Mr Mendonca was in Ramnarain Ruia College for the period 1962-66 and completed his post-graduation in Zoology with distinction. During his Ruia College days, he was part of the National Cadet Corps, which endeared him to the uniform. Mr.Mendonca joined the Indian Police Service in 1968, and had an unblemished record in the police force until his retirement in 2001. In Maharashtra, he served as Superintendent of Police at Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Yavatmal, Satara and Nashik, and as Commissioner of Police in Nagpur, Thane and Mumbai. His last posting (2000-2001) was as Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Maharashtra. After his retirement, Mr.Mendonca served as a member of the Civil Service Reforms Committee, Government of India and the Maharashtra State Security Committee. Mr.Mendonca has received many accolades during his career including the Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service, and the outstanding Konkani Award, presented by Dr.T.M.A. Pai Foundation, Manipal.

Vidushi Ashwini was with Ruia for the period 1977-1981. She graduated in Microbiology and obtained her Master’s from Haffekine Institute . She was the recipient of the University Gold medal at both Graduate and Post Graduate levels. This true scholar obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from BARC. It was only then that Dr.Ashwini was faced with the decision – academics or her first lovemusic! And it was victory for her music lovers! Ashwini, with her complete devotion to music, is today one of the top artistes of India. She excels herself not only in Khyal Gayaki but also in other types such as Thumari, Dadra, Bhajan, Abhang. She is a great composer and has published two books on self-composed Bandishes and devotional compositions - Rangarachanajali I & II, both of which have received rave reviews for their musical creativity and artistic presentation. Ashwini has performed not only in India but has travelled across the globe participating in prestigious conferences. Ashwini received Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2014, “Ganatapaswini Mogubai Kurdikar Samman” in 2014 and “Pandit Mallikarjun Mansoor Award” in 2013, Government of Maharashtra Sanskrithik Puraskar in 2011,the Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Samman in 2006, Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar in 2005 and many others.She has received the State Level Tarktirth LaxmanShastri Joshi Puraskar for her translation of Madam Curie’s biography, in which her mastery over Marathi language as well her aptitude towards science is seen.

Ms. Archana Shukla completed her B.Sc. in Microbiology from Ruia College in 2004. Being an excellent journalist, she is currently designated as Assistant Editor (Rural Affairs) to CNBC TV 18. She travels extensively to the interiors of the country to track the stories or developments in rural India. She reports, anchors and produces the widely acclaimed TV series “What’s Ailing Rural India” for CNBC TV18. It’s series known to depict ground realities and connects rural India to the mainstream news viewers. Ms.Shukla has won several laurels for her contribution to the field of journalism, like Exchange Media News Broadcast Award (ENBA) 2015 in the category of ‘Best Continuing Coverage by a Reporter’, the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award 2016 for Excellence in Journalism in the category of ‘Business and Economics’ and the Mumbai Press Club’s RedInk Award 2016 in two different categories, as the ‘Best Business Journalist’ and also in the ‘Health and Wellness’ category. A self-motivated, fearless and determined individual with good communication skills, she has also reported from Ground Zero during Mumbai terror attacks, bomb blasts in Mumbai and floods in rural Uttar Pradesh.

Ms.Renu Savant did her BA in English Literature from Ruia College and MA from University of Mumbai, and later, worked as a journalist with Indian Express. Prior to joining FTII, she has assisted senior artistes and practitioners like Kamal Swaroop, Madhushree Dutta and Chetan Datar. Ms.Savant was a student of film direction at FTII and has won two National Awards- Special Mention in 2012 and for her film ‘Aaranyak’ Golden Lotus for Best Direction (Short Film category) at the 62nd National Awards 2015, awarded by Government of India, presented by the President of India. After graduation, she got the Early Career Fellowship from TISS, SMCS. This Fellowship helped her complete her first long duration film – “Many Months in Mirya”. It is worth noting that she has been felicitated by the Cesar Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, at the UNESCO headquarters, Paris, and has also been selected to participate along with National Award winning directors of 33 countries and to present out short films in Athens, Rome and Paris in 2016. She also won the John Abraham National Award for Best Documentary at the SiGNS Film Festival, 2017, given by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.

He is recipient of the S. S. Bhatnagar Award (Engg. and Technology) in 1992 from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) along with several other accolades.