BGRFBeacon of Change Award-2025

Acharya Durga Prasad Pokhrel is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, Vedic priest, and spiritual guide based in the United Kingdom. A seventh-generation practitioner from a venerable lineage of Sanskrit scholars and Vedic priests, he embodies the living spirit of Hindu dharma and classical Indian wisdom. He holds Master’s degrees in both Sanskrit and English Literature, complemented by qualifications in education and management. His deep academic grounding is enriched by decades of dedicated practice in Vedic rituals and scriptural studies. Acharya Pokhrel has conducted sacred ceremonies — including yajnas, samskaras, Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā, and various pujas — with devotion and authenticity, serving communities across Nepal, India, Europe, and North America. Beyond his priestly duties, he is a respected educator and speaker, leading seminars on Sanskrit grammar, Jyotisha, yoga philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita, and Sanātana Dharma.

A poet and cultural writer in Sanskrit, Nepali, and English, he continues to inspire through his words and wisdom. Presently, he serves as a Sanskrit Instructor and Assessor in the United Kingdom, Spiritual Advisor to the Nepali Hindu Forum UK, and General Secretary of the Hindu Priest Association UK.

Dhruv Chhatralia is an international mergers and acquisitions lawyer at a global law firm based in the City of London, author of 21 books on Hinduism and he has given over 400 public talks of over 450 hours between them on spirituality including on the Bhagavad Gita, Hanuman Chalisa, Ramayan, Shrimad Bhagavad, Shree Suktam, Devi Mahatmaya, the Upanishads, the Vedas, Yoga and Meditation that are watched in over 161 countries around the world, with over 400,000 views on YouTube and over 320,000 fans on facebook. Dhruv was included in Her Majesty The Queen’s 2020 New Year Honours List for the award of a BEM for voluntary service to Hinduism and developing young people. He has spoken on Hinduism at the British Army, House of Commons, House of Lords, Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Metropolitan Police, BT, PricewaterhouseCoopers, EY, Nomura International Bank, Barclays Bank, Macquarie Bank Group, EDF Energy, State Bank of India, CMS Cameron McKenna, Mayer Brown, Intercontinental Hotel, AasthaTV channel, Zee TV, BBC nationwide television, BBC radio, the Commonwealth Journalists Association, Nusoundradio, TeluguVani radio, Kings College London, and at community halls in Central London, North London, Croydon, Leyton, Kingston, Luton, Nottingham and Ipswich. A live Yoga session by Dhruv Chhatralia in the City was televised nationally on BBC national television. He has not charged a single penny for any of his books or talks, and earns all of his living as a lawyer.

Gouri Choudhury was born into a musical family in Bangladesh and started singing from the age of six. Gouri has over 20 years’ experience singing folk songs, the songs of Rabindranath Tagore and modern songs in multiple languages, including Bengali, Hindi and Urdu. For her award-winning singing Gouri attracted praise and admiration from Sitar maestro Ravi Shnkar and the Beatles-star George Harrison. Gouri has toured in Europe, the US and Canada and in the UK has performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Gouri has been voted best British South Asian singer in the UK and is the one of the UK’s finest ambassadors of Bengali/South Asian music. She was featured as vocalist in the popular English Rock band Kula Shaker in 1996, and Crispian Mills on Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts in 1999. Gouri Choudhury was awarded Best Singer by Bangla TV in 2004, BIMA in 2004, ATN Bangla TV in 2005 and the community award for Best Singer by Channel S in 2006. She won the “Best Performance Award” after being asked by Zee TV to perform on their show Antaksari in 2002. She represented Bangladesh in a popular TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma in 2011 as the top performer. Recently she received the community champion award by Canary Wharf management group and then as the best inspirational woman by Nari Chetona in London.

Mahamaya Shil is a devoted Indian Classical and devotional singer, celebrated for her soulful renditions of bhajans, kirtans, and semi-classical music. Born in India, she began singing at the age of five and soon became a regular performer on television and radio. Trained under eminent maestros Pandit Srikant Bakde and Pandit Rajan Mishra, she developed a profound command of classical music and an enduring spiritual depth in her performances. Since moving to the United Kingdom in 1998, Mahamaya has dedicated herself to teaching and promoting Indian Classical and devotional music among children and adults across diverse organizations. Her deep passion for Kirtan inspired her to form the group Kirtan Rasa Madhurima, through which she continues to share the divine vibrations of Harinam across the UK, India, and Bangladesh. Through her artistry and teaching, Mahamaya Shil inspires audiences to experience devotion, peace, and the timeless beauty of Indian music.