PYSSUM
"WONDERLAND OF ANGELS"
Yrs
"Equality, Diversity and Inclusion"
OUR TEAM
PYSSUM BOARD
Dr Naval Chandra Pant
Chairman
Dr. Naval Chandra Pant is the Founder Director of PYSSUM, Lucknow, India. He began his professional journey as a schoolteacher, with a lifelong commitment to fostering effective learning and teaching methods within a holistic environment.
In 2005, he established PYSSUM (www.pyssum.org), an organization dedicated to providing quality services for children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs). Over the years, he has served voluntarily as Secretary of the PYSSUM Board and currently holds dual responsibilities as Chairman and Chief Functionary.
Now in its twentieth year, PYSSUM is recognized as a value-driven institution working across education, training, and rehabilitation. Its initiatives span early intervention, child development, vocational training, job skill rehabilitation, special education training programmes, and therapy-based orientations.
Dr. Pant has contributed his expertise as a member of the Expert Panel for Inclusive Education, State Shiksha Pariyojana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Education Expert Committee of the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Ranchi.
In 2024, he authored An Unplanned Journey – Stories of Empathy from the Frontiers of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a book reflecting his personal experiences with PYSSUM’s beneficiaries during its formative years. The book was released at the International Purple Fest, Goa, and its Hindi translation, एक अनियोजित यात्रा, was launched in 2025 by Sri Harivansh Narayan, Honourable Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
Dr. Pant is among the first graduates of Social Role Valorisation (SRV), and under his leadership, PYSSUM has become an active member of the SRV community in India.
Dr Punita Manik
Secretary
Dr. Punita Manik is an experienced and accomplished anatomist with a career spanning over 25 years as a faculty member at King George's Medical University. She has held various teaching positions, currently officiating as the Professor in the Department of Anatomy at King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow. She is the Nodal Officer of the Women Empowerment Cell at KGMU. She has extensive knowledge in anatomy, and has always actively participated in national conferences, published research papers, guided thesis projects, and contributed to workshops and symposiums. She has been nominated as a member in the Specialist Board of Anatomy, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences and also holds the position of Treasurer, Anatomical Society of India. Her expertise, conference attendance, and research publications reflect her dedication to the field of anatomy.
Punita Manik has voluntarily helped as the Secretary of the PYSSUM Board since 2010. Also
she is actively involved in helping the needy and injured animals.
With a master’s degree in English followed by LLB, Ambika Prasad Ojha has led a courageous business life, before he started his undertook law practice.
After completing his masters from University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Ojha ventured into printing business. In spite of having no experience either in business or printing, he ran the printing business successfully, for three decades before handing it over to his son and switched over to law practice in the high court.
He continues to be an established High Court lawyer and honourable member of PYSSUM board as the treasurer. Ambika Prasad Ojha also runs a successful E Magazine called Judgment Aaj Tak to highlight the issues in judiciary system.
Sri Amabika Prasad Ojha
Treasurer
Ranu Uniyal is Professor of English at Lucknow University. She has M.Phil. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and was awarded Commonwealth Scholarship for PhD in English from Hull University, U.K. Her main research interests are in Indian literature, Women’s writing, Postcolonial literature and Disability Studies. Her research papers and book reviews have been published extensively in India and abroad. She is an established poet with three books of poems in English and one in Hindi. She was head of the department from March 2019 to February 2022
She is also one of the founding members of PYSSUM (www.pyssum.org) a charitable organization for children with special needs in Lucknow.
Prof. Ranu Uniyal Pant
Board Member
Dr. Vikas Kesarwani is a senior clinician with over two decades of experience, having worked in premier medical institutions in India and currently serving in Sydney. An alumnus of King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, he has held key academic and clinical roles across his career. Deeply committed to community service, he has been a strong supporter of PYSSUM since its inception. He has contributed both financially and through valuable advisory input on various executive matters, bringing insight and guidance to the organisation.
Dr Vikas Kesarwani
Board Member
Dr Sweta Kumari
Board Member
Dr. Sweta Kumari is an International Relations and Geopolitics Analyst with over six years of experience in policy research, academia, and strategic analysis. She specialises in Indian Foreign Policy, United States foreign policy, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, and India–US strategic relations and global economic trends. She has previously served as an Assistant Professor at Rashtriya Raksha University (an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs), and as an Associate Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, among other roles.
Her work includes supporting policy engagement, collaborating with international think tanks and strategic experts, and contributing to research and sharing insights through publications and media discussions on international affairs. Dr. Kumari holds a PhD in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Beyond her academic and policy work, she serves as a Board Member at PYSSUM (Paramahansa Yogananda Society for Special Unfolding and Moulding) since 2020, where she contributes to initiatives focused on the welfare and holistic development of individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is also an internationally-certified Yoga Instructor.
Anuj Upadhyay is a technology professional with over nine years of experience in banking technology, payment systems, and program management. He is currently serving as Manager – Payment System & Banking Technology at the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), where he is involved in driving key industry initiatives and facilitating collaboration across member banks and stakeholders.
Prior to his current role, he worked with Accenture, gaining experience in software development and big data technologies. His professional expertise spans project execution, technology implementation, and coordination of large-scale industry platforms.
Anuj has been inducted into PYSSUM Board in the year 2025. Since then he has been helping PYSSUM with may IT related areas.
Anuj Upadhyay
Board Member
Advisory Council - Projects
Pragyan Pushpanjali Singh
Planning & Management
Anuj Upadhyay
Information Technology
Anju Misra
Disability & Employment
Dr Sweta Kumari
International Relations
Dr Mukesh Kumar
Therapy Management
Dr Manju Gupta
Education & Planning
Rajesh Srivastava
Online Systems Management
Dr Raghida Kamal
Our Founder
God Almighty and the merciful, must have been thinking something very special to happen in Lucknow when He inspired Dr Raghida Kamal and her family to be the founding force for PYSSUM’s journey of service to the People with Intellectual Disabilities. Dr Kamal, a long time spiritual disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, was primarily inspired to work for Intellectually Challenged individuals due to her severely challenged brother Mr Kameel Kamal and undertook the bigger task of helping the individuals with special needs, adults in particular. She started Kamal Gardens (www.kamalgardens.org), where challenged adults are trained to develop vocational skills.
The zeal to serve God in her spiritual preceptor’s land India through the people suffering with Mental Retardation, Autism, CP, Down Syndrome and multiple disabilities, brought Raghida Ji to support the same cause in PYSSUM. Now on its firm feet PYSSUM family shall always be grateful to their exemplary efforts to guide all humanitarian ventures undertaken by PYSSUM’s functionaries.