Madame Janine Vogler of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, has long been a guiding light in animal welfare. As President of Animaux Secours (1964–2020) and now its Patron, she has dedicated decades to defending the rights of animals both locally and internationally.
Her relationship with Help in Suffering began in 1993, when she visited the shelter in Jaipur and was deeply moved by Crystal Rogers’ compassion and energy—though frail, she cared for suffering animals from a crumbling barn. Moved by what she saw, Madame Vogler donated the remaining funds from her travels and returned to France to raise support for HIS’ first proper building.
Since then, Madame Vogler has remained one of our principal benefactors. Her unwavering support has enabled growth in infrastructure, care, and outreach, helping HIS to move from a humble beginning to a sanctuary that treats thousands of street animals each year.
After a distinguished career in the Indian Army, General Surat Singh Sandhu transitioned to the development sector as Director General of HelpAge India, where he led a transformative expansion—tripling annual fundraising from ₹80 million to nearly ₹300 million. This success marked the beginning of his second calling: advancing ethical, impactful philanthropy.
Gen. Sandhu went on to serve as a fundraising consultant for Oxfam Great Britain and several other national and international organizations. From 2005 to 2014, he was a regular trainer at the UK-based Resource Alliance’s International Workshops on Resource Mobilization, mentoring fundraisers across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
He has held leadership roles on the boards of several respected NGOs, including Kusuma Foundation India, Resource Alliance India, Wellness Trust Delhi, and the South Asian Fundraising Group. He also served as Vice-Patron of the UK’s Memorial Gates Trust, where King Charles III was Patron.
Today, Gen. Sandhu chairs the HIS Advisory Committee, bringing decades of experience in strategic fundraising and nonprofit governance to guide our mission forward.
An architecture graduate from CEPT, Ahmedabad, Shamini Shanker Jain co-founded SS+PD Architects in Jaipur with Pranay Deep in 1987. She currently serves as the National Honorary Secretary of the Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID).
Shamini is also a Member of the Board of Directors at Manipal University, Jaipur, serves on the National Executive Committee of the WICCI Architecture Council, and is part of the Core Committee of the IGBC Rajasthan Chapter. A passionate supporter of Help in Suffering, she brings creativity, vision, and deep civic engagement to every endeavour.
Sandeep Sethi is an educationist at heart, committed to shaping innovative pedagogies and experiential learning environments that make education engaging, relevant, and deeply meaningful.
A lifelong advocate of social service, D. R. Mehta founded the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in Jaipur in 1975 and continues to serve as its full-time honorary volunteer. Under his visionary leadership, BMVSS has grown into the world’s largest organisation serving people with disabilities, providing free artificial limbs, callipers, and other aids to over one million beneficiaries to date.
Guided by his belief in blending science with compassion, he facilitated a collaboration between Stanford University and BMVSS that led to the creation of the Jaipur Knee—recognized by TIME magazine as one of the “50 Best Inventions of 2009.”
Beyond his work for the differently abled, Mr. Mehta is a committed animal welfare advocate, having founded and supported several animal shelters and authored publications promoting kindness and compassion towards all beings.
Ajay Chopra is a seasoned leader in advertising and corporate governance, closely associated with Crayons Advertising Limited and its affiliated companies. With a long and distinguished career, he has guided the Crayons group to become one of India’s most influential players in the advertising and communications sector, known for its creative excellence and diverse business divisions.
Dharmendar Kanwar is a celebrated travel writer whose work has earned numerous accolades over the years. Her storytelling spans print and screen, she has scripted acclaimed television documentaries and contributed evocative articles and photographs to nearly every major magazine and newspaper in the country. As Convenor of the Jaipur Chapter of INTACH, she plays a key role in preserving cultural heritage, and serves on multiple advisory and working committees of the Rajasthan Government focused on heritage, art, and culture.
Shashwat Purohit holds a BA, LLB (Hons) from National Law University, Jodhpur, and an LLM from the University of New Hampshire, USA. His legal acumen has been recognized globally through his consultancy roles with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization. As a partner at Mindspright Legal, Shashwat provides strategic counsel across corporate, intellectual property, and real estate law, guiding clients through complex legal landscapes with clarity and precision.
Simrat Sandhu is a passionate environmentalist and wildlife advocate who has consistently stood up against unlawful intrusions into protected habitats. She played a pivotal role in leading the campaign against the illegal translocation of tiger T24 from Ranthambore National Park to Udaipur Zoo, galvanizing public support and legal scrutiny. As a committed RTI activist, Simrat has also been a vital ally to NGOs, helping them navigate bureaucratic hurdles and unlock progress on critical conservation initiatives.
Rakesh Tyagi has been an invaluable part of the HIS family for the past two years, bringing unwavering dedication and a spirit of generosity to every initiative. A committed and positive force, he contributes through his engineering expertise, in-kind support, and active involvement in fundraising efforts. He now serves as a Trustee of HIS, continuing to strengthen our mission with integrity and purpose.
Very passionate about animals from childhood, Timmie Kumar began as a volunteer with HIS before taking over as Managing Trustee in 2007. Under her leadership, HIS opened its second shelter in Bassi in April 2011 for the treatment of camels. Besides this, Jaipur is almost free of rabies since 2009 because of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Immunization Program.
