The platform for Himachal with heart!
So as to preserve Himachal culture, promote, support and expand social and economic interests of Himachal Pradesh and its people worldwide, this portal was founded. As the name suggests, myHimachal, it’s an effort, which is yours! It’s an effort from friends like you, it is an effort for everyone and with everyone’s support.
In this effort, we invite you to be part of the TEAM and be involved in creating a beautiful Himachal Pradesh together!
Founder
Avnish Katoch: Also co-founder of the non-profit organization, My Himachal. He has taken lead in bringing together Himachalis and friends of Himachal worldwide to work towards a better Himachal. Avnish was born and brought up in Baijnath, and now resides in capitol of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. He functions as IT consultant, mostly dealing with Government software consulting. Avnish aspires to be connected to grass root and his main goal is to be accessible to his rural mates and work together for the development.
avnish[at]himachal[dot]us
Editor
Ravinder Makhaik: Well versed with the new media, the print media and the electronic media. For the last decade, as a working journalist based in Shimla, have been contributing news and features to India’s leading newspapers, television channels and blog networks.
Ravinder’s articles: editor[at]himachal[dot]us
Editor-at-Large
Baldev S. Chauhan: In a 20 year career, widely published in national dailies and magazines. He has worked for the BBC, Agence France-Presse(AFP),The Statesman, Indo-Asian News Service(IANS) and the Business Standard. He is an occasional literary critic and currently lives in Shimla.
email : baldevschauhan@gmail.com
Disha Singh: A professional content writer, who is in this field of internet media since 2006, after completing her post graduation in Literature. She has worked for various blogs where she has taken exclusive interviews of many eminent personalities of different subjects. Along with blogs she do technical content writing for websites. Being a versatile writer she keeps herself away from label as passion for writing keeps her moving.
She is a part of My Himachal Team to serve the people with their right of information about Himachal Pradesh.
Disha’s articles| disha[at]himachal[dot]us
Sanjeev Sharma: Born in 1971 at Hamirpur, Sanjeev has been a freelancer initially. He was the sub-editor of Ajit Samachar HIMACHAL EDITION at Jalandhar for 3 years when he shifted to Broadcast journalism with Nalini Singh’s famous AANKHON DEKHI. In 1998, he joined ZEE NEWS as a reporter for Shimla, joining MH-1 Newa in January 2007. As far as print journalism is concerned, he has also worked with RASHTRIYA SAHARA, THE SUN, TRIBUNE, OUTLOOK WEEKLY as a contributor where some of the famous works to his credit are the famous kidney donation episode..”EK DOOJE KE LIYE” on ZEE and detailed, exclusive stories on Parechoo lake, Tabo monastry etc.
Sanjeevs’ articles | shimlazee[at]yahoo[dot]com
Dr. Des Raj Kashyap: Microbiologist , Des was born in Nither, Kullu, where he completed his primary education, before moving to Shimla. He pursued his Bachelor, Master and Doctorate in Microbiology from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Thereafter he taught Microbiology in Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, for almost two years. He is now a Research Scientist at University of North Carolina and Hospital at Chapel Hill, NC and involved in elucidating arsenic metabolism in human lever.Des’s Podcast |deskashyap[at]gmail[dot]com
Poet, novelist, engineer, scientist.
Vivek Sharma hails from Sarkaghat, Mandi and spend his formative years in Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Una and Kasauli). Vivek holds Bachelor degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and a Masters in Polymer Science from University of Akron, Ohio (US). Thereafter Vivek received a Masters (Chemical Engineering) and a Ph. D. (Polymer Science and Engineering) from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. He is presently a Post-doctoral Research Associate in Mechanical Engineeing at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (MA). Vivek’s research interests span a range of topics in structure and dynamics of soft matter physics or complex fluids, (i. e. polymers, gels, liquid crystals, colloids, etc.). He has presented his research work at various conferences and published in peer reviewed journals.
Vivek writes poetry and fiction in both English and Hindi. Vivek studied the craft of poetry under his Gurudev Thomas Lux (at Georgia Tech.) and participated in Summer Seminar for Writers in Sarah Lawrence College, New York (in 2006, 2007 & 2008). His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Poetry, Terminus, Atlanta Review and The Cortland Review and his poem was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Vivek writes columns for Divya Himachal (Hindi newspaper) and plans to pursue careers in both literature and science.
Payson R. Stevens: Earth Scientist, Author, Hiker and Traveler Payson is a trained earth scientist and founder of InterNetwork, Inc and InterNetwork Media, Inc. (www.in-media.com). His companies worked with NASA, the US Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for over two decades supporting their efforts in developing Earth System Science and understanding Global Change. He was the co-author of the highly acclaimed book, Embracing Earth: New Views of Our Changing Planet (Chronicle Books, 1992). Stevens has been an advisor to GHNP and SAHARA (a Kullu Valley NGO) since 2000 and has trekked over 900 km with Sanjeeva Pandey in the Park.
Kamla K Kapur: poet, playwright, and novelist. She was born and raised in India and studied in India and the USA. Earlier, while in India, she was a freelance writer for The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, India Today. She also hosted shows about art and artists on Delhi TV and won two Indian National Awards (Sultan Padamsee Awards) for her plays which have been produced in Delhi and Chandigarh. She taught at Delhi University and currently is on the faculty of Grossmont College in San Diego, California where she has taught courses in playwriting, poetry, creative non-fiction, mythology, and Shakespeare. “As A Fountain In A Garden” is her second published book of poems. Her writing has also appeared in anthologies and journals in India and the USA, including Parabola, a New York City based journal on myth and culture. She is currently completing her first novel, The Autobiography of Saint Padma the Whore and a fantasy work, Malini in Whirlwood. Ms. Kapur divides her time living in California and India.
Both Kamla and Payson provide unconditional love and support to this platform and to the children of Himachal by bringing best health care facilities!
Dr. Sudarshan Kumar Vatsyayan: is an Assistant Professor at Aerospace Engineering Department of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai Mumbai, India. 400 076. Researching in the field of Aero & rocket engines, combustion and energy. Dr. Sudar is very much interested in Himachal development, mainly in science side and takes keen interest in politics. Dr. Sudar is always ready for any scientific guidance and connects to students with his regular appearances in School and Colleges.
Sudar’s articles|sudar[at]gmail[dot]com
Creative and Technical
Himanshu Khagta : A hobby designer and equally amazing photographer, Himanshu is showing some great creative skills at young age. Apart from his college studies he has supported this platform from its start.
email : himanshu@khagta.com
Amitoj Duggal: A free lance graphics, motion graphics, web designer, Video Editor from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh and holds a bachelor degree in engineering, Information technology with hons. Have worked with “ Vindicate Media productions “ , a California,USA based eSports company, and currently serving as a Team Leader for GotFrag , biggest eSports community in the world. Amitoj , came into the spot light after winning International Video making competition organized by www.steelseries.com in association with GotFrag in year 2008, doing his country proud by finishing 1st in front of USA and RUSSIA, and in the same year only took part in another competition and was recipient of maximum votes from across the world.
Raman Sharma: is a Web/Graphic Designer. Pursuing graduation in Arts from ICDEOL (HPU). It’s one of his dreams to make Himachal an important center for Technology. Very much interested in development of Himachal, but also want that it remain as beautiful as it is now.
We at myHimachal love hearing from our readers!
We encourage you to share your feedback, inquiries or ideas with us at info@himachal.us. We guarantee you reply within 24 hours. If you would like to put a press release, story or photos on Himachal or interested in contributing some other way, we would love to hear from you, please email on news@himachal.us.
