Ashok Gajanan Modak
Ashok G. Modak is an Indian national born in 1940 currently residing in Mumbai. He did his Master of Arts (M.A.) first in Economics (1963) and later in Political Science (1967) from the University of Pune. He obtained his Doctorate (Ph.D.) from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1980. His Doctorate subject was "Soviet Economic Aid to India." In recognition of his contribution in the field of education, the Government of India nominated him for the position of National Research Professor on 6 January 2015 for a period of five years. On 21st Jan 2016, Professor  Lokesh Chandra, President - Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) appointed Dr. Modak as a member of the reconstituted General Assembly of ICCR for a term of three years. In 1963 he began his teaching career as lecturer in Economics at the Arts, Science and Commerce College at Chalisgaon in Jalgaon District in the state of Maharashtra. Later after serving as lecturer in Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai he joined as Reader in the Centre for Soviet Studies, University of Mumbai. Whilst at this juncture; in 1994 he was invited by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be a candidate from the  Graduates Constituency of the Konkan region in the state of Maharashtra. He won the elections in 1994 and 2000 to become a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the state of Maharashtra. He continued in this position for 12 years till 2006. In 2006, the University of Mumbai offered him the Honorary position of Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Central Eurasian Studies and he has been busy in this role till date. Modak has pursued his research activities in several countries like the former USSR, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, former Yugoslavia to name a few. In 1986 the  US Government invited him for a monthlong participation in seminars pertaining to Superpower Relations. He was a research student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Oriental Institute, Moscow (Russia) and also at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, the Netherlands. He has written 30 books, over 104 research papers and several newspaper and magazine articles in periodicals like International Studies, Journal of Indian Council of World Affairs New Delhi and Eternal India; New Delhi. Recipient of the Best Parliamentarian Award (1997) from the Legislative Council, Mumbai; Modak also won the P.B. Bhave Orator Award, Writer-Award and Chhatrapati Sambhaji  Maharaj Award for his work in the Legislative Council of Maharashtra. Modak has also voluntarily involved himself on various forums and committees. Currently he is the President of two educational institutes in the state of Maharashtra. He heads the Konkan Graduates Forum which deals with imparting vocational education to female students. He also heads the Sahyadri Adiwasi Bahuvidha Sewa Sangh; an organisation rendering welfare services to tribal people of the Thane district in Maharashtra. He recently delivered a lecture series on "Integral Humanism and Westernism – A Comparative Analysis"; "Relevance of Integral Humanism in Present Era" by India Foundation; New Delhi  and India Policy Foundation; New Delhi.