Virender Hak grew up in Srinagar (Rainawari) and moved to the United States in 1998. He is a physician by profession and currently resides in Long Island, New York with his wife, Anjali Hak, who is also a physician. They have two sons, Rehan and Arnav. Rehan has recently graduated from college and is working in New York City, while Arnav is currently a sophomore in college. Virender has been an active volunteer and proud KOA member since coming to the U.S., and in recent years leading up to his directorship has served as Treasurer for Zone 1. He has been actively involved in all KOA Zone 1 activities and is looking forward to serving the organization for the next two years as Director. Virender is an avid cricket player and enjoys watching it as well.

Sunita Kanesa-Thasan was born in Srinagar and moved to the US at a young age. She has lived in the Boston area with her husband Ranjan since 2004. Prior to that, their family lived in Maryland. Sunita and Ranjan have three children who are grown and living on their own. Sunita has recently retired from Internal Medicine practice but is trying to stay involved in the medical field. She is proud of her Kashmiri heritage and enjoys Kashmiri food, music and arts.

Born in Rainawari(Jogilankar), Srinagar, Prerna completed her schooling in Srinagar and Jammu before earning a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from MANIT Bhopal in 1995. She moved to the United States in 2000, where she has since built a successful career and owns an IT services company, alongside her husband, Abhay Srivastava. As a proud Kashmiri Pandit, Prerna has been actively involved with KOA for many years, dedicating her time and efforts to strengthening community bonds and preserving cultural heritage. She is deeply passionate about serving our community and looks forward to fostering deeper connections and meaningful initiatives within KOA. Prerna and Abhay are proud parents of two children: their daughter, a Carnegie Mellon graduate, currently working with Deloitte, and their son, who is pursuing undergraduate studies in Computer Science and Physics at UIUC.

Meenakshi Raina Kak was born and raised in Jammu. Meenakshi has been a national-level debater and a volunteer during her academic life. She has resided in the US since 2002. Married to Mr. Ashish Kak, the couple has two lovely children. Meenakshi and Ashish have been a part of the KP community in the Washington DC area and active participants in their zone for many years. Meenakshi has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and has been working in that domain. She, like most Kashmiri Pandits, loves music(Chakkri in particular) and cherishes her family and friends. Her core values include loyalty and commitment to her work.

Anjana Kaul was born and brought up in Srinagar, Kashmir. A dreamer and designer at heart, she completed her schooling at Presentation Convent, Srinagar and her graduation from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai. She moved to Canada in 2000 and the subsequently to US in 2012. She is married to Sharad Mathur who shares her love for architecture and culture, and they have two sons Sidhant and Arye. Anjana practices commercial design and for her entire work career has designed corporate offices for multiple Fortune 500 organizations. Anjana is an avid reader and likes to travel. She thrives in diversity and gets her energy from people, their way of living and their culture. She has an undying love for her homeland Kashmir and a deep passion for her Kashmiri culture. She believes that Kashmir is the place where one can find paradise in every corner.

Ravi Raina grew up in Srinagar (KaranNagar). He lived in Delhi and Kolkata for a few years before moving to the US in 1993. He has been an active member of KOA for almost 3 decades, having served as chapter president, member of the NEC and other capacities. Ravi lives in Atlanta with his wife Nishi and daughter Siyona (GaTech, Class of 2028). Ravi loves golf, reading, travel and spending time with friends and family.

Urvashi Kaw, a Chicago-based physician, previously lived in Kashmir, Jammu, and Delhi before moving to the United States in 2015 with her husband, Anurag Kaw, and their two children, Achintya and Amrit. Passionate about Kashmiri culture and heritage, Urvashi has been deeply involved in community service, inspired by her family’s long-standing dedication. She takes great pride in being the daughter-in-law of the late Sh. M.K. Kaw, a revered figure known for his contributions to the Kashmiri community. Committed to preserving Kashmiri traditions in the U.S., Urvashi believes it is vital to instill in children a deep appreciation for their heritage, ensuring they take pride in their rituals, festivals, and homeland.

Shivas Dhar was born and brought up in Srinagar (Ganpatyaar) Kashmir. Married to Anisha Dhar, the couple has two sons, and the family is passionate about the Kashmiri Hindu culture, heritage and language. He is an active member of the Hindu Community Relations Council and is engaged specifically in programs related to the exodus and genocide of Kashmiri Hindus in 1990. A mechanical Engineer by profession, he works as a Design Manager in the Automotive sector in Michigan and has worked globally across Japan, Europe, India and the US. Shivas believes in community service and has been actively supporting the KOA EAP program as Co-Director since 2022.

Mr. Anil Hashia I was born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir, in a house fondly known as 33 *Karan Nagar*. I completed my schooling at *Tyndale Biscoe School* until the 9th grade. I moved to the United States in *1999*, but my roots and connection to Kashmiri culture remain as strong as ever. I am deeply passionate about promoting and preserving Kashmiri Pandit culture. My primary areas of interest include the promotion of the Kashmiri language and the art of comedy—both of which I believe are essential to keeping our culture vibrant and relevant. I am also a proud husband and father. My wife, Sonika, and I have two wonderful children—Ashwin, 18 years old, who is a senior in 12th grade, and Sheena, 14 years old, who is a freshman in high school. Our family values our Kashmiri heritage deeply, and I strive to instill that pride in our children while also contributing to the wider community. I am excited about the opportunity to serve as Zone 9 Director. I am confident that together, we can create meaningful contributions to our community. I look forward to collaborating with everyone, sharing ideas, and helping foster a stronger connection among members. Thank you for considering me for this role. I am eager to contribute and make a positive impact in promoting our heritage.

Ajay Garyali, a software engineer based in Los Angeles, was born in Jammu and raised in Srinagar and Delhi. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ajay is a passionate sportsman who has represented Delhi in national hockey and cricket. Recently, he proudly represented the USA Cricket Masters Team in New Zealand. Ajay lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Shivani Chaku Garyali, and their two daughters, Rati and Raya. Ajay’s association with the Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA) began in 2000. Over the years, he has made significant contributions to the organization, serving as: •Zone-10 Director (serving 2nd term), •Chapter President (two tenures), and •NEC member and chair for multiple years. A dedicated advocate for the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community, Ajay has led numerous rallies in the Los Angeles area to highlight the KP cause. Alongside fellow KP members, he has also played a key role in countering the false narrative promoted by certain groups, ensuring the true struggles and resilience of the community are recognized.