Peerbagh was conceptualized first with a Montreal-based digital monthly magazine for children in 2021. Since then, the team evolved and adopted a larger mission and publishes the only South-Asia-inspired children’s magazine in the world, Bento. We’re aiming to build human-centered and lasting creative agency, one story at a time. Our leadership team is comprised of individuals with rich backgrounds who are all connected with our mission to innovate and raise storytellers.
Our Team
The whole is much more than the sum of its part. Meet our team!
Founder
Peerbagh began as a monthly children’s magazine, the Everything Times, founded by Vatsala Kakroo. She was a consultant and technology lead at SAP with 15+ years of experience in technology. Vatsala was also TEDx speaker, audiobook creator, and passed away in 2024. We are forging a path ahead to honor her love for stories and creating joy.
Sweta Narayanan
EDITOR
Sweta edits our newsletter, magazine, and has a rich background in writing and editing for children. She has worked for over 15 years creating educational content for K-12 schools in India and the United States.
Rashmi Chaloo
MEMBER BOARD
Retired school principal of a senior secondary school in Delhi-NCR. 40 years of progressive experience in the K-12 education system in India.
Diksha Sharma
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Diksha is a content producer and writer who works with Peerbagh and writes for the Peerbagh journal. She has been creating copy, blogs, and other communications materials for the last three years.
Vishal Verma
BOARD CHAIR
Entrepreneur based in Delhi, banking and treasury professional with experience with global organizations such as GE and HSBC. Fundraises for Delhi-based children’s charitable organizations through theater productions.
Dr. Pasha Khan
MEMBER BOARD
Associate Professor and Chair in Urdu Language and Culture at McGill University. Interested in the narrative qissah genre and storytelling in languages such as Urdu-Hindi, Punjabi, and Persian. Author of The Broken Spell: Indian Storytelling and the Romance Genre in Persian and Urdu among other writings.
Upasna Kakroo
PRESIDENT /CEO
20 years of experience as a brand storyteller in organizations like the University of Michigan, McKinsey, and as founder of small business consultancy, Brandanew. Author of Kashmiri book of poetry, Loal and five other books. Blogging for over 20 years. (learn more)
Imtiaz Ali
RESEARCHER
Imtiaz has worked with in the social sector for over 20 years and is a researcher for Bento magazine. He also works to help coordinate our events in India.
Dushyant Wadivkar
TREASURER
Automotive executive works on robotics, artificial intelligence, systems thinking, vehicle dynamics, control theory and safety. Children’s book writer and blogger.
Madhu Dalela
MEMBER BOARD
Award-winning theater patron. Former Deputy Director of Song and Dance division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
Tina Chen
MEMBER BOARD
Managing Director, Concussion Center, University of Michigan. Certified clinical researcher. Graduated with honors in aging and public policy. DEIB advocate.
Umar Anjum
MEMBER BOARD
Urdu language faculty at the U-Mich. Co-founding member of the Punjabi Boliyan Research Initiative (PBRI). TED. Ed fellow and a TED translator.
Dr. Pradeep Sopory
MEMBER BOARD
Tenured professor at Wayne State University with a focus on communications design and effects, especially use of metaphor, analogy, and other figurative language to influence attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Youth Editorial Council and Volunteers
In 2026, we are supported by Youth Council members who will be working on various literary topics and sharing their perspectives with our reader community and Bento members. These individuals were selected through an open application process in late 2025. We also work with students (K-12) who share ideas as student reporters. For 2026, we are lucky to be working with many volunteers who are contributing their time and energy for our programming.
Aditi Karvekar
AUSTIN
Student at the Westlake High School. Loves writing and building stories.
Hajra Hasnain
LAHORE
Aspiring to instill a lifelong love of reading by nurturing imagination.
Shruthi Addala
BANGALORE
Tech graduate, curious about both books and bytes.
Pratibha Narwat
FARIDABAD
A psychology undergraduate with a growing interest in storytelling.
Nausherwan Babry
LAHORE
History major and an emerging fantasy writer.
Ayza Mazhar Udeen
KARACHI
Student at The Lyceum School studying art and literature.
Heyyaa Fatmah
LAHORE
Major in literature and mass communication interested in story.
Khadija Zahra
LAHORE
Major in education and literature, passionate about children’s literature.
Saanvi Warikoo
DELHI
Student of Psychology interested in writing and linguistics.