Keynote Speakers

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. Vinaya Kshirsagar is Ph.D. in Sanskrit (Atharva Veda). Along with Sanskrit, she is well versed in Pali and German languages too. She is a guide for Ph.D. students at Deccan College, Pune. She has held the post of Secretary of The Sanskrit Dictionary Project (2001-5). Currently, she is working as Editor in this Project. She has prepared the Critical Edition of Atharva-vedic Grhya-text. Also, she has published several papers in seminars and conferences, some of which have received awards too. She has published a book Santi Karmani in the Atharvanic Tradition. She has translated two Sanskrit treatises on Architecture in Marathi. She has delivered lectures on various topics in Sanskrit on All India Radio (AIR). She has been honoured (1999) by Rig Veda Award for long-time research in the field of Vedas. She has been felicitated (2003) on the World Women’s Day for outstanding career in the field of Sanskrit.

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.

Venerable Geshe Dorji Damdul is presently Director at Tibet House (New Delhi), the Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is also the official translator to H.H. the Dalai Lama. He finished his Geshe Lharampa Degree (Ph.D.) in 2002 from Drepung Loseling Monastic University. He was a visiting fellow at Girton College, Cambridge University. He was one of the chief editors for the text book on Buddhist Science and Philosophy, used all over the world to study more thoroughly on Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology and science. He was editor of “Lhaksam Tsekpa” (Journal of comparative studies on modern science and philosophy) and also of Dreloma Magazine. He has written a number of important papers for National and International Conferences held in Delhi University, and so forth. He travels widely within India and abroad, like Mumbai, USA, U.K., and Singapore to teach Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic and practice.