 Ashwani
Agarwal: General Manager, Age 48 years, brings with him a varied
experience which makes us proud that he has decided to be associated with
us. After having worked with the Taj Group of Hotels for 22 years in various
departments he one day decided the day was near to do what his heart always
wanted him to do, i.e. follow the ethos of Gandhiji. The day he quit the
Taj Group of Hotels, we met, and it was in few minutes that we decided that
we would be a great team together. After sharing the dream of what Chitvan
would be, we realized that we had a common dream, which was to inculcate
an Alternative Lifestyle at Chitvan.
He comes from a family which participated in the Indian Freedom Movement.
His parents had the opportunity to stay in the Wardha Ashram of Mahatma
Gandhi for 5 years. The First President of India, Late Dr Rajendra Prasad
learnt how to make Cotton from Ashwani’s mother in the Wardha Ashram.
A family which brings forth Values of Gandhiji, and follows till date the
simple living and high thinking values.
We shared our vision with him that we wanted the whole set up of Chitvan
in 100 days. He worked on his plan for 100 hours, then explained the same
to us in 100 minutes, and we were convinced that Chitvan could not have
been in better hands. Working with 100% commitment, he is an energizer,
who distributes energy to everyone whom he meets. You need to encounter
him to find out that he is a mover and a shaker.
 Sharad
Vats: Director, Sales & Marketing, Age 42 years, it was in
year 1990, during his first visit to Ranthambhore National Park, and his
first Tiger sightings that he realized that he had to do something to be
associated with the Wildlife. A passion for Tigers got him to quit his 11
year old career with Taj Group of Hotels and he combined his passion of
Wildlife with Hoteliering and started Tiger Den Resort Bandhavgarh alongwith
Shailendra Tiwari. It took a while to establish Tiger Den Resort, the process
was slow, but a great amount of learning en route.
The fire in his belly to do more with Wildlife got him and Shailendra thinking
about a project in Kanha. It was not only putting a Resort together but
this place had to be different. This place had to be what India is all about,
and then Chitvan was born. A visionary who promotes meaningful and responsible
tourism today wants to be present in every Tiger Reserve of consequence
via a Wildlife Resort in near future.
 Shailendra Tiwari: Director Operations, 42 years, he started
Tiger Den Resort, in Bandhavgarh in year 2000, after a fruitful career with
Taj Group of Hotels spanning over 16 years. An introvert by nature, he works
from his heart, and soon established new benchmarks in Wildlife Hospitality
at Tiger Den Resort in Bandhavgarh. He did what none thought important to
do, that was spoil his guests with warmth, pamper them thoroughly, and treat
them like Royalty. Word of mouth spread and people worldwide today ask for
Tiger Den Resort in Bandhavgarh. The demand is so high that Shailendra is
constrained to increase number of rooms every year. Started with 10 rooms
today the resort has 26 rooms. He along with Sharad, a friend for last 20
years decided to spread their Wildlife Hospitality across more National
Parks. Kanha being near to Bandhavgarh was an obvious choice, and that is
how Chitvan was born.
Qamar Talat: Director, age 55, after
working in Taj Group of Hotels for 18 years, decided to get associated with
Sharad and Shailendra in Chitvan. Together the 3 formed Chitvan Jungle Lodges.
Based out of Dubai he is a constant source of inspiration, and support.
An open and large hearted gentleman like a Tiger, he is a clean and quick
thinker who never compromises on quality, and believes in the fact that
a Hotelier can be a Wildlifer but the journey the other way round is tough.
 Faiz Khan (F&B Incharge cum Naturalist): A qualified hotelier and a Naturalist, he is a big asset to Chitvan. He has experience of working in Kanha for over last 4 years. Having done more than 1100 safaris in the park, that too in all the ranges, i.e. Kanha, Kisli, Mukki and Sarhi, he is one of the most accomplished Naturalists of the area. His bird count is a little over 200, recognizes all mammals of the region, and major butterflies as well. He also has good information on about 75 species of trees. Loves to drive the vehicle himself and track Tigers, he is good company and is a conservationist by heart and soul.
 Vibhav Srivastava : Naturalist, 35 years, is a graduate from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. He has done extensive research on Indian Wildlife in various protected areas, to name a few, Satpura, Bori, Pachmarhi, Corbett, Rajaji, Katerniaghat, Dudhwa, Kishanpur, Kaimur, Chandraprabha, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh National Parks.
After having worked with banaras Hindu University’s Department of Botany, under a research project on a study of dry tropical forests, he also worked over an year with Wildlife Institute of India under Project on Monitoring Tigers, Co-Predators, Prey and their habitat. His work has included: designing of camera traps and analysis of data, carnivore sign survey, distance sampling which includes ungulate encounter data collection, vegetation sampling, pellet count. He also did a socioeconomic survey in villages near forests and inside the protected areas, vegetation analysis in disturbed and undisturbed forest areas, analysis of crops of tribals and developed farmers.
Papers authored by him are: “Main causes of Wildlife Depletion in India, and he has had the privilege of writing a chapter in the forthcoming book of Dr Ashok Verma called “Impac of Pesticides on Wildlife”. Apart from being a Wildlifer he is also an avid boradcater, has worked with All India Radio Varanasi.
 Sanjay Thakre (Naturalist), age 30 years: He is the fouth generation born in the Kanha Tiger reserve. Since birth he has walked in these forests daily, and understands not only the birds and mammals in this forest, but the trees, plants and shrubs equally well. His father served the forest department as incharge of the Elephants, and now serves the local community as a naturopath. While Sanjay talks less during the safaris, please do not think he is not sharing information, rather he is listening to the language of the resident denizens of the Jungle and his mental radar is tracing the big cat in the proximity. Trust him fully to give you a good experience during the safari, and you will come back and tell the Manager that you again want Sanjay on your next Safari.
 Chef Manjay Shahi: Don’t go by his mortal age, he is too young for the taste he generates in whatever he prepares. After having worked with The Imperial New Delhi and the Taj Mansingh New Delhi, he decided to get close to nature to further enhance his culinary skills. At Chitvan, he has full freedom to experiment with all organically grown vegetables and grains, and also our own diary to have fun with the milk products. If you are missing what your mother used to prepare just call on him and let him know, and await, it will come very close to your expectations if not exactly like it. With the dishes he churns out you will not at all feel you are in a remote Jungle.
 Shyam (Naturalist) 25 years: A shy tribal who has been working very quietly in our restaurant as a team member incidentally recognises more than 200 species of birds. Well, we were also shocked when we discovered his hidden talent and then started to send him on safaris to discover that he knows what he states. He is now a part of Restaurant team as well as Naturalist team for he is one of the uniquly talented boys whom we are blessed to have with us.
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