Nick graduated from Harvard in 2006, during which time he rowed for the heavyweight crew and occasionally read philosophy. After graduation, he taught at the Shrewsbury School (UK). In 2010, he wrote Pearson’s “Official Guide to the SAT”. In his spare time, he enjoys writing plays.
Kabir graduated from Purdue University in 2010 where he studied Business Management and Marketing. After pursuing a career spanning various industries including Food Technology, Telecommunications F&B, he received his MBA from Les Roches, Switzerland with a specialisation in Corporate Finance. His passions include golf, football, and food.
Q studies care, or tries to. They graduated from O.P. Jindal Global University in 2018, hold an MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin, and presently pursue their PhD in International Relations at the University of St Andrews. They moonlight as a social scientist, hold the Essai award for ‘World’s Worst Puns’, and spend an ideal night with Doctor Who, Wilde, and Alexandra Kollontai.
Apoorva completed a Masters in English Literature from Ambedkar University, Delhi and is currently studying a self- curated, self-taught program in Spanish Literature. Before joining essai, she worked as a GMAT, GRE, SAT, and IB Literature/Spanish tutor. In her free time, she re-reads Jorge Luis Borges and Jane Austen, translates novels and composes bad poetry in Spanish, and teaches herself French. She also tries (!) to run a book club.
Pritika is currently reading Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to this, she completed her M. A. from the Centre for Political Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University, specializing in Indian political thought, and graduated from Lady Shri Ram College in 2018 with a degree in Political Science, as well as the College Award for English Debating. Pritika has a soft spot for purple prose, potatoes in Calcutta-style biryani, and puppies of all shapes and sizes.
Anushka is an art enthusiast, graduated with a dual degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. She specializes in Ul/UX, and is a master of packaging design, infographics as well as visual merchandising. Her love for filmmaking stems out of her incessant need to know the story behind everything! She’s inclined towards diverse art forms and her multicultural| approach makes for open-minded, fun filled, and interesting conversations.
Samadrita completed her bachelor’s in History from St, Stephens College, New Delhi. She is described by her friends as a fashion enthusiast and has a strong inclination towards arts and culture. She is a professional dancer with an experience of 15 years and so in her spare time, when no one’s looking, she enjoys singing. When not at Essai, she enjoys watching shows that are not in the vernacular and subsequently learning the language spoken in the show (currently its Italian); listening to copious amounts of Tame Impala, and deconstructing the latest Youtube drama.
Umang is a poet & History graduate from Trinity College, Dublin, where she did too much college debating. In her spare time, she makes bad coffee, writes about utopias, sends her friends memes, and tries to read more.
Maanya graduated from Jesus and Mary College in 2018 with a degree in Psychology. After pursuing the Young India Fellowship, she went on to complete her M.A. in Liberal Studies from Ashoka University, specialising in Social Psychology. She loves drinking coffee and trying different teas.
Kritvi graduated from OP Jindal Global University in 2019. While they majored in Literary Studies, their fascination for the moving image led them to pursue a Master’s in Film Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Apart from Kritvi’s formal educational training, they’re skilled in collecting time-worn books that they don’t read, and watching poorly rated films.
Roshni graduated from Ashoka University in 2021, with a major in English and lived her Pitch Perfect dreams by singing in an acapella team. Outside of Essai, you can find her writing fiction, looking up coffee equipment she will never buy, or getting into debates about mint chocolate chip. She enjoys music, rainy days, and battling vaguely messed up sleep cycles.
Shubhra completed her Bachelor’s in Political Science from Gargi College, Delhi University. She went on to do her Master’s in Global Studies from Ambedkar University Delhi and graduated in 2021. She was formerly a part of the Delhi poetry circuit and has performed at various events held in the city. When not working, she loves eating and looking up movie plots on wikipedia.
Amtesh graduated from St. Stephen’s College in 2019 with a Bachelors in Philosophy, and then from Melbourne Law School in 2022 with a JD as valedictorian of the class of 2020 . Amtesh’s achievements include, but are not limited to, thinking and therefore existing, reading 24-hour clocks, and waking up after just a single alarm. Amtesh is found to be often inaccurately quoting the works of Wittgenstein and Sartre, in which Amtesh takes great joy. Amtesh’s biggest fear is climate change.
Ishana graduated from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University in 2020, and went on to pursue a Masters in English from Ashoka University in 2022, with a specialisation in Modern Literature and Culture. Intrigued by perceptions, strange materialisms, and the vitalistic ecologies of the twenty-first century, she spends her free time reflecting upon aesthetics, science fiction, decaying objects, and the textures that enfold our urban corporealities.
Arnav is a recent graduate of Ashoka University, where he majored in Political Science and Sociology. A self- described nerd, he’s a big fan of knowing things for the sake of knowing things, and has a pronounced weakness for period dramas and video games. Keeping Arnav happy is pretty easy – all he ever needs is a good history podcast, a cup of chamomile tea, and the company of his dogs.
Jagrit graduated from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in English and then went on to complete his Master’s from Ashoka University in 2022, with a specialization in Modern Literature & Culture. In his free time, Jagrit freelances as a climate change alarmist amidst breaks from researching about queerness and ecology, all the while hurtling from one strange corner of Delhi to another.
Shreyanshu graduated from Ashoka University in 2022 with a Master’s of Arts in English and a specialisation in Gender and Sexuality studies. On most days, he can be found amidst Delhi’s streets, or eyeing the next set of stationery (which he will never use), and he believes Fiddle Leaf Fig to be the prettiest indoor plant!
Diksha is a creative based in New Delhi. Prior to Essai, they have held several writing, design, and communications roles in the arts and social sectors. They hold a MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Neel graduated from the College of Engineering, Pune where he studied Mechanical Engineering, and then got as far away from it as possible. In his free time, he enjoys falling down internet rabbit holes, playing the guitar and singing.
Kyle graduated from Ashoka University where he studied Sociology and Anthropology. His nomadic lifestyle has most recently brought him to Delhi: where he’s been feng shui-ing his room, going for plays, and making his way back into reading.
Ishita graduated from Ashoka University in 2019 with a degree in History. Since then, she has spent not a moment thinking about the past. Her fixations include shepherding microbes towards creating delicious concoctions, everything to do with Urdu music and storytelling, and the anthropological possibilities of crowded bazaars.
Anmol finished his Master’s in English from St. Stephen’s College in 2023. Fascinated by fissures, limits and thresholds, he likes thinking about the filamentary and shapeless nature of our modern condition, and spends his free time propagating more plants that he can take care of.
Sejal is a graduate of Ashoka University’s Young India Fellowship program. Her academic pursuits have instilled in her a deep appreciation for displacement literature and a keen interest in developing educational content tailored for school settings. As a professional, Sejal aims to engage with students, capturing their unique stories, and offering valuable guidance to help them excel in their lives. Occasionally, she loves to catch up with football highlights, watch matches with her friends, write letters to fingernails, movie characters, and random things that surround her.
Angana completed her master’s in English from Ashoka University with a specialisation in South Asian Literature and is currently trying to translate 20th century Hindi fiction into English. On weekends, she writes short stories, finishes off a whole pizza, and trains to run a marathon. Her works have been published in The Equator Line Magazine, The Bombay Literary Magazine and The Remnant Archive.
Arun graduated from St. Stephen’s College with a Bachelor’s in English – spending a questionable amount of time with the theatre society – and went on, for two more years, to read Literature on campus for his Master’s. Currently letting life happen, he finds comfort in oscillating between old and new homes, melancholic and party playlists, and long naps and longer walks.
A science student turned Econ & Pol. Sc. Graduate; Emad pursued a bachelor’s degree from Aligarh Muslim University. His inquisitive disposition landed him at YIF, Ashoka University where he found his appetite for Theatre and Acting, among other things. When not at Essai, you may find him relishing Classical Music, Urdu Poetry/Literature, a book on Politics, and Philosophy struggling with ideals and human nature. He seeks pleasure in traveling, socializing, and admiring gourmets.on campus for his Master’s. Currently letting life happen, he finds comfort in oscillating between old and new homes, melancholic and party playlists, and long naps and longer walks.
Priyamvada graduated with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Miranda House in 2021 where they spent most of their time questioning the reality and touching some grass. They recently completed their Master’s in the same subject (Philosophy, not grass) from University of Delhi. They use their brain as a primary storage for mostly two things- useful philosophical theories and useless music trivia. not grass)
from University of Delhi. They use their brain as a
primary storage for mostly two things- useful
philosophical theories and useless music trivia.
Sakshi has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology & was part of the Young India Fellowship’s batch of ’23. In her spare time, you’d find Sakshi reading old journals and embroidering cherry blossoms on soft old t-shirts.
Aditi completed her Bachelor’s in a Triple Major across Psychology, Sociology, and English from Christ University. She went on to do her Master’s in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her academic works explore climate change, sustainability, gender, and everything betwixt and between.
Rhea graduated from Ashoka University, where she studied Biology and Philosophy. She is passionate about animal welfare, often spending her time befriending stray dogs and cats using treats. Besides this, she also enjoys reading books and experimenting with cooking in her free time.
Siya has a bachelor’s degree from Ashoka University, where she majored in English Literature and (somewhat dubiously) acquired a (near-non-functional) minor in Economics. She spends her free time crocheting raggedy doll-miniatures, plinking out clumsy tunes on a rickety harmonium, and sometimes singing along. On a good day, she’ll have only a little too much to say about nutritional labels. On a bad day, she’ll have yet more to say about nutritional labels.
Apoorv holds a postgraduate degree in English Literature from Manipal University. Before joining Essai, he developed innovative pedagogy styles, taught, and assisted undergraduate and postgraduate students at CEPT University. Lately, he spends most of his free time swimming, reading and sketching, though he’s easily drawn away by the tide of his friends’s company.
Anahita completed her bachelor’s degree from O.P Jindal University where she majored in psychology. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In her free time, she likes to catch up on her sleep, watch true crime shows, and bake (and eat)!
Mallika holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Mumbai. When she’s not passionately working towards social impact through her skills and writing; she’s ironically practicing self-care by watching copious amounts of reality TV, strumming songs on her ukulele and seeking out Instagram-worthy cafes.
V is interested in exploring ways the law interacts with vulnerable communities- including incarcerated persons, queer and LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups, and religious minorities. They are cautiously optimistic about using technology as one tool for social change and enjoy constantly learning. They hold a law degree from NLU Delhi
Rajani completed her graduate level studies from Delhi University before completing her Masters in Business Administration specialising in Sales & Marketing. She has had successful stints in various industries including Aviation, Tourism and Hospitality where her work was widely recognised and acknowledged. Her passion is travelling and she believes that the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
Merlin is an economics graduate from St. Stephen’s College. She is keen on academic and creative writing around the themes of development, accessibility and evolution of places and communities. She loves spending time at Delhi’s numerous monuments if she isn’t lost admiring music production and lyrics or napping.
Anasuith graduated from REVA University with a Triple Majors BA in Journalism, English and Psychology. Later she graduated from Ashoka University with a PG Diploma in Liberal Studies and MA in English.
Outside work, she’s passionate about singing timeless English Pop and India Retro songs.
Postgraduate student at the English Department of Ashoka University. He has been working for long with students across age groups and at various levels of the education system in India. Fun fact about him is that he prefers the world of snakes rather than that of the humans.
Graduated from Dibrugarh University with a specialization in Applied Psychology, where he conducted various independent research projects. Outside of Essai, he enjoys exploring entrepreneurship, marketing, and, most dearly, short stories.
Psst. He secretly performs poetry at open mic circuits in Kolkata.
Zuali completed her Bachelors in English and Creative Writing from Ashoka University in 2024. Outside of work, she spends her time circulating between reading poetry, picking up things from the ground to put in her scrapbook, and rewatching the same five films.
Graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Law from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, in 2023. In her spare time, she can be found exploring new cafes and restaurants, sharing memes, or rewatching Bollywood classics.
Graduated from Ashoka University in 2021 with major in English and minor in Creative Writing. She went on to do a Masters in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, for which she received the Sonny and Gita Mehta Scholarship for Writers. In her free time, she can be found agonizing over her novel and making questionable culinary decisions.
Kyra graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Hospitality Management from Les Roches, Switzerland. She’s often found experimenting in the kitchen, nose-deep in a psychological thriller, riding the highs and lows of a binge-worthy TV show, or headbanging to classic rock music.
Studied Social Sciences for her undergraduate degree and went on to do her Master’s in Public Health at TISS, where she also discovered her love for research. Over time, her professional journey steadily gravitated towards education; in all its forms and formats. She can whip up striking presentations in minutes (usually). When she’s not working, she’s likely deep in a Pinterest spiral or scrolling through Reddit threads she never meant to open in the first place.
Aratrika holds a Master’s in English from Ashoka University, where she spent most of her time falling down psychoanalytic rabbit holes. She has a soft spot for pastel cinematography and believes no essay is complete without at least two metaphors. When not at Essai, she’s probably watering her beloved jade plant or making elaborate Google Sheets no one has (yet) asked for.
Hiteshi is a political science graduate from Ashoka University and has experience working as a consultant. She loves telling stories– whether through words or data. Outside of work, she’s often found reading, writing, gardening, or teaching yoga. She also crochets, sings, and is always on the lookout for her next hobby. Hiteshi is happiest when creating and learning.
Dhruva has spent most of his life on the fresh-trimmed and misty greens of the football field. From making his own team in his locality that ended up winning a nation-wide tournament to representing his school and playing during his college years at O.P Jindal Global University. When not on the field, Dhruva can be found talking passionately about the future of sports business, listening to hip-hop while lifting heavy weights in the gym, or quietly reading biographical novels.
A 2025 Ashoka University Psychology & Philosophy graduate, Pranav Venugopal (though, I guess PV is shorter) wasted many whiteboard markers in co-developing a new theory of privacy. On a good day, Pranav Venugopal devours Reddit & YouTube; on a bad day, he whines about Hollow Knight & Silksong (which, I think, is a sign that he should put it away & do something productive, like rant about normative frameworks like good/bad)
Teesta completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Jesus and Mary College, DU in 2023. Often found with a glass of iced tea, she loves tracing the invisible threads between architecture, memory, and feeling – how spaces remember, and how we remember through them.
A Computer Science graduate, Stuti runs on chai, constellations and aesthetic photographs. She plays Chopin by day, sings raag Yaman by night, and never misses a meteor shower or a good flight deal.
Gaia majored in Sociology, Anthropology, and History at Ashoka University. His favourite areas of study include empire, post-colonialism, and diaspora. When he isn’t collecting shells at the beach, he’s probably compiling Spotify playlists and discovering new (and old) albums.
Nikita is a geopolitics enthusiast with an MA in International Studies from the Symbiosis School of International Studies. She has a penchant for political philosophies, Punjabi literature, learning new languages and is on an ever-ongoing quest to discover Delhi (one café and historic corner at a time).
Recently graduated from Ashoka University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Her academic curiosities lie at the intersection of film theory, psychoanalysis, and gender and sexuality studies. Her hobbies include running, playing badminton, and painting. She has a new-found interest in baking, and wants to see how far it goes.
An English Major on paper and a cultural investigator at heart, when Rupnisha doesn’t have commitments, she tries to convince herself to read obscure articles that will help her solve mysteries like the correlation between the Columbian Exchange and the Industrial Revolution. An avid listener of history podcasts and downright addicted to YouTube video Essays, she has mastered the art of rabbit holes with a precise French press brewing method to keep her going.
When she isn’t embroiled in a new hobby, Rupnisha spends her time writing. With a background in social work, finance, and copywriting, the only throughline in her career has been her desire to put disparate information together into readable paragraphs.
