Gajanan Kelkar is the Organizer Member of this International Conference. He has done his M.Tech. from
IIT, Powai, Mumbai. After working as Superintendent at MICO, Nashik, he voluntarily joined Manashakti
Research Centre, Lonavla as a life-devotee (1983). Currently he is the Managing Trustee and Research
Director of Manashakti Trusts. Under the guidance of Hon. Swami Vijnananand (Founder, Manashakti),
he is leading the Prenatal (Garbha Sanskar) Research at international and national level for past 35+
years. His research papers have been published in JOPPPAH (International journal of APPPAH). His other
areas of research are Pre-conception and Applications of Bio-Feedback and Neuro-Feedback. He is a regular
presenter at International & National Conferences in India and abroad. He has designed several Bio-Medical
Instruments for Psychological Testing. He regularly conducts Workshops on Suprajanan (Super-Procreation),
Garbha Sanskar (Prenatal Education-Stimulation), Stress Management and Psycho-Feedback Therapy. He
has authored several books and come up with unique CDs in these respective fields.
Gajanan Kelkar is the Organizer Member of this International Conference. He has done his M.Tech. from IIT, Powai, Mumbai.
After working as Superintendent at MICO, Nashik, he voluntarily joined Manashakti Research Centre, Lonavla as a life-devotee
(1983). Currently he is the Managing Trustee and Research Director of Manashakti Trusts. Under the guidance of Hon.
Swami Vijnananand (Founder, Manashakti), he is leading the Prenatal (Garbha Sanskar) Research at international and
national level for past 35+ years. His research papers have been published in JOPPPAH (International journal of APPPAH).
His other areas of research are Pre-conception and Applications of Bio-Feedback and Neuro-Feedback. He is a regular
presenter at International & National Conferences in India and abroad. He has designed several Bio-Medical Instruments
for Psychological Testing. He regularly conducts Workshops on Suprajanan (Super-Procreation), Garbha Sanskar (Prenatal
Education-Stimulation), Stress Management and Psycho-Feedback Therapy. He has authored several books and come up with
unique CDs in these respective fields.
Thomas R. Verny is a psychiatrist, writer and academic. He has previously taught at Harvard University, University of
Toronto, York University, Toronto, St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.
In 1981 Verny wrote his second book The Secret Life of the Unborn Child (with John Kelly), which has become an international
bestseller published in 27 countries. The Secret Life has changed the pregnancy and childbirth experience for millions
of mothers and fathers.
In 1983 Verny founded the Pre- and Perinatal Psychology Association of North America (PPPANA, renamed APPPAH in 1995),
and served as its president for eight years.
In 1986 he launched the Association's Journal JOPPPAH, which he edited from its inception until 1990. In 2013 he became
once again Editor-In-Chief of the Journal (JOPPPAH).
In 1987 Verny edited Pre- and Perinatal Psychology: An Introduction, published by Human Sciences Press. Verny's next
two books were Parenting Your Unborn Child, 1988, and Nurturing the Unborn Child (co-author Pamela Weintraub), 1991.
Verny's book, TOMORROW’S BABY: The Art and Science of Parenting from Conception through Infancy, written with Pamela
Weintraub, was published in 2002 and in paperback under a new title, PRE-PARENTING: NURTURING YOUR CHILD FROM CONCEPTION
in 2003. Pre-Parenting is now available in Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese.
In addition to eight books, Verny is the author or co-author of 47 scientific papers and articles. He has also edited
two books; Pre and Perinatal Psychology: An Introduction and Gifts of Our Fathers, a collection of short stories and
poetry. Verny’s poetry has appeared in many journals. His collected poems, Cordless, was published by Ekstasis Editions,
Victoria, BC, Canada (2014). Verny has participated in more than 250 newspaper, radio and TV interviews. Vision TV,
Toronto, Canada, produced a 15-minute special on Verny and his book, Gifts of Our Fathers, in 1996.
Verny's books, professional publications and founding of the PPPANA and the Pre- and Perinatal Journal, have established
him as one of the world's leading authorities on the effect of the prenatal and early postnatal environment on personality
development. He has lectured and given workshops on Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology throughout Canada, the United
States, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia.
In 2004 Mothering Magazine, in recognition of Verny’s contributions to the field of parenting and child rearing, named
him one of their “living treasures.” In 2005 the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute bestowed on Verny a Doctorate of
Humane Letters (DHL).
Dr. Verny is presently writing a new book on cellular memory. In his spare time he also manages to write short stories
and poetry.
Dr. Sanjay Gupte, MD, DGO, FICOG, LLB, FRCOG is a renowned obstetrician & gynecologist practicing in Pune, India. He has a number of accolades to his distinguished career as follows:
Co-Chair, FIGO Ethics Committee
President, FOGSI 2010
President, DIPSI 2013
National Convener, "Save the Mother & Newborn National Initiative"
Secretary General, World Gestosis Organization
Member, Central Supervisory Board of PCPNDT Act
Member, Ethics Committee, Medical Council India
Chairman, Ethics Committee of Maharashtra Medical Council
National Coordinator, National Eclampsia Registry
Ex. Hon Associate Professor, B J Medical College, Pune
Director, Gupte Hospital and Center for Research in Reproduction, PG institute for Gynec & Obst
National Consultant in Medico-legal and ethical Issues in Obst and Gynec
Dr. Ulka Natu-Gadam, MD, DGO, D.Y.Ed, Adv.Diploma in Yoga, has worked as a consultant gynaecologist in Thane, Mumbai for the last 25+ years and is the Co-Director of Nest Hospital in Naupada. In 2000, she received a Diploma in Yoga from Ghantali Mitra Mandal, Thane, and in 2004 she qualified for an Advanced Diploma in Yoga from the University of Mumbai.
With Ghantali Mitra Mandal, Thane, she is the Director of its Prajnana Yoga Anusandhana Kendra and the Chief Health Advisor of its Niranjan Yoga Swasthya Kendra. She has assisted in the conduct of a number of health-oriented yoga camps and programs organized by Ghantali Mitra Mandal.
Dr. Natu is the author of two books, Yoga for Health, Healing and Harmony (H3 Yoga) with Swami Satyakarmananda of Ghantali Mitra Mandal, and Yoga for Pregnancy. She has made numerous presentations of research papers at national and international conferences into the effects of yogic practices on pregnancy, infertility, menstrual disorders, and anxiety related disorders. Over the last two decades, Dr. Natu has made regular appearances on various television programs in relation to yoga and health.
Dr. Mahesh Karandikar is a Brain and Spine Surgeon. He has super-specialty training in Neuro-Surgery at the K.E.M Hospital
(Mumbai). He did his post-graduation from B.J. Medical College, Pune with top rank. He has taken training in stereotaxy
(Computer Guided Brain Surgery) at Christian Medical College, Vellore; training in Neuro-Endoscopy with Prof. Michael
Gaab, Germany. He has established a neurosciences research centre at Nashik and presented many research papers and
has participated in several workshops- state, national and international conferences and symposia - in India and abroad
as faculty, chairperson and speaker. He has keen interest in Indian Philosophy and Yoga and was invited at the First
International Conference on Yoga.
Dr. Prakash Gambhir is a leading geneticist and pediatrician in Pune. He did his MD from B J Medical College (1986).
He won the University Prize for standing first in MD Pediatrics. He has his Research training fellowship from Human
Genetics Institute, Bremen University, Germany.He runs Birthright Genetic Clinic, a leading institute that works for
treating patients suffering from genetic diseases. He has participated in ICMR Task force project in Human Genesis.
He has contributed to London Dysmorphology Database. Presently, he is the Vice President and Treasurer of Indian Society
for Genetic Screening. He is affiliate member of American Society of Human Genetics. He is also Hon. Professor and
Unit Head Department of Pediatrics, B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital.
Dr. Shirley Telles, Director, Patanjali Research Foundation in Haridwar, India
Shirley Telles has a degree in conventional medicine (MBBS) after which she completed an MPhil and PhD in Neurophysiology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bengaluru, India. Dr Telles’ MPhil and PhD theses were related to research on the effects of yoga practice and their applications in health and rehabilitation, and she has continued her research in this area since then. After her doctorate she joined the Swami Vivekananda Research Foundation in Bengaluru and had the unique postdoctoral experience of setting up the laboratories there before starting research. Dr Telles received a Fulbright fellowship in 1998 to assess fMRI in meditators, which was conducted at the Department of Radiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. She has been awarded the first ever Indian Council of Medical Research Center for Advanced Research in Bengaluru to assess the effects of meditation through autonomic and respiratory variables, evoked and event related potentials, polysomnography and fMRI. This was followed by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology to study attention in meditators using high density EEG and event related potentials during fMRI. Since 2007, Dr Telles has been the Director of the Patanjali Research Foundation in Haridwar, India, which is committed to researching the effects of yoga and ayurveda. She has 152 yoga-related publications cited in major research databases, and is first and main author on most of these. Dr Telles has been invited to talk on yoga and its applications in health and treatment across India and internationally, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, the UK, and the USA. Dr Telles finds that the response to yoga worldwide is interesting and enriching; she is an enthusiastic practitioner of yoga, and believes that yoga research can positively impact all aspects of life.
Dr. Aruna Narvekar, MBBS, DGO, DFA is an alumni of KEM & Wadia Hospitals, Mumbai.
She has written a book on prenatal development namely 'A New Way To Prenatal Education'.
She has been associated and actively involved with Manashakti Research Center, Lonavla since last 35 years. She is especially very actively involved in Manashakti 'Project Prenatal'.
She regularly conducts lectures, seminars, workshops & counseling on following topics:
Pre-Conception
Prenatal Education (Garbha Sanskar)
Post-natal Education
Brain Revolution for kids & parents
Emotional Management & Parenting
Mental & Physical Health during teenage & adolescence
Modern-day Nutrition & Diet
Holistic Health
Disease Cure
Stress Management
Anna Verwall, RN, CLE is a maternal-child health nurse, conscious conception & birth consultant, primal period educator,
midwifery & doula instructor, UCLA certified lactation educator and birth photographer from the Netherlands.
After a long career in various obstetrical and home-health settings she preferred to work with families and babies privately
and started her own practice in Los Angeles.
Currently Anna lectures around the world about the long-term effects of the pre,- and perinatal period, the hormonal
physiology of childbirth, breastfeeding & bonding and the psychological, emotional & spiritual aspects of birth.
She is a longtime member of APPPAH, the Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health.
