Navina Jafa

🪔 About

Navina Jafa, born on June 6, 1964, in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, is a distinguished Kathak classical dancer, cultural heritage professional, author, and scholar. She received her Kathak training from eminent gurus such as Pandit Birju Maharaj, Munna Shukla, and Reba Vidyarthi. Her academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in English Honors from St. Stephen's College and a Ph.D. in History & Culture from Jamia Milia Islamia, focusing on the socio-economics of North Indian performing arts. She was also a Fulbright Fellow at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, specializing in Culture Management and Cultural Diplomacy. Jafa's career spans various roles, including cultural activist, historian, and curator of heritage tours. She has collaborated with Cambridge University on projects related to Culture and Artificial Intelligence and has made significant contributions to cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. She directs the Indian Cultural Heritage Research and is the vice president of the Centre for New Perspectives, which works towards creating sustainable livelihoods for marginalized street-folk performers. She has also served as a Heritage Consultant for the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, Government of Delhi, and has been invited by the CBSE to develop heritage education programs. Her recent artistic endeavors include "Sair-e-Motorcar," a Kathak solo that innovatively integrates vintage automobiles into the dance form. Awards & Honours: Shakti Women's Achiever award by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Woman of Wonder award by the Vodafone Foundation (2017), CBSE Sahodaya Award for contributions to Multi-disciplinary Learning - Heritage Education in Schools, Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti Award (2024), Women Economic Forum: The Exceptional Leaders of Excellence Award (2019), ICONIC AWARD Heritage Tourism (2025).