Ila Paliwal Joins the Pratham USA Board of Directors

Pratham USA is pleased to announce that artist and philanthropist lla Paliwal has been appointed to our board of directors effective immediately.

A classically trained vocalist and composer, Paliwal has contributed to the popularization of Indian music across the globe. She has performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Dubai World Trade Centre, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. In addition, she works with local organizations to promote Indian classical music in the US.

“Ila is highly respected in her field, and we are delighted to welcome her to our board of directors,” said Pratham USA Chairman Deepak Raj. “Her dedication to the humanities and philanthropy both in the US and abroad will further strengthen our board. We look forward to working with Ila as we continue to build Pratham.”

Paliwal has lived in six countries on four continents, during which time she has served on international school boards and chaired numerous cultural committees. She supports many philanthropic organizations through her family’s charitable foundation. Alongside her husband, Dinesh Paliwal, president and CEO of Harman International Industries (a subsidiary of Samsung), she has been involved with Pratham for several years.

“I have always admired Pratham for its innovative programs and dynamic leadership team, and I’m honored to be joining their board,” said Paliwal. “I have tremendous respect for what Pratham has accomplished and am excited to contribute to its efforts to provide quality education to the underserved.”

Raised in a literary family where music, art and literature were deeply revered, education has played an essential role in Paliwal’s life. She earned a BA in English, economics, music and fine arts from Dayalbagh University, Agra and an MA in fine arts from Agra University. She also received an MA (sangeet praveen) with a distinction in Hindustani classical vocal music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and a BA in Mandarin from the Language and Culture Institute, Beijing.