Management Board
Founder & Editor
Parveen Chopra
Founder of alotusinthemud.com, Parveen is a seasoned media professional who has specialized in wellness, personal growth, and spirituality. A trained teacher of TM, he founded Life Positive, India’s first body-mind-spirit magazine in 1996, from New Delhi, India. He has also worked in senior capacities at India Today, called the Time magazine of India, and DNA (Daily News & Analysis) in Mumbai. He has contributed articles to leading publications including Yoga Journal and a chapter on wellness for a coffee table book published by the Government of India.
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Our Mentor
Padma Shri D.R. Kaarthikeyan
D.R. Kaarthikeyan is a farmer-turned-lawyer-turned-senior police officer-turned-human rights activist-turned-promoter of interfaith harmony and environment protection. He held very high positions in the Government of India, including Director General of the National Human Rights Commission and Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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Director Conscious Content
Raji Menon Prakash
In her own words: I am a writer, a published author, a gentle grammar nerd, an entrepreneur, an urban farmer, and a kindfulness practitioner. I have documented and written on sustainability, the environment, Indic philosophy, and travel for various publications such as A+D, Life Positive, The South Asian Times, The Awakening Times, and The Punch Magazine. Quitting running a niche communications company, I support green innovation and document the interconnection of lifestyles, heritage, health, and food. Deeply influenced by Fukuoka, I regard Nature as my guru and believe that working together as a community will keep us on the right track and open all doors.
Seeker
Yakub Mathew
Yakub Mathew is a global financial leader and transformational thinker with a career spanning nearly 40 years with Citibank, HSBC, and Wells Fargo Advisors, where he currently serves as Managing Director based in New York. He holds an MA in Economics, BA (Hons) Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila. Yakub carved his own path, moving overseas to build a life grounded in purpose, professionalism and service. He debuted as an author with Seeking the Infinite – Maha Kumbh 2025 that saw high profile launches in New York, Jaipur, New Delhi and Toronto. The multi-faith book on the Mahima of the Kumbh is a powerful reflection on faith, heritage, and the universal quest for meaning.
Adviser
Neel Thakur
An adventurer at heart, Neel Thakur balances his passion for exploration with his expertise as a tourism professional and writer. He has sojourned solo in the Himalayas, learning about the defining elements of life and has spent time with Yogis, Lamas and Gurus, practicing meditation techniques and ancient human sciences. He has published articles covering his destination experiences. He also writes on human wellness through therapeutic travel sojourns. Neel has been curating premiere wellness journeys and the world’s most transformative experiences for individuals from across the globe. ‘An untold saga’, his upcoming book, touches on the extraordinary story of his life.
Presenter & Media Partner
Sanya Raj
Sanya Raj is a presenter, podcast host, and explorer of body-mind-spirit space. With an MBA in Marketing & Management, a Master’s in Science & Business Economics, and a bachelor’s in English literature, she blends academic depth with soulful presence. Based in Sweden, she has over 17 years of experience across business, retail, education, and health exhibitions and served as President of a Toastmasters International club. A mindful communicator and conscious leader, Sanya has built a multidimensional career uniting strategy, communication, and awareness. Through A Lotus in the Mud, she aims to create a platform for meaningful dialogue, feminine wisdom, and conscious living—transforming conversations into spaces for growth, reflection, and inspiration.
Adviser
Arjun Seth
Arjun Seth is the Founder of Edbrand and School for the Heart, working at the intersection of mentorship, education, spirituality and life design. With over two decades of experience, he has guided students, educators, and families toward more thoughtful decisions about learning, careers, and purpose. His work integrates emotional intelligence, values-based thinking, and real-world exposure through programs like Hero’s Lab. Gurgaon based Arjun brings a long-term developmental lens shaped by engagement with 250+ global universities and a strong alumni network. He designs transformative learning experiences that help young people build clarity, resilience, and a meaningful sense of direction in an increasingly complex world.
Editorial & Marketing
Deputy Editor
Arpana
Arpana is a senior journalist who has worked across leading Indian news organizations, including Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service, The Statesman, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture. She also has five years of experience creating audience-focused, multi-platform online content, blending newsroom storytelling with digital content and leadership skills.
Writer-at-Large
Ashish Virmani
Senior contributor Ashish is a human of Mumbai and that’s the way he wants it to stay. He loves his city, where he’s lived for over four decades, with its madness and mayhem, its amazing spirit and resilience.
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He also happens to be a Nichiren Buddhist and says he owes his life and destiny to his Japanese mentor Daisaku Ikeda. Other things that he claims as his own are an inborn love for coffee, for exercise, for reading and listening to pop and rock legend Tina Turner. And yes, he has been a journalist since the early 1990s, for which he is grateful.
Creative Head
Vedant Chopra
A visual and communication artist from India who loves to take an unorthodox approach towards design and tries to get as much rest as possible between deadlines.
Web Developer
Priti Thakur
Priti is a software Developer. Being passionate about web development, she designs websites using the latest technologies. She constantly seeks to enhance user experiences by building responsive, intuitive, and high-performance web applications.
Assistant Editor
Navni Chawla
With expertise in journalistic writing, social media management, and creative inputs, Navni brings a strategic approach to enhancing the US-based web magazine’s presence and reach in India. She has earlier worked with Life Positive magazine.
Digital Marketing
Dharamveer Negi
Dharamveer is an experienced marketing and sales professional known for his strategic approach and ability to drive growth.
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With a strong background in market analysis, customer relationship management, and team leadership, he excels in developing and executing innovative sales strategies. He has consistently delivered results by identifying market opportunities, building brand value, and fostering long-term client relationships.