Sikkim Manipal University (SMU)

Dr. Sourav Dhar is an engineer and academician by profession. He received PhD (Engineering) in 2013. Since 2003, he has been associated with the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, India, and executed different academic and administrative responsibilities. He was a Professor and Head of the ECE Department, SMIT from 2019 to 2023. As Professor and Director, he has taken the responsibilities of the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), Sikkim Manipal University since September 2023. His current research interests include 6G communication, cloud computing, IoT, WSN, remote sensing, and microwave filter design. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (IEEE-GRSS society) and a life member of the Institution of Engineers (India)(IEI). He has published more than 60 research papers in several SCI/Scopus-indexed international journals and conference proceedings and guided several PhD scholars. Currently, four research scholars are working under his supervision at SMU. He has completed a sponsored project on microwave filter design as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Kushal Pokhrel graduated with his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication from the University of Mumbai in 2003, and an MTech in Digital Electronics and Advanced Communication from SMU in 2005. He was awarded PhD from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SMU in 2021. He has a teaching experience of over 19 years alongside academic administration. Born in Gangtok, Sikkim he has an avid interest in computer networking and electronic devices. He has been teaching in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, SMU as an Associate Professor and is currently posted as Associate Professor and Deputy Director at CDOE, SMU.

Dr. Madan is currently working as an Associate Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. He is a dedicated, resourceful, and goal-driven professional educator with 27 years of experience in the field of teaching at various colleges and universities. He has authored two books and has in his credit numerous publications in UGC CARE listed/SCOPOUS journals. His areas of interest include Finance, Banking, and Research Methodology among others.

Mr. Arun Chaudhary is currently working as an Assistant Professor at SMU-CDOE, Sikkim, India. He has completed Masters in Information Technology with specialization in Wireless Communication and Computing from IIIT, Allahabad. He did his graduation in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with specialization in Communication. He has a 13 years teaching experience in Open and distance education and 6 years in regular mode of education. His areas of research and interest includes - deep learning and causal reasoning. He enjoys exploring and using various tools applied for Data Science.

Dr. Anupam Kumar Pandey is currently working as an Associate/Assistant Professor (SG) at Sikkim Manipal University. He has completed his Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University on Disinvestment in Public Sector Enterprises in India- A Case Study, graduation and post-graduation from Devi Ahilya University, Indore (M.P.). He specializes in income tax, corporate accounting, business regulatory framework, and business finance. Dr. Pandey has over ten years of teaching experience. He has presented multiple research papers at National and International Conferences and has been credited with many research publications in reputed journals.

Dr. Aditya Rai is working as an Associate Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. Previously he worked at ICFAI University, Sikkim as an Assistant Professor from 2014 to 2016 and was also the guest faculty at various universities like ICFAI Sikkim, Vinayak Missions Sikkim University, RIM (Annamalai University), and SRM University. Apart from teaching he was the trainer for local entrepreneurs of Sikkim in SBIRSETI. He has worked in the Industry as an Authorized Person in Peerless Securities and as a Certified Financial Consultant in HDFC Life. He completed his bachelor’s degree in B.com Accounts Hons from St Joseph’s College North Point Darjeeling in the year 2009 and an MBA in Finance from SMU in 2011. Com from IGNOU. He has NET in both Management and Commerce and has completed his PhD from Sikkim Central University. He has authored two books, contributed book chapters, and written articles in Listed and peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Ruchita Sharma is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. She has pursued her Ph.D. from Sikkim University. She is a gold medalist in M. Com (Accounting & Finance) with over 3 years of experience in teaching and her area of research interest is mainly in finance, banking, and microfinance.

Mr. Sumeet Agarwal is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. Previously, he held positions as an Assistant Professor and Personal Secretary to the Vice Chancellor & Registrar at Vinayak Mission Sikkim University. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also served as a trainer for local entrepreneurs in Sikkim at SBIIRSETI. He has worked at various coaching institutions in and around Sikkim and has also worked as a postgraduate teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya. He is a co-founder of the Students Welfare Forum, an NGO based in Darjeeling. The organization's mission is to address the information gap concerning career opportunities and higher education among students from the hilly regions. Furthermore, he has been a certified teacher at Khan Academy. He completed his bachelor's degree in B. Com (Hons) from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling in 2010. Subsequently, he pursued his M. Com in Accountancy & Finance from NBU in 2012.

Mr. Manoj Rai is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India and has been part of other institutions such as Sikkim Alpine University, Namchi. He has completed his Master of Commerce with specialisation in Accounting and Finance from the Sikkim Manipal University and Bachelor of Commerce from Nar Bahadur Bhandari Govt. college Tadong, Sikkim. His research interest includes finance and microeconomics.

Dr. Anmol Mukhia is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Sikkim Manipal University, India. He is a Distinguished Fellow at Forum for Global Affairs, New Delhi. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Higher School of Economics University, Moscow, Russian Federation and completed his PhD from Jilin University, China, under Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Scholarship. In 2013, he was a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) delegation from the Government of India to Taiwan. Formally he was an Assistant Professor at Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat. He has also worked as a Consultant at the Department of Trade & Commerce, Government of Arunachal Pradesh (2023) and was an invited lecturer for Indo-Tibetan Border Police Officers (ITBP) Academy (2022). He is an author of “Chasing the Blazing Fire in the Himalayas” (2021) and has published more than 23 journal (Scopus/SSCI Indexed).

Ms. Nilanjana Sinha is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. She has completed her Masters in English from the University of North Bengal and has been the department topper in graduation from North Bengal St. Xavier’s College. Her research interest spans across identity, culture and ethnicity. Being an avid reader of stories and poems, she enjoys writing her own and has independently organized numerous events on spoken word poetry in her hometown, Kalimpong. She is also the community editor of The Pomelo, an e-magazine aimed at exploring Himalayan voices helmed by young women researchers of India and Nepal.

Ms. Deepa Sharma is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. Before joining Sikkim Manipal University, she held the position as a Lecturer at Gyan Jyoti College, affiliated to the University of North Bengal. She is currently pursuing PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Department of Commerce, Manipal Academy of Higher Education. She has presented multiple research papers at national and international conferences and published papers in journals of international repute. She is also collaborating on a research project as part of the Manipal Research Board with faculty from Manipal University, Jaipur. She completed her bachelor's degree in B. Com (Hons) from Siliguri College of Commerce, Siliguri in 2009. Subsequently, she pursued her M. Com in Accountancy & Finance from the University of North Bengal in 2012. She has also completed her MBA in Finance from Sikkim Manipal University- Directorate of Distance Education.

Mr. Pema Gyalchen Tamang is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. He completed his Master of Arts in English from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He has previously worked as a full-time faculty at Bhawanipur Education Society College, Kolkata, India, and Salesian College, Siliguri. His research interests include Conflict and Borders, Early Modern European Literature, Queer Studies, Himalayan Studies, and Translation studies. His articles and book chapters have been published in reputed and indexed journals like Himalaya, Postcolonial Interventions, and so one, and in edited volumes published by Routledge, Cambridge Scholars, and so on. He has also been actively involved in translation projects on literature written in South Asian languages.

Ms. Tshering Ganden Bhutia is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. She has completed her master’s in commerce (M. Com) from the University of Delhi with major in Marketing Management and minor in International Business, she completed her bachelor’s in commerce (B. Com) from University of Delhi. Her research interest spans Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Mix and Business Environment. She has worked as an intern in NGOs like Feeding India where she worked under the Talent Management Team. She loves reading and crocheting during her leisure time.

Mr. Tirupati Bhattacharya is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. He has completed his Master of Technology (MTech), and PG Diploma in Remote Sensing & GIS from Jadavpur University, Kolkata followed by an MCA and BCA from Sikkim Manipal University. Previously he worked as a Group ‘B’ in the Central Government Research Organisation in the domain of (ICT)Information Communication Technology System Management.

Mr. Shubham Sah is currently working as Assistant Professor of Commerce, at Sikkim Manipal University. He is pursuing his Ph.D. from the Department of Commerce at the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, West Bengal. He is a Gold-medallist in the Master of Commerce in Finance & Accounting and was also appointed as a Reviewer of the Journal of Finance and Accounting (JFA). His current research focuses on the application of econometrics in finance, new trends in international markets, and time series analysis. He has published a couple of research articles in National and UGC Care Listed Journals. Also, he has participated in several National and International conferences and has a couple of times Best Paper Awards.

Ms. Anushka Chhetri is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. She has completed her graduation from St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, and her master's degree in political science from the University of North Bengal. She has a major in Public Administration, and her research interest includes Indian Politics and State and Sub-state Politics in India. She is a silver medalist in her graduation. 

Mr. Pawan Rai is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University, India. He has cleared NET, SET examination and is pursuing a PhD. Mr. Rai has obtained a degree in Tourism and Travelling Management (Advanced Diploma). He has more than seven years of teaching experience in various colleges in Darjeeling Hills. He specializes in Political Theory and the Theories of International Relations. He is inspired by thinkers such as Hegel, Marx, Frankfurt School, Foucault and Zizek. 

Mr. Royal Tamang (Moktan) is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. He is pursuing a Ph.D. from Sikkim Skill University in the Management Department. He specializes in marketing and finance specialization. Mr. Royal Tamang has more than 9 years of teaching (offline and online) and corporate experience combined. He has qualified for UGC-NET twice and holds an array of workshops, training, seminars, and symposiums under him.

Mr Pema Gyamptso Bhutia is working as an Assistant Professor specializing in sociology, currently serving in Sikkim Manipal University, India. He holds a Master's degree (M.A.) in Sociology and has successfully cleared UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test). Pema is committed to fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment for students. Utilizing innovative and interactive teaching methods, He ensures students' comprehensive understanding of sociological concepts while nurturing their critical thinking and analytical skills. Pema Gyamptso Bhutia actively contributes to the academic community through dedicated mentorship, research initiatives, and a keen interest in the evolving landscape of online education, thereby enhancing the educational experience at Sikkim Manipal University.

Mr. Ajay Prasad is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. He has more than 9 years of teaching experience. He is pursuing a Ph.D. from Sikkim Manipal University in the Computer Science and Engineering Department on Delay Tolerant Networks. He specializes in Computer Networks and Database Management Systems. He has multiple research papers at National and International conferences and has been credited for research publications indexed in highly reputed journals.

Mr. Kapil Tamang is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal University. He has been a Research Fellow (UGC JRF/SRF) at the Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad, and has recently submitted his Doctoral Thesis. His areas of research interest are Political Economy, Trade, Labour and Tea Plantations, Gender Studies, Himalayan Studies, among others. He has 5+ years of experience in empirical research, academic writing, and data analysis. He has also been a part of several national and international conferences and workshops organized by institutions such as Dublin City University, V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, CRG, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Indian Sociological Association, and many more.

Dr. Gayathri Devi Subbaiah is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. Her educational qualifications include D.Pharm, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MBA and PhD. She has completed three certificate programs- Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Science, Online Teaching from GlobalNxt University, and IVQ Diploma in Training Skills from City and Guilds, UK. She is a seasoned academician with over 30 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic administration. She has experience of Campus, Online and Distance Education, and has a leaning towards use of technology in teaching. Gayathri served as a teaching faculty at Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy for 18 years, rising from the position of a Lecturer to Professor and HOD. Gayathri has 22 publications to her credit in national and international journals. She has guided 18 M.Pharm and 3 PhD students.

Shabana Mansoor is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. She holds an MA in communication and journalism degree. She has over 20 years of experience as an academician and media professional in various reputed educational institutions and organizations in India.

Mr. Niraj Sapkota is an Adjunct Faculty at the Sikkim Manipal University. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mathematics and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Sikkim Manipal University, India. Mr. Sapkota has authored numerous research papers published in reputable international journals and conference proceedings. He has actively participated in various national and international conferences, presenting his research findings. Additionally, he has mentored several Mathematical Summer Camps, including MTTS and INMOTC, for both college and school students. Mr. Sapkota is a dedicated member of the Sikkim Mathematical Society, where he has organized and facilitated numerous workshops. He frequently serves as a resource person in workshops and camps, delivering lectures in many Invited Talks. Mr. Sapkota is also proficient in LaTeX, Python, and C++, showcasing his enthusiasm for computer programming.

Arkapriya is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. She has done master's in sociology and has achieved the prestigious First Class First (Gold Medalist) distinction. She is a highly regarded educator with extensive expertise in education and a broad background across various academic disciplinesHer contributions include shaping the STEM curriculum at Deeksha STEM Schools in Bengaluru, in adherence to the guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020, and providing training to educators. Prior to this, Arkapriya held positions as an assistant teacher in sociology at an esteemed ISC affiliated School in Kolkata, as well as a lecturer at the College of Nursing, Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, and Jogamaya Devi College under the University of Calcutta. Utilizing various platforms and technologies, Arkapriya seamlessly integrates theoretical and practical aspects of sociology.

Lakshmi Priya KS is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. She holds a master's degree and MPhil in political science from the University of Hyderabad. She is a seasoned academician and researcher with over 5 years of experience in education and research and has academic expertise in Gender Studies, Indian Political Process, Public Policy, and International Relations. Previously, she worked as a faculty member at prestigious universities like Maharani Lakshmi Ammani College, Bangalore and University College Mangalore. She has also worked on research projects with reputed institutes like the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Her areas of expertise include Political Theory, International Relations, Public Administration, and Gender Studies.

Sudhamshu Narayan is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. He has completed his post-graduation (MA) from Delhi University and was qualified in the bi-annual UGC-NET examination thrice. Previously, he worked as an Asst. Professor of English at Christ Academy, Bangalore. He was associated with USDC Global, an ed-tech platform that offers educational services to various online colleges. At USDC Global, he held responsibilities such as teaching , engaging and monitoring learner progress for students of JAIN Online and also perform operational duties such as creating content, designing learning materials and coordinating with instructors and content developers for composing and updating curriculums.

Veena is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. She holds a BE degree in civil. She has over 15 years of experience across learning and development in IT sector, academic management in medical education, program management for online degree courses, project management for exports, and teaching of soft skills and communicative English.

Sonali is an Adjunct faculty at Sikkim Manipal University. She holds an MA in economics and has over 24 years of work experience in premier B-Schools. She is recognized for using innovative pedagogical tools to teach Economics. She is known for interactive teaching style that encourages student participation and enthusiasm while facilitating learning.