Our People

Sh. Jawahar Lal Kaul

Jawaharlal Kaul (Padma Shri, 2016) Born in 1937 in Skardu, Jammu & Kashmir, Jawaharlal Kaul experienced the turmoil of partition and the invasion of Kashmir at a young age. Forced to flee to Srinagar at age ten, he grew up amidst hardship, which shaped his worldview. Initially drawn to leftist politics, he later moved to Delhi to pursue journalism, joining Dinmaan of The Times of India group. His reporting focused on issues like environmental degradation, disasters, and social challenges, reflecting his own experiences of struggle. Kaul has been closely associated with the Centre for Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir Studies and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2016.

Prof. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri

Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri is an educator, journalist, and social worker with degrees from prestigious institutions like Panjab University. He has served as principal, director, and professor at various educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Alongside teaching, he practiced law and played active roles in organizations like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. A vocal critic of the Emergency, he was imprisoned for his opposition. Agnihotri is currently a national leader of Sikh and Tibet support organizations, author of fifteen books, a traveler, and former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh.

Prof. Kashi Nath Pandita

Kashinath Pandita graduated from a Missionary College in his hometown of Baramulla, Kashmir. After obtaining a Master’s Degree in History from the Punjab University, he studied at the University of Tehran, Iran and obtained PhD in Iranian and Central Asian Studies. He served at the University of Kashmir at the Centre for Central Asian Studies and rose to become its director. Dr Pandita has traveled widely in Central Asia particularly the Republic of Tajikistan. He has been made an Honorary Member of the Payvand the Tajik State Cultural Organization. Dr Pandita has about ten books to his credit including a travelogue of Tajikistan titled My Tajik Friends which has been translated into Russian by the Tajik Academy of Sciences. Dr. Pandita is a human rights activist and has attended many sessions of the UNHRC and also made more than two dozen interventions. He is the President of the Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum which has been granted the ECOSOC special status. He is a freelance journalist and has written copiously on the Central Asian region. Dr Pandita was awarded the President’s Certificate of Merit in 1994; Soviet Land Nehru Award 1986, Sa’adi Award 2015 by the Iranian Embassy in India and Padma Shri in 2017.

Prof. K.L Bhatia

Professor Dr. K.L. Bhatia (25 January 1945), Β.Α. (Hons.) (J&K); LL.M., Ph.D. (Pune), is a senior Professor of Law. He is former Head and Dean, Faculty of Law and founder Director, The Law School, University of Jammu, Director, Amity Law School, and Dean and Professor Emeritus, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. He has about four decades of teaching and research experience. He has authored and edited fifteen books including a book of poetry in both Hindi and English, and about hundred research papers published in leading legal journals of repute in India and abroad. His areas of interests are Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Human Rights, Legal Language and Legal Writing, Legal Methods, Legal Reasoning and Tools of Legal Research Methodology. He is recipient of ICSSR, UGC, J&K State, UN and ILO Human Rights fellowships. He is a DAAD and Max-Planck Fellow and Alumni.

Er. Daya Sagar

Daya Sagar Engineer by profession (Postgraduate Degree 1971), Daya Sagar (born 6-11-1945) is a Senior freelancer scribe. Affairs concerning Indian state of J&K have always remained in his immediate focus. Closely associated with senior bureaucrats, social activists, academicians and political leaders, he writes extensively on education, economy, health, human rights, international relations and social issues. He has to his credit nearly 1000 published articles and 7 books. He has remained associated with several leading socio-cultural voluntary organisations. He has distinction of having promoted (in 1990s) the idea of Social Audit through Group Research and Audit on Social Programmes. He is working for the welfare of the Physically challenged, underprivileged and ‘unheard’ people and for development of ‘Humanitarian Coefficient’. Published Books: J&K Affairs: Mishandled-Misquoted-Miscarried Jammu and Kashmir State: 1947 Accession: Events Thereafter Article 370-Law and Politics A Look Through the Mist: PDP Self-Rule. History of Delimitation in J&K Real Face of Article-370 of Constitution of India. Jammu & Kashmir-A Victim.

Justice (Retd.) G. D Sharma

Justice G. D. Sharma was a distinguished Indian jurist who served with great dedication and integrity, most notably as a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Renowned for his deep understanding of constitutional principles, civil law, and service jurisprudence, he earned widespread respect from the Bar and the Bench alike. His judgments were marked by clarity, balance, and a strong commitment to justice, reflecting both legal acumen and human sensitivity. Justice Sharma consistently upheld the rule of law and judicial independence, ensuring fairness and transparency in the administration of justice. His contributions strengthened public confidence in the judiciary and left a lasting impact on the legal system. He is remembered as a judge who combined wisdom, discipline, and compassion in his judicial service.