafest. With a specialization in Illustration and Designing, his work portrays the perfect fusion of knowledge and modern Indian style. Nishikant's beautiful work can be viewed in the galleries on this website.
ANINDITO MUKERJEE - IMAGING INDIA FACILITATOR - Anindito is a photojournalist and documentary photographer, with experience in covering News, Politics, Economics, and Documentary stories. He started his career as a photojournalist with India Today. Thereafter he moved on to work with global newswire agencies like EPA, Reuters, Bloomberg and Gettyimages. Anindito's work has been featured in globally acclaimed publications like The New York Times, Time Magazine, IHT, Guardian, The Wall Street Journal.	UMESH KABIR - CULTURAL GUIDE - Umesh is one of Varanasi's leading spiritual thinkers. As a respected Sufi Priest he leads the Sufi Monastery in Varanasi. His talks on the philosophy of Sufism, its music and its history are a highlight of the journey to Varanasi.	MRINMOY SANYAL - POST TOUR PRODUCTION - All programs have professionally edited videos produced. Mrinmoy is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and audio producer par excellence. He is the founder of KromatikaTV which houses his own studio setup and production house. He has composed music for films, TV productions and webseries for most of the notable networks in India and recorded, mixed and mastered numerous albums for famous bands.