Dr H V Shastri, whose name means ‘lover of scriptures’, was born into a traditional family of Sanskrit scholars and spiritual teachers. He worked in India as a professor in Sanskrit for 22 years. From 1993 to 2005 he was Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s UK Centre in London. The Bhavan has centres around the globe and is recognised as a symbol of the intellectual, literary, educational, cultural and spiritual life of India.

He has taught Sanskrit at Cambridge, Oxford and many other academic institutions.

He is consultant for numerous academic and government bodies in multi-faith and education and is in the national advisory body of the UK Ministry of Justice, HM Prison Services Chaplaincy, World Council of Hindus, Hindu Forum of Britain and World Forum of Brahmins.

[Updated June 2009]