Mrs. Amala Akkineini – Renowned film actress and social activist

Amala was one of India's darling film stars – pretty, vivacious and a stunning dancer. Winning overnight fame in a Tamil film by famous director T. Rajender, she charmed cinemagoers in a flurry of fifty films. After a series of success in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films, she walked away from the glitter of movie stardom and entered the hapless world of Hyderabad's sick, beaten and homeless stray animals.
Amala met her husband, Telugu film star Nagarjuna, when they were doing a film together. He is the president of their animal welfare organization, the Blue Cross of Hyderabad. Amala is the secretary, driving force and oversees all the day-to-day affairs of the BCH's three animal hospital/shelters.
Founded in 1992 by Amala Akkineni, the Blue Cross of Hyderabad is a registered society conducting animal welfare activities within the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad. The guiding principle of the Blue Cross of Hyderabad:" All animals are sentient beings. And whether they are domestic or wild, used in science, sport, the production of food, entertainment or any other field; they deserve freedom from cruelty."
The animal welfare projects of the Blue Cross are set up to benefit the stray (or wild) animals and birds of all species, or those belonging to economically backward communities - rescued from the street, homeless, abused, sick and dying or just in need of help. The services are: Animal rescue, treatment and shelter, prevention of cruelty, sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs and cats (ABC/AR), adoption of puppies, kittens and abandoned pets, rehabilitation of rescued wildlife, veterinary camps, and a mobile veterinary clinic for working equines funded by the Brooke Hospital for Animals, U.K.
The Blue Cross has a Junior Club movement to encourage animal welfare among children. Members of Blue Cross liaise with Government departments to improve animal welfare State wide. Blue Cross Members inspect and supervise laboratories conducting animal experimentation, providing valuable expertise and guidance concerning animal welfare. Blue Cross inspects trains and monitors animal welfare organizations in A.P State on behalf of the Animal Welfare Board of India. Blue Cross organizes and conducts relief work during natural calamities. Blue Cross coordinates and celebrates animal related events and provides information, articles to the press and media for spreading awareness on animal related issues.
The Blue Cross of Hyderabad Equine mobile clinic funded by the Brooke Hospital for Animals U.K., has been functioning since February 2000.Its mobile team treats working Horses, Mules, Donkeys and Ponies in and around the twin-cities. Though Blue cross is her main work, she is active on other animal/environmental fronts as well.

Sivamani is the son of S. M. Anandan, a Chennai-based percussionist. He began drumming at the age of seven. Sivamani started his music career at the age of 11, and later shifted to Mumbai. He was inspired by Noel Grant and Billy Cobham. In 1990, he actually shared the stage with Billy Cobham at Mumbai's Rang Bhavan. He touts S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as his Godfather.
India's famous tabla player Zakir Hussain invited him to share the stage with himself and Trilok Gurtu at a fusion concert in Mumbai. Afterwards, Sivamani collaborated with Louis Banks, Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi, and T. V. Gopalakrishnan. He has done world tours with A. R. Rahman and collaborated with him for Bombay Dreams. He has also been a part of a musical group called Shraddha which comprises Shankar Mahadevan, Mandolin Srinivas and Loy Mendonsa.
Sivamani has played drums for many notable Indian film score composers including A. R. Rahman and Ilayaraja. He has played drums for many Indian films including Rang De Basanti, Taal, Roja, Lagaan, Dil Se, Guru, and Kabul Express. Some of the notable songs that he has contributed to include Chaiya Chaiya, Roja Janeman and Yeh Hasin Wadiyan.
Sivamani has performed in Dubai, Moscow, New York, Doha and Toronto. He has also worked on Galli Galli Sim Sim, an educational series on Pogo and Cartoon Network.
Albums

• Drums On Fire, World Beat series, Times Music (collaboration with James Asher)
• Kaash (first ghazal album with Hariharan)
• Golden Krithis, a Carnatic Experimental album. BMG Crescendo (collaboration with Dilip, Zaakir Husain and Srinivasan and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan)

Anita Nair is a popular Indian-English writer. She was born at Mundakottakurissi, near Shornur in Kerala State. She was working as the creative director of an advertising agency in Bangalore when she wrote her first book, a collection of short stories called Satyr of the Subway, which she sold it to Har-Anand Press. The book won her a fellowship from the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Her second book was published by Penguin India, and was the first book by an Indian author to be published by Picador USA. Her books have been published in several languages around the world. She lives in Bangalore.
Book(s) by Anita Nair  

1. Living Next Door to Alise  published on  December 2006
2. Satyr of the Subway: Urban Tales  published on  September 2006
3. Mistress  published on  September 2005
4. Ladies’ Coupé  published on  April 2005
5. The Puffin Book of World Myths and Legends  published on  October 2004
6. The Better Man  published on  January 2000
7. Ladies Coupe  
   

Lt. General Chatterjee is the recipient of various distinguished awards, that include – PVSM, VSM, ADC, etc. He was also the Vice Chief of the Indian Army.
As the Chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India, he played a key role in highlighting the role of the board and taking up the cause of the mute animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up in 1962 at Madras, India, pursuant to the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1962, an act passed by the Indian Parliament. The Board is headquartered in Alwarpet, Chennai, South India and its objectives include: ensuring the effective implementation of legal provisions in force in India and pertaining to the prevention of cruelty to animals; advising the Government of India as regards amendments and improvements, if required, to the legal provisions pertaining to prevention of cruelty to animals; and advising the Government in any matter connected with the welfare of animals

Delhi University Professor Geeta Seshamani chairs Friendicoes, Delhi’s largest animal hospital, a registered charity treating, caring and sheltering up to 17,000 abused, injured and abandoned animals annually. The Rotary Club of Delhi South Cosmopolitan recognized Mrs. Geeta Seshamani, vice-president, Friendicoes-SECA with the Vocational Award from the Club, for her untiring efforts towards the stray animal cause and her contribution to the Animal World. The Rotary Club of Delhi South Cosmopolitan recognized her with the Vocational Award from the Club, for her untiring efforts towards the stray animal cause and her contribution to the Animal World.

Dr. P.C. Bhattacharjee, is the representative on the Board of Wildlife Trust of India from North-East India. A respected academic and a professor of Guahati University, Dr.Bhattacharjee is a member of several state and central government committees on wildlife conservation. At present he is associated with conservation of Primate species in North-East, Vice President and in-charge of the North-East Centre of the “Primate Research Centre”.  He is a member of the Wildlife Institute of India Society. He is also member of the Training Research & Academic Council of the Wildlife Institute of India.  He has produced 14 PhDs in various aspects of Primates, birds and wetlands.  He is also an erstwhile Assam state cricket player and is now the Chairman of the state Ranji Trophy selection committee.

Mr. KB Menon is the father of Venu Menon, and also the Chairperson for the Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation. Under the aegis of this foundation he has not only done exemplary work in the field of animal welfare, but also tried to encourage and motivate others to take up the cause.
The Venu Menon Animal Allies Foundation is a registered trust set up by family and friends of Mr. Venu Menon, a great animal lover. Some of the objectives of the Animal Allies Foundation is to promote the concept of respect for animal life among all segments of society, to undertake work that will encourage people to work for animals, especially towards alleviating the suffering of animals, both domestic and wild and undertake projects, programmes which will motivate different sections of society to pro-actively work against cruelty to animals. It also helps in educating the masses about the basic concept of respect for life.