Ankit Raj Ojha has authored/edited two volumes of poetry and is winner of the 2023 Briefly Think Essay Prize. A former engineer and rock band frontman with a PhD in Literature from IIT Roorkee, he is currently an assistant professor of English with the Department of Higher Education, Haryana. Besides teaching, writing and research, Ankit edits The Hooghly Review and is a consulting editor with five Routledge journals.

Mani Mahesh Aurora is an author, life design coach, award-winning social entrepreneur, former journalist, lecturer, and brand ambassador for Facebook’s social empowerment campaigns, recognised for his grassroots leadership and work with The Times of India and India Today.

Monika Kacker, a visionary educator and storyteller, empowers teachers, transforms classrooms, and champions social causes. She pioneers experiential learning and innovative pedagogy to drive meaningful educational reform and inspire lasting societal change in India. A two-time recipient of the AWWA Excellence Award, she has been recognised for her impactful work with schools and with children battling cancer.

Monika Saroch is an artist and bestselling author. She is the recipient of Bhaskar Nari Samman 2023 and SHEconnects Award 2019, among other accolades.

Pooja Pandey, author and education leader, is a recipient of the Tagore International Award and Women Leadership recognition (2024). She has written eight children’s books and contributed to magazines such as Children’s World and Magic Pot. A celebrated storyteller and frequent speaker at literary festivals, she also served as editor of leading children’s publications.

Sahana Ahmed is a poet and fiction writer. She is the founder and CEO of Bare Bones Publishing.

Tejaswinee Roychowdhury has publications across the world. Her work has been nominated, selected and longlisted for best of lists, both nationally and internationally. She is now focused on writing her debut novel, editing The Hooghly Review, and pursuing a PhD in Law from the University of Calcutta, India.

Vedant Jadhavar is pursuing his BLS LLB at the prestigious Government Law College, Mumbai. Inspired by the institution’s legacy, Vedant has developed a keen interest in constitutional law, Indian history, and a myriad of social causes.

Veena Naravane is a teacher, teacher educator, and a consultant to NGOs like CEQUE and Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. She is a former President of Army Wives Welfare Association.

Bazma Ahmad is a published illustrator, graphic designer, and animator. She earned her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Jamia Millia Islamia and her Master’s in Animation from Delhi College of Arts.

Maryam Ahmad is a children’s book illustrator and a portrait artist. She has a BFA in Commercial Arts and is the brand ambassador for Scholar Stationery.

Rhea Lamba is a first year university student studying art, and plans to pursue a career in art or design. She loves all things creative and her other interests include music, crochet, crafting, and reading. Rhea has previously had her artwork published in The Hooghly Review, and shares her digital and traditional artwork on her Instagram.

Riya is an illustrator and visual storyteller with distinctions in BFA (Sculpture) from Government College of Art Chandigarh and MA (Illustrations) from Falmouth University. She is passionate about 2D animation and loves to explore different art styles.