Tarun Sharma is a city thinker and social innovator committed to deepening voice and agency in India’s small and mid-sized cities.

Yutika is a co-creator of pathways for reimagining small towns as thriving centers of civic engagement and resilience.

Rohit is an Architect and Urban Planner by training. He holds a Master’s in City Planning from IIT Kharagpur and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from AKTU Lucknow. Rohit’s research interests encompass sustainable urban planning, resilient urban design, disaster risk reduction, and vernacular architecture. With hands-on experience working with natural building materials, he seamlessly blends traditional knowledge systems into contemporary architecture and planning practices. Passionate about innovative urban solutions, Rohit is dedicated to advancing resilient and sustainable development across diverse urban settings, with a keen focus on addressing the unique challenges of the Himalayan region. He is from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand.

Praisy is an interdisciplinary social-science researcher with a Master’s in Society and Culture from IIT Gandhinagar

Hemant is a strategic communications and design professional with a Bachelor’s in Journalism & Mass Communication from MSU Baroda. His work spans urban equity, community engagement, sustainability, and public interest media. He has contributed to communications, IEC material design, strategy development, and event curation for civic institutions and nonprofits such as Friends Society, Anwesha Foundation, Y20 India Summit, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, and the Integrated Child Development Scheme. At Nāgrika, he supports knowledge-building on small cities through citizen insights, local data narratives, and strategic outreach.

Prashant is a passionate public policy professional and had recently completed his Master’s degree in Public Policy from O.P. Jindal Global University and Bachelor's in Political Science and English from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi. With a deep commitment to evidence-based policymaking, he believes in the power of data-driven decisions to create sustainable and impactful change. Prashant has a keen interest in meeting people and learning from their unique experiences. He is particularly drawn to the dynamic nature of cities and enjoys exploring cities, uncovering stories, and connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Alongside the work, Prashant has a keen interest in photography. Prashant is from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Riya Bhardwaj is an interdisciplinary legal, policy & political strategist with a BA LLB (Hons.) from National Law University, Ranchi (2018–23). She previously worked with a national political party and played a key role in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, engaging closely with tribal communities and CSR-driven development initiatives. This work reinforced her belief in inclusive governance, i.e., governance that listens to and addresses the needs of its constituents. Riya grew up in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand affectionately known as “हज़ार बागों का शहर”, a small yet historically rich town that has shaped every aspect of her identity.