Faculty Members
Dr. Abhijeet Dhere
Program Director
Email: abhijeet.dhere@mitwpu.edu.in
Dr. Abhijeet Dhere is an Assistant Professor of Law with twelve years of teaching experience. He is a proud alumnus of the prestigious University of Pune, where he obtained his Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and doctoral degrees in Law, and is also an alumnus of the Hague Academy of International Law (2024). In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Dhere has been an active member of the WHO - Legal Development Programme on Road Safety (India) during 2016 to 2019.
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He joined MITWPU in 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Law and became the Program Director of the School of Law in 2023. Previously, he was associated with Modern Law College for eight years.
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He has participated in and presented his research at various National and International Conferences, including a workshop in Beijing, China, organized by the WHO and the Bloomberg Initiative on Global Road Safety (BIGRS) to improve road safety legislation, as well as the World Roads and Traffic Expo 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr. Dhere has also taken on the role of being in charge of the National Service Scheme (NSS) at MITWPU, where he has initiated various programs aimed at raising awareness among students about road safety.
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Dr. Dhere's commitment to promoting road safety extends beyond his academic work. He is a distinguished alumnus of the Global Road Safety Leadership Course conducted by the Global Road Safety Policy and Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, USA. His passion for road safety has made him a valuable contributor to the field, and he continues to work towards creating safer roads for all.
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Research Areas:
Human Rights, International Law, Road Safety.
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Dr. Parimal Maya Sudhakar
Associate Professor
Dr. Parimal Maya Sudhakar is Associate Professor at the School of Government, Dr. V D Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune. He has over 10 years of teaching experience and over 5 years of experience of working in the Development Sector. He completed his post-graduation in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He earned his M.Phil. on the topic “China’s Nuclear Policy under Deng Xiaoping” and received a Ph.D. at JNU on “State and Society Relations in China in the Context of Globalization.” He is a regular commentator on politics and international relations in the popular media. He has translated Sundeep Wasalekar’s book A World Without War into Marathi as Yuddha Nakaranare Jag, which is published by Rajhans Publications.
Prof. Neelam Pandit
Assistant Professor & Program Director - Incharge
Email: neelam.pandit@mitwpu.edu.in
Assistant Professor Neelam Pandit of MIT World Peace University is a distinguished expert with over two decades of experience in Urban, Rural, and Tribal community development. Her strong grassroots background is evident in her successful work in livelihood promotion and capacity building, most notably in achieving water self-sufficiency for Village Naroli through a Watershed Conservation Project. A major focus of her effort is the 'Know your Constitution' initiative, which has educated over 75,000 citizens on the Indian Constitution. Specializing in Community Organisation, her influential publications cover crucial topics like women's political empowerment, social justice, constitutional awareness and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's philosophy on water resource management.
Dr. V. Lenin Kumar
Assistant Professor
Email: v.leninkumar@mitwpu.edu.in
Dr. V. Lenin Kumar received his Ph.D. from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, one of India’s most prestigious institutions for higher learning and research in international relations. He also holds a Master’s and M.Phil. from the same institution.
He actively mentors and guides both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of political science, governance, and international relations.
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His research reflects a deep engagement with contemporary political transformations, governance models, and the impact of globalization on developing nations.
He has published numerous scholarly articles in reputed academic journals and regularly contributes insightful political commentaries to prominent online platforms.
Chinmay Bendre
Sr. Research Associate
Email: chinmay.bendre@mitwpu.edu.in
Chinmay Bendre is a Sr. Research Associate at the MIT School of Government. He holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Since March 2022, Chinmay has been actively involved in teaching and research at the MIT School of Government. His expertise lies in Parliamentary studies reflected in his authored editorials for esteemed National and Regional dailies such as Deccan Herald, Maharashtra Times, and Sakal Times focusing on Parliamentary functioning in India. Chinmay's opinion articles and blogs also appear in The Leaflet, Mainstream Weekly, The Kootneeti, and Vidhan Bharat. He has 2 book chapters to his credit published by the Interdisciplinary Institute of Human Security and Governance (IIHSG). Prior to his current role, Chinmay collaborated with Prof. Dr. M. V. Rajeev Gowda during the Karnataka Assembly Elections of 2018 supporting election research efforts.
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Harshal Bhusari
Research Associate
Mr. Harshal Bhusari graduated in Civil Engineering, completed post-graduation in Political Science & IR from Pune University, and earned a Master's degree from MIT School of Government. He also holds an English Certificate from the University of Cambridge and cleared MH SET in 2018 and UGC NET in 2019 and 2022.
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Samruddha Bhirad
Research Associate
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Samruddha S. Bhirad is a Research Associate at the MIT School of Government. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Masters in Political Leadership and Government (MPG). Before transitioning into the field of politics and governance, he gained around three years of professional experience in the IT industry.Since joining the MIT School of Government in 2023, Samruddha has been actively involved in research, teaching, social media management, digital marketing, content creation, blogging, institutional branding, and ground-level political activities. He also has extensive on-ground campaign experience across multiple states, including Punjab, Assam, and Maharashtra, contributing to election research and strategy design.His expertise lies in Psephology, Election Studies, Surveys and Data Analysis. His research focuses on understanding how data shapes political strategies, the potential of data-driven campaigns, and the role of political research and communication in influencing voter behavior and electoral outcomes. Samruddha’s interests vary from studying elections, analyzing voter behaviour, interpreting electoral data to designing strategic communication for political impact.
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Kalyani Yadav
Research Associate​
Email: kalyani.yadav@mitwpu.edu.in
Kalyani Yadav is a Research Associate at MIT-WPU, Pune, with a Master's degree in Political Science with focus on Public Policy and Governance. With prior experience as an Analyst, she brings sharp insights into geopolitics and international relations. Passionate about policy research and global affairs, Kalyani explores the intersections of governance, diplomacy and development through her writing.