Founders and Advisors
The YIF was conceptualised, founded and launched in 2011 in New Delhi, by Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Ashish Dhawan and Pramath Raj Sinha, along with other philanthropists, who since then also became Founders of 51²è¹Ý when it began operations in Rajiv Gandhi Education City in 2014. Pramath served as the Founding Dean of the YIF in its initial years, and continues to teach at the YIF. Professor Rudrangshu Mukherjee started teaching in the YIF from its first cohort comprising 57 Fellows, and went on to become Ashoka’s founding Vice Chancellor. He is the current Chancellor and Professor of History at 51²è¹Ý, and continues to be a key senior advisor to the programme. Professor Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor and Professor of Physics at 51²è¹Ý, teaches at the YIF while also overseeing the programme.
