Governing Council
Meet the visionary leaders and distinguished scholars guiding the Global Girmitiya Council in its mission to preserve the history, culture, and enduring legacy of the global Indian diaspora.
Prof. (Dr.) Onkar Nath Upadhyay
Professor and Former Head, Department of English and M.E.L.; Former Additional Dean, Students' Welfare; Former Additional Proctor, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, U.P.
Prof. (Dr.) Onkar Nath Upadhyay is a distinguished academician, visionary educationist, and internationally acclaimed scholar whose pioneering contributions have significantly enriched the fields of Indian Diaspora Studies, Girmitiya Studies, Indian Knowledge Systems, Translation Studies, and Bhasha Literature. Recognized as one of India's foremost authorities on the history, heritage, and cultural legacy of the Girmitiya community, he has devoted more than three decades to advancing excellence in teaching, research, academic leadership, and institution building.
Currently serving as Professor at the University of Lucknow, Prof. Upadhyay has held several prestigious academic and administrative positions, including Head of the Department of English & Modern European Languages, Additional Dean of Students' Welfare, and Additional Proctor. His visionary leadership has played a pivotal role in strengthening higher education, promoting interdisciplinary scholarship, and fostering academic innovation. He has also served as Coordinator of the Centre of Indian Diaspora and Culture Studies, where he has been instrumental in establishing Girmitiyalogy as an emerging interdisciplinary field of global academic importance.
A prolific author, editor, researcher, and mentor, Prof. Upadhyay has authored and edited scholarly books, published numerous research papers in leading national and international journals, and successfully supervised more than thirty doctoral scholars. His academic work spans Girmitiya Literature, Indian Diaspora, Cultural Identity, Comparative Literature, Postcolonial Studies, Translation Studies, Indian Knowledge Systems, and Bhojpuri Cultural Heritage, making him one of the most respected voices in these disciplines.
Prof. Upadhyay has conceptualized and led several landmark international conferences, ICSSR-sponsored seminars, faculty development programmes, and global academic initiatives dedicated to the study of the Indian diaspora and Girmitiya heritage. As a keynote speaker, resource person, and invited scholar, he has represented India at prestigious academic forums in Mauritius, the United States, and other international platforms, contributing significantly to the global understanding of the history, language, literature, and culture of the Indian indentured diaspora.
His distinguished academic career includes serving as a Ph.D. examiner, curriculum developer, academic auditor, policy advisor, and member of selection committees for premier institutions such as UGC, UPSC, UPPSC, NCERT, NCTE, IGNOU, ICSSR, the National Testing Agency, and numerous Central and State Universities across India. His expertise continues to shape higher education, research excellence, curriculum development, and academic governance at the national level.
As Chief Advisor of the Global Girmitiya Council, Prof. Upadhyay provides visionary intellectual leadership to the Council's mission of preserving, documenting, and promoting the history, heritage, languages, literature, and cultural traditions of the Girmitiya descendants across the world. His guidance continues to strengthen international academic collaborations, inspire innovative research, promote cultural diplomacy, and reconnect the global Indian diaspora with its civilizational roots, ensuring that the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas is preserved, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.
Dr. Vimlesh Kanti Verma
Dr. Vimlesh Kanti Verma is an internationally acclaimed scholar of Hindi language, Indian culture, linguistics, translation studies, lexicography, and Indian Diaspora Studies. Widely respected for his academic excellence and visionary leadership, he has made enduring contributions to the promotion of Hindi as a global language and to the preservation of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Indian diaspora.
Over the course of an illustrious academic career spanning several decades, Dr. Verma has served as a distinguished teacher, researcher, author, editor, and academic administrator. He has been associated with the University of Delhi and has delivered lectures, guided research, and participated in numerous national and international conferences across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, contributing significantly to global academic discourse on Hindi and the Indian diaspora.
Dr. Verma's scholarship encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including Hindi language and literature, Indian knowledge traditions, translation studies, official language policy, lexicography, comparative linguistics, and diaspora studies. His pioneering work on overseas varieties of Hindi — particularly Fiji Hindi, Sarnami Hindi, and other Girmitiya language traditions — has established him as one of the foremost authorities in this field.
He has authored and edited numerous books, research publications, dictionaries, and academic volumes that are widely recognized in universities and research institutions. His publications have been supported by leading national institutions, including the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and other distinguished academic and governmental organizations.
Beyond his scholarly achievements, Dr. Verma has played a pivotal role in strengthening academic and cultural engagement between India and overseas Indian communities. Through his research, lectures, policy contributions, and international collaborations, he has consistently advocated for the preservation of Girmitiya history, Indian languages, cultural identity, and the intellectual legacy of the global Indian diaspora.
In recognition of his exceptional scholarship, distinguished service to Hindi, and lifelong commitment to the documentation and promotion of Girmitiya heritage and Indian Diaspora Studies, Dr. Vimlesh Kanti Verma has been invited to serve as the Chief Patron of the Global Girmitiya Council.
As Chief Patron, he provides intellectual leadership, strategic guidance, and academic mentorship to the Council. Under his patronage, the Global Girmitiya Council is committed to advancing international research, promoting cultural diplomacy, preserving Girmitiya heritage, fostering global academic partnerships, and strengthening the historical and cultural bonds that connect India with the worldwide Girmitiya community.
Brijesh Pandey
Brijesh Pandey serves as the Principal Director of the Global Girmitiya Council, providing strategic leadership to the organization's vision, governance, and global initiatives. A law graduate by education, he is a dedicated social leader with a strong commitment to public service, cultural preservation, and community development.
For over eleven years, he has served as the Secretary of Bharat Seva Trust, where he has led and supported numerous initiatives in the fields of social welfare, education, youth empowerment, cultural heritage, and community engagement. His experience in institution-building and organizational leadership has been instrumental in strengthening social initiatives and fostering meaningful public participation.
As Principal Director of the Global Girmitiya Council, Brijesh Pandey is committed to promoting the history, heritage, and enduring legacy of the Girmitiya communities across the world. He believes that the Girmitiya experience is a remarkable testament to resilience, perseverance, cultural continuity, and the enduring spirit of the Indian diaspora.
Under his leadership, the Council continues to expand its national and international collaborations, encouraging dialogue, cultural exchange, and partnerships among institutions, scholars, community organizations, and members of the global Indian diaspora. He actively supports initiatives that preserve Girmitiya heritage while promoting greater awareness of its historical and cultural significance.
Guided by the values of integrity, service, inclusivity, and collaboration, Brijesh Pandey is dedicated to advancing the Global Girmitiya Council as a leading international platform for preserving Girmitiya heritage, strengthening global partnerships, and inspiring future generations to remain connected with their roots and shared cultural legacy.
Arvind Pandey
Arvind Pandey is an author, legal professional, researcher, social thinker, and institution builder dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and global recognition of the history of the Indian diaspora, Girmitiya heritage, the Bhojpuri language, and Indian cultural traditions. As the Managing Director of the Global Girmitiya Council, he provides strategic, academic, and institutional leadership to the organization, working towards strengthening global awareness of the legacy of the Indian indentured diaspora.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) and a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He is currently pursuing research in Girmitiya Studies and the Bhojpuri Language, with a particular focus on the historical evolution of the Girmitiya community, its social and cultural heritage, the Bhojpuri language, and the historical and cultural journey of the Indian diaspora.
Driven by a deep commitment to Girmitiya history, Arvind Pandey has worked tirelessly to transform this field from a subject of academic inquiry into a broader movement for cultural awareness and historical preservation. He believes that the Girmitiya legacy is not merely a chapter of history but a living testament to the resilience, labour, dignity, cultural consciousness, and global identity of people of Indian origin. Through research, documentation, publications, academic dialogue, and international collaboration, he continues to promote this invaluable heritage for future generations.
He has played a significant role in organizing and coordinating national and international conferences, academic seminars, and research initiatives. Under his leadership, the Global Girmitiya Council has been making continuous efforts to develop a strong network of academic and cultural collaboration among universities, research institutions, scholars, journalists, cultural organizations, and Indian diaspora communities across India and the Girmitiya countries.
He has also been actively associated with the conception and development of the Girmitiya Studies and Indian Diaspora Research Chair, an academic initiative dedicated to establishing Girmitiya Studies as a recognized field of scholarship while promoting advanced research on the history, language, literature, journalism, and cultural heritage of the Indian diaspora.
As Managing Director, he leads the Council's long-term vision, international partnerships, research initiatives, publications, cultural engagement, youth participation, and institutional development. His objective is to develop the Global Girmitiya Council into a leading international platform that serves as a bridge for knowledge, culture, and research among the Girmitiya countries while contributing to the preservation, documentation, and global promotion of the shared heritage of the Indian diaspora.
His vision is to build a globally respected intellectual and cultural institution where Girmitiya history is recognized not only as a subject of academic research but also as a foundation for cultural diplomacy, international cooperation, heritage preservation, and the global identity of people of Indian origin. He firmly believes that research, service, compassion, cultural responsibility, and institutional commitment are the enduring pillars of a progressive society.
"The Girmitiya legacy is an invaluable heritage of human resilience, cultural identity, and Indian values. Preserving it is not merely a responsibility towards history but a moral obligation to future generations."
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