Draft:Dr Nalin Rai
Dr. Nalin Rai is an Indian development professional, economist, author, speaker, translator, and researcher with more than twenty nine years of experience in developmental banking, rural development, policy implementation, training, and institutional capacity building. He is associated with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and is known for his belief in celebrating ordinary people and initiatives through development work.
Early Life
Dr. Nalin Rai was born on 9 November 1967 in India. He developed early interests in economics, history, culture, and social development.
Education
Dr. Rai completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru. His doctoral research focused on farmer collectives and their impact on Indian agriculture, with a comparative study of Karnataka and Punjab.
He completed an MPhil in History from Delhi University, where he was a University Grants Commission fellow and junior research fellow. He also completed postgraduate studies in History from Allahabad University, where he stood second in the university examinations.
He holds a certificate course in appreciation of Indian art, culture, and history from the National Museum, New Delhi, and completed his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Career
Dr. Nalin Rai joined the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development in December 1996 and has served in multiple roles, including manager, district in charge, and assistant general manager.
Between 2003 and 2010, he worked in NABARD’s policy division in Mumbai, focusing on policy formulation, human resource management, and organizational implementation.
From 2010 to 2017, he served as district in charge in Ludhiana, Punjab, overseeing development and promotional activities including skill development programmes. During this period, he delivered more than two thousand lectures to diverse audiences such as farmers, women self-help groups, entrepreneurs, academicians, bankers, and industry specialists. He also received a letter of appreciation from international media organizations for leadership in paddy straw management initiatives.
Since 2010, he has been serving as assistant general manager at NABARD, working in corporate communications, sustainability, leadership development, research, and documentation.
Development Initiatives and Projects
Dr. Rai has been involved in numerous development initiatives, including:
- Promotion and mentoring of farmers producer organizations in dairy, honey, seed manufacturing, and traditional crops
- Establishment of marketing linkages between farmer producer organizations across southern and northern India
- Paddy straw management initiatives aimed at reducing stubble burning, implemented across more than one hundred villages
- Promotion of women-led farmers producer organizations in Punjab
- Mentoring of agricultural startups and rural enterprises
- Documentation of revival of traditional handloom practices
- Promotion of village-level sports initiatives, including hockey academies for underprivileged youth
Writing and Media Work
Before joining developmental banking, Dr. Rai worked as a freelance writer and journalist. He contributed more than five hundred articles to publications including The Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Science Reporter, Rashtriya Sahara, Dalal Street Journal, and other national and regional platforms.
His writing covers economics, development, habitat, gender issues, science, technology, art, and culture. He is proficient in writing in both English and Hindi and has also worked on translation projects, including translation of poetry from Hindi to English.
Volunteering and Social Engagement
Dr. Rai has been actively engaged in voluntary work since the late 1980s. He has served as chief volunteer and researcher with social organizations focusing on women’s economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, de-addiction initiatives, and community-based development.
He has also been involved in social awareness initiatives including bone marrow registry campaigns and mentoring-based social services.
Honors and Recognition
Dr. Rai received national-level recognition for initiating the transfer of cattle feed making technology to farmers through collaboration with the Central Institute of Post Harvesting and Engineering Technology. The initiative was formally acknowledged in 2013.
Personal Life
Dr. Nalin Rai resides in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. He identifies as a writer, speaker, translator, evangelist, and traveler, and continues to engage in research, mentoring, documentation, and knowledge-sharing activities.