Visiting Expert Faculties - Parul Institute of Design

With his strong adherence towards developing the scope of higher education, Dr. Amit P Ganatra is amongst the most season academicians in the scope of technical and higher education. His record of excellence has allowed him to not only establish his mark in academics through developing policies, designing curriculums, and furthering research, but it has also him to go the extra mile to shape the young minds of the youth in the across multiple fields and disciplines of education. Currently serving as the University’s Provost, Dr. Ganatra is a recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions from reputed bodies in recognition of his overall contributions to the academic fraternity. He holds to his name a Bachelors of Engineering in computer engineering from Gujarat University, along with a Master of Engineering from DDU in computer engineering along with a Ph.D in Kadi Sarva Vishwavidhyalaya in computer engineering. He holds an enriching experience spanning for over 22 years of teaching and 18 years in research and administration. Prior to being the Provost, Dr. Amit P Ganatra, served as a dean of engineering, academic programs coordinator, professor of computer engineering along with other prominent designations in higher education.
Additionally he also holds memberships across multiple academic bodies where he has been instrumental towards shaping the trajectory of technical education and these include board of studies membership to renowned institutions such as BAOU, GTU, KSV among others. Also to note, Dr Ganatra is a member of IEEE, ACM, and CSI professional society chapters. He has also been known for his contributions to the academic knowledge bank through his authorship of 130+ research publications and his supervision of over 100 industry projects, 100+ dissertations, and 12 Ph.D. research scholars. In recognition of his contribution and excellence in service, he was awarded the achievers award for his contribution in the field of academics and educational management, he also received the best digital transformation in the education sector at GESIA IT awards, and also holds a fellow membership in the International Research Organization for Science, Engineering and Technology. His vision and philosophy towards the transformational and reformative power of education allows him to constantly reach milestones in higher education, by shaping and paving the way for the youth to grow into fully equipped and highly capable resources for building the future.

Dr. M N Patel is an educationalist and visionary who has made a significant mark in the scope of higher education within the State of Gujarat and the nation of India and currently stands as an Advisor to Parul University and has provided his services as a Provost twice. A Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering degree holder from S.P University, and Masters of Civil Structures specialist from Gujarat University, with a Ph.D. from D.D University, Nadiad, and his unique academic career is characterized by his adherence towards continuous education. Throughout his career tenure, he has made significant contributions towards the growth, expansion, and development of higher education. He has worked as the Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University for a period of three years as a Principal, L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujarat for 10 years as the Member Secretary, Admission Committee for Professional courses, Gujarat, Vice-Chancellor (Officiating), Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Professor and Principal at Government Engineering College, Modasa. In addition to his prominent designations, he has also invested his extra efforts through memberships in various committees such, Member of AIU(Association of Indian universities) Governing Council, Member of the Governing body in Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), Member in the Inquiry committee by UGC, Member of Academic Governing Body of Autonomous colleges, Institute St. Xavier’s Science College and BVM, V.V. Nagar, and a Member of the Staff Affairs Committee of AIU.

He also worked as the Director of the Board of Studies for Structural Engg. in G.T.U, where he effectively worked on the development of various teaching methodologies along with curriculum development. In recognition of his contribution to the nurturing and shaping of the young minds of India, Dr. M N Patel is a recipient of various notable awards and honors.

He was awarded the Certificate of honor ISTE-2010 and also awarded the honorary Fellowship in 2014 by the Indian Society for Technical Education in recognition of the commendable services rendered for the growth and development of ISTE. During this tenure, at GTU he received the prestigious award ‘E-India -2009’ for ICT Enabled University from the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology in August 2009 and bagged the ‘Manthan Award 2009’ from Digital Empowerment Foundation in May 2009 and the prestigious Sarswat Award. He stands as a staunch believer in the ability of students to shape and impact the world and continues to strive towards nurturing student minds and talent as the Vice-Chancellor of Parul University.

Sanjiv Waeerkar has been in the Animation Industry for the past 30 years and has a wealth of experience in this business. Sanjiv was a partner with Ronnie Screwvala in UTV Toons, and a pioneer in starting the outsourcing animation Business in India. After a decade of delivering animation TV series projects with the best of producers (Disney, DreamWorks, TV 12 Singapore etc.) he moved on to work on the three 3D animation feature films “Arjun the warrior prince”,” Dream blanket “and Alibaba and 41 thieves.” All produced by UTV toons.

Sanjiv is also a founding member of TASI, the most prominent animation body in India. He has been one of the spearheads and front-runner for the animation society of India. He is generally always invited to be a part of the jury for almost all International and National events catering to animation in India.

Rutvij Mistry, born and brought in the cultural city Vadodara, Gujarat and coming from a Family rich with Cultural Interest, had keen interest and passion towards Fine arts and Performing arts. This made him to take up teaching as his profession in Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU since 2008.

He completed his education with a Bachelor’s degree in Sculpture in (1997 )and post-graduation from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad in (2001), where he studied Industrial Ceramic Design. He also holds a double post-graduation and completed Master’s Degree in Creative Sculpture from Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU Baroda (2007).

He has been to New York, USA & Worked at Ceramics Studio MUD, SWEAT & TEARS as a Studio Potter. He has also conducted and Assisted Design Workshops as a Ceramic Designer at KPMA Khurja. Won various awards and appreciations such as State Lalit Kala Award in 1994 and National Scholarship in 1997. A Brass Metal Sculpture selected at “50 YEARS OF ARTS IN INDEPENDENT INDIA” Exhibition by AIFACS, New Delhi in 1997 and A Ceramic Sculpture at National Exhibition in 2012. He has many exhibitions and group exhibitions under his credits within the country and abroad.

He also has a passion for Indian Dance and undertook training in Bharatnatyam penned of time under the Guidance of Padma Bhushan C V Chandrasekhar & Smt. Jaya Chandreshekar. He has won Laurels in Folk Dance, Garba & Ghoomar and Showcased his Work and his dance at Brooklyn, New York USA.

Prof. Parmanand Dalwadi, born to a craftsmen family in Gujarat, graduated in Fine arts from (M.S.U. BARODA) and post graduated in Visual Communication from National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad.

Prof. Parmanand Dalwadi was fortunate to begin his career in photography by learning from the renowned German photo-educator Mr. Staub Christine of ULM School Of Design.

He is enriched with 16 years of experience with NID. Mr. Henry Cartier Bresson, a world-known photo-journalist of high repute, picked him and placed him in pictorial services Paris to work with legendary Pear Gassmann.

In his thirty -five years of Professional freelancing photography, brought to India about 20 times for different assignments. Besides he visited Europe, America, and Japan for both work and pleasure.

He has received the Gaurav Puraskar from Lalit Kala Academy, and the Photographer of the year award from (AMC ) as appreciation for his works.

For the last 40 years, he has kept up his creativity and the zeal to nurture the artists who wish to express their creativity with a 3D vision, by teaching photography in India’s major design institutes – National Institute of Design(NID), National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFFT), DJ Academy of Design (DJAD), Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Industrial Design Centre(IDC), Symbiosis and Centre for Environment Planning and Technology(CEPT).

Professor Deepak Kannal is a sculptor, an art historian, and a teacher. He held the positions of department head and faculty dean while teaching at the Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU of Baroda’s Department of Art History and Aesthetics.

His impressive list of publications also includes three edited journals, three full-length plays, three dance dramas, two books, a monograph, five edited volumes—three of which he co-authored with Prof. Parimoo—and over seventy papers and essays on art and aesthetics. He has organised and taken part in numerous national and international seminars, given a number of talks for esteemed institutions in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and been invited to sit in prestigious chairs established by various Academies. Museums, and Universities.

He has won numerous honours, scholarships, and awards in the fields of sculpture, theatre, and art history, including the Charles Wallace Fellowship at Cambridge, the Gujarat Lalit Kala Awards, the Raja Ravi Verma Samman, the A.P. Council National Award, and the Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar. He is currently working on the relationship between Indian Linguistic Theories and Indian sculpture as part of the Tagore National Fellowship.

Prof. Arun Gupta taught as a Senior Professor and HOD of Film & Video at NID, Ahmedabad, for nearly 25 years, till his retirement in 2021. While there, he also started an international film festival called Alpavirama and wrote a book on Bollywood Villains called “Purab Aur Paschim”. Prof. Gupta is a graduate of FTII, Pune in Film Direction. Earlier he had done a Bachelor of Art course in English Literature at Delhi University. Besides Film Direction, Prof. Gupta teaches Scriptwriting, Film Appreciation and Film History and is writing books on ‘Bollywood Song & Dance’ and ‘City and Cinema’, and ‘A Life In Twenty Five’, a memoir about teaching film.

50 years in advertising, designing and filmmaking, Madam Rashida Tyebjee More is a significant contributor to the industry.She also has worked as a Creative Director, as an Art Director, as a Visualiser, and as an Artist.

Worked for a variety of clients, for some for their advertising needs, for some others, offering a wider area of communication and design service. On the following accounts: Contech Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat Handicrafts Board, Gurjari, Elecon, State Bank of Saurashtra, Calorex, Solmac, CHETNA, GAP, NIFT, Mundra Port ,Calico Museum of Textiles, Kalorex and Print Vision

Mr. Lalit Lad has contributed to over 300 episodes of Gujarati TV serials, Gujarati Telefilms, Gujarati Feature Films, Hindi Telefilms, Song Writing, and Play Writing that have been shown on Doordarshan.

Chakkar Dot Com, a short film by Shaan I. Memon, served as Lalit Lad’s debut project. In 2015, he wrote the Gujarati Romantic Comedy Drama Chaki Kahe Chaka Jo Baka, which focused on urban youth and illustrated the problems and perplexities they face on a daily basis. The Gujarati movie Kookh, which was released in 2016, was also written by him.

He contributed from 2003 to 2016 for VAAT VAAT MA-Mannu Shekhchalli to the daily humour columns of Gujarat Samachar & Divya Bhaskar.

He wrote around 40 books and novels.

Kumar Chauhan is an Artist and art and design professor by profession. He graduated from the MS University of Baroda’s Faculty of Fine Arts and has more than 25 years of experience in the field. His primary area of professional expertise is the field of art and design.

At prestigious design institutes in India, he has contributed as a design educator by teaching foundation design courses, material-oriented courses, and craft research and documentation, respectively. Has also been involved with Craft and drawing based workshops and educational trips for students with Design institutes in India.

As an Art & Design professional He has Contributed to several organisations includes ‘The Times of India’, Vadilal Industries pvt, ltd. Sahid Smarak Museum’ Ahmedabad and Cultural Project Akshardham, at Gandhinagar.

He has been invited as a juror at reputable institutions and organisations as well as a speaker and lecturer on the topic of art and design.

He is a well-known artist who has received numerous accolades.

Mr. Pradeep Choksi is a member of the National Institute of Design’s Second Batch in Ahmedabad, India.

He joined the Faculty Development Program at NID in 1967 after completing his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts (Post Graduation in Painting), M S University, Vadodara. He was transferred by Basel, Switzerland, for additional studies in 1970. He joined NID as faculty in 1971 after graduating.

His Major Exhibition Design Projects (at NID)

AGRI EXPO 77, Theme Pavilion as Member of the Design Team India Within Her Self A Permanent Exhibit at Commonwealth Institute, London As Project Head and member of Design Team
Indian Pavilion World Conference on Renewable Energy, Nairobi As Chief Visualizer
Concept Design for the Museum Indian Burro of Manes, Nagpur As a Member of the Design Team
Energy is life” Ministry of Coal, New Delhi Coal Section as Visualizer of the section
Corporate exhibition Indian Petro Chemicals, Baroda As Project Head & Chief Visualizer
Discovery of India As Permanent Exhibition, Nehru Center, Mumbai As Visualizer of ‘The Physical Parameters of India ‘section

Short filmmaker Mrs. Malti Mehta, is a Media & Communication Expert serving from1984 through 2012, Mrs. Malti Mehta, as a media expert and educator, worked as a Producer at Gujarat University’s Educational Multi Media Research Center, producing more than 300 higher education television programmes for national broadcast.

She also served as Gujarat University’s Director of the EMRC (2007–2009), Head of the Centre for Development Communication (2000–2010), and Coordinator of the Indo–Japan Students Exchange Program (1995–2010).

Malti is the course director for film production and management, digital film editing, and creative writing for media & films. She has three postgraduate degrees, one of which she earned from the University of Manchester as a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Fellow.

She also held the positions of Director of EMRC (2007–2009), Head of the Centre for Development, Vice President of the Gujarat Indo–Japan Friendship Association (since 2009), President of the Association of British Scholars (2005–10), Regional Coordinator of the Network of Women in Media (India) (since 2003), Founder Member of the Gujarat Media Women’s Forum (since 1996), and Life Member of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj.

Miss India Dimple Patel represented India at The Miss Globe 2016 beauty pageant held in Europe, Albania and became the first Indian ever to win the prestigious Title Miss Globe, amongst more than 50 participating countries and has been felicitated with women empowerment award by Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Vijay Rupani.

Being a renowned fashion model, Dimple Patel has walked for Lakme fashion week, couture week, India international jewelry week, Pune fashion week, Dubai fashion week, Nairobi fashion week and many more fashion weeks.

She has walked for designers like Manish Malhotra, Vikram Phadnis, Sabyasachi, Neeta Lulla, Phalguni shane peacock and many more renowned Indian and international designers.

Akhil verma is an expert in media and communication having immense industry exposure acquired in last 20 years. Mr. Akhil Verma is an expert in creative direction, Project management, Process management, resource optimization and animation. He started as an animator and gradually shifted towards production through hard work, innovation and his ability to see greater things.

Mr. Verma has served as Senior creative at Lucas & Mayo Entertainment (2002-2005), animation artist (2005-2010).He was heading the operation / production at Artha animation (2013-2020). In recent times he is working in the capacity of Executive producer at Cosmos Maya India Private Limited.

Dr Geetika Madan Patel is a proficient doctor and administrator having pursued her MBBS and MD in Community Medicine with Gold Medal from the illustrious Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Currently she is the Member of Board of Governance and Medical Director of Parul University. She has played key role in the establishment of various medical institutions & hospitals in Parul University and is now heading Parul Sevashram Hospital, one of the biggest Multispecialty & Superspecialty hospitals of Vadodara, and other medical & paramedical institutions under the University. She has played a pivotal role in expanding the health care activities of the trust beyond the boundaries of Gujarat State to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra. She is also involved in teaching community medicine subject to the Medical students. With her special interest in developing research in the University, she has established Clinical research and Public Health Research departments, Institutional Ethics Committee for Human research in the University. She heads the Center of Research for Development of Parul University. She has won many national awards for her research presentations during her post graduation. In recognition of her efforts towards promoting and empowering women in both both social and professional spheres, Dr. Geetika is a recipient of the Women Eminence Award, in Health category by Mantavya News. Her commitment to the field of healthcare in both service and in academia has also resulted in her being granted the Medical Excellence Award by IBC. She has taken various an initiatives resulting in the establishment of the Social Responsive Cell at Parul University which works in an array of social welfare campaigns including the fields of Health, Education and Women Empowerment.

Dr. H.S. Vijayakumar has 37 years of glittering professional experience during which he has held key positions in teaching and administration at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad.

Dr. H.S. Vijayakumar holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi which was awarded to him in 1984. He also holds degree in Law (L.L.B.) from Karnataka University, Dharwad. He has published 23 papers in Referred Journals. In addition to handling Externally Funded Projects, he has guided 3 students at Ph.D. level and 26 students at Master’s Level. Under his able leadership as Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad had scaled new heights. His achievements are as follows:

Received International Award – American Medal of Honour – 2003 by American Biographical Institute, USA
Received Gurukul Jyoti Award for Excellence in Education 2006 at New Delhi in 2007
Received Best Project Award from Cornell University in 2006
Has been an Expert Member on Agricultural Marketing Policy for Karnataka State Government.

Dr. Devanshu Patel, a dynamic visionary President of Parul University, whose unflinching commitment towards education has made an impact not only in Gujarat but in all the diversified States of India, and going beyond national boarders. Upon completing his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine (Pharmacology) from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Dr. Devanshu Patel went on to invest his efforts towards promoting eduction, and establishing state-of-the-art educational institutions offering technical, business, social and medical courses in the State of Gujarat. His firefights and faith in youth empowerment allowed him to see that there was no dearth of talented individuals in Gujarat ,he always believed that such talented individuals, if given the of quality education and skill building programmes, could be transformed into dynamic leaders and thinkers of the 21st century.

His adherence towards research for the development of the academia has made him invest invest his efforts in the organising, chairing and participation of conferences on a state, national and global scale. With his vision towards internationalisation and globalisation, Dr. Devanshu Patel has raised the Parul University flag on global heights. He has been instrumental towards the creation and establishment of MOUs with leading higher educational institutions across Europe, Asia, North and South America and Africa. He believes that the world today is more in need of job creators and not job givers. Hence, he brought together a team of mentors under Entrepreneurship Development Cell of the University who have been creating an atmosphere of business innovation on the University campus through a series of flagship events dedicated to start ups. He believes that research development, is major drive behind any form of academic progression, and this beliefs been manifested into a living reality through his continuous support for intramural and extramural research grants and fellowships. This has also resulted in the increase of intellectual property, filed by the University in line with the academics. For Dr. Patel, learning is a continuous process which begins but never ends, and to make this a reality, he taken the extra mile of creating new learning avenues for external personnel to gain some degree of academic benefit from Parul University. He has initiative Continuous education program, Work Integrated Programs and Executive Development Programs. His selfless nature and adherence towards giving back to the communities and ensuring the welfare of the people has resulted in the initiation of various social initiatives and community drive programs. He has also led campaigns during COVID-19 which have contributed over 28 Lakhs to the Chief Ministers Relief fund, and crowd funding drives for daily wage labourers amounting 10 lakhs. He continues to the lead the scope of education of Parul University towards a trajectory of continuous growth for the overall development of the community.

Dr.Komal Patel serves as Member of the Governing Body in the University and the University’s Medical Director. She oversees smooth functioning of the University’s Ayurveda Hospital along with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Parul Sevashram Hospital and she is actively involved in establishing and developing surgical departments within the Hospital. She completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from a renowned Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad and she had been the recipient of Gold Medal for her exceptional performance in MBBS. She has also completed her post graduate studies in Gynecology and Obstetrics. She had worked as a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician in Parul Maternity Home in Baroda prior to joining Parul University. Under her dynamic leadership, hospitals attached to constituent institutes of Parul University viz., Parul Institute of Ayurved, Parul Institute of Homoeopathy and Research, Ahmedabad Homoeopathic Medical College and Parul Institute of Ayurved and Research have been accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH). Parul University is the first educational campus in the State of Gujarat whose attached hospitals have earned this distinction. Dr.Komal Patel had a pivotal role to play in establishing state-of-the-art infrastructure and ensuring quality treatment to the patients in these hospitals thus, enabling them setting higher benchmarks in healthcare institutions and attaining NABH Accreditation. She firmly believes academics alone cannot prepare graduates of medical and paramedical filed unless their studies are adequately compensated by research and practical exposure. She was instrumental in signing of MOUs between Ahmedabad Homoeopathic Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy for collaboration in training and research projects. Her proactive involvement in promoting research activities has also led to many teachers in ayurved, homoeopathy, nursing, physiotherapy and pharmacy institutes to take up Ph.D studies. She believes that quality education is complemented by the inculcated through the values of passion for one to excel in any field, compassion for the poor and the needy, care for the fellow human beings and optimism in the face of adversities will definitely help budding students to succeed in their educational and professional endeavours.

Dr. Parul Patel is a resilient administrator, Managing trustee and Vice President of Parul University whose tenderheartedness has allowed her to maintain close relations with the students while guiding them through their academic journey. She is the distinctive personality after which the trust & the University is named. Dr. Parul Patel holds M.D. in Organon from the Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan and has served as Professor in Rajkot Homoeopathic Medical College for 8 years. Currently, she is the Chairperson, Admissions Committee of the University and Member, Governing Body of the University. She is also a Member of Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH), the Governing Body of homeopathic education and practice in India. Dr. Parul Patel personally guides over 8000 students each year for the admission process with compliance to the rules & regulations of Regulatory. She has worked rigorously on awareness campaigns through which over 15,000 students are enlightened regarding the admission process in Engineering, Paramedical, Management, other professional & non-professional courses across the state of Gujarat. Dr. Parul Patel also takes regular classes & viva-voce of students pursuing BHMS & MD at Parul University making them practice ready with her experience. Beyond her administrative role, she goes on to look after the overall welfare of the students along with ensuring their well-being, during their academic journey.

Prof. Manish Pandya is a passion driven academician whose career and depth of technical expertise has inspired his far reaching passion for innovation in education. With his career spanning for over 19 years in the industry and in higher education, Prof. Pandya has worked in numerous professional and academic capacities which have all been collectively contributing to the development of the youth of Gujarat and the future innovators of India. He is current sitting as the Registrar of Parul University and has been actively working towards shaping the regulatory standards and compliance measures as an officer of the University. He holds a Bachelors of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, Masters of Engineering in Industrial Electronics from the Maharaja Sayajirao University and is pursuing his Ph.D in a similar discipline from Gujarat Technology University. He holds a passion and zeal for contributing to the academic knowledge bank through his numerous research exploits. He has shaped and developed his expertise and interests in the areas of industrial electronics and drives, power electronics, programmable logic controllers, electrical machines and wind energy conversion. He also worked on numerous industry consultancy projects which have generated a revenue of upto 20 lacs. In these fields, he has managed to enhance the scope of academics and has made significant developments which have brought solutions through newfound knowledge and imparting knowledge to the future generation. He holds under his name 20 research papers in notable journals and publications presented on national and international platforms. Further contributing to the scope of academics, he is also a published author whose texts on Industrial Electronics have contributed to the scope of engineering. With the same drive for research and innovation, Prof. Manish Pandya has been a facilitator of numerous learning platforms which have been imparting the necessary skill sets and competencies required for students and higher educational professionals to build their capacities. Further adding another feather to his professional cap, he is also a member of the Indian Society for Technical Education and the Society of Power Engineers. He continues to make efforts towards contributing to the scope of higher education through his current post of service at the University and aspires to create the ideal learning system which sets students on the trajectory of excellence in higher education.

Anuj Sharma

Rashmi Bhardwaj

Namrata Sneha

Sonal Kabra

Kishan Patel

Sushant Suman

Priyanka Patel

Amrin Khan

Dhwani Thakkar

Priyen Patel

Mr. Ankit Savla

Bhumika Sukhadia

Navneet Kumar

Brijesh Jaiswal

Amit Sharma

Rutvi Patel

Virag Shah

Ankur Karkar