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Prof. Dr. Sidharth Shankar Raju
Prof. Dr. Sidharth Shankar Raju
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| Born | 19 January 1982, Kasrour village, Darbhanga district, Bihar, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Academic, Hospitality Educator, Author |
| Academic field | Hospitality, Tourism, Human resource management |
| Institution | Vivekananda Global University |
| Position | Associate Professor & Head of Department |
| Notable work | FAILHA – Haar Se Janmi Jeet Ki Zidd |
| Spouse | Pooja |
| Children | 2 |
Prof. Dr. Sidharth Shankar Raju (born 19 January 1982) is an Indian academic, hospitality educator, researcher, and author. He is associated with Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, where he serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Hotel Management.
His academic work focuses on hospitality education, tourism systems, employee performance studies, and emerging technologies in the hospitality sector. He is also the author of the motivational autobiography FAILHA – Haar Se Janmi Jeet Ki Zidd.
Early life
Sidharth Shankar Raju was born in Kasrour village in the Darbhanga district of northern Bihar. The region is part of the historic Mithila cultural zone, known for its contribution to Indian philosophy, literature, and traditions.
Mithila holds historical significance due to its association with the ancient Kingdom of Videha and its cultural link to Goddess Sita. The area lies between the literary regions connected to poet Vidyapati and nationalist poet Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’.
Dr. Raju was raised in a rural household by his father, Shri Vishwamohan Jha, a farmer and former village head, and his mother, Smt. Sunaina Devi. He completed his primary education in a government school in his village.
Education and qualifications
Dr. Raju pursued formal education in hospitality, management, and commerce across multiple academic institutions.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (2018–2021)
- Research on performance evaluation of operational employees in tourism and hospitality systems
- Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) (2017–2018)
- Research on cultural diversity and international tourism business
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Hotel Management and Human Resource Management
- Bachelor’s degree – Hotel Management, Travel and Tourism
- Diploma – Hotel Management
- Master of Commerce – Distance learning
Professional certifications
- Advanced Diploma in Computer Applications
- Certificate in Human Resource Management from IBMI, Germany
Career
Before entering academia, Dr. Raju worked in the international hospitality industry, gaining operational and managerial experience.
Hospitality industry experience
- Hospitality Management Trainee – Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island, USA
- Food & Beverage Executive – Vail Resorts Corporation, Denver, USA
- Restaurant and Training Manager – Sterling Holidays Resorts, Goa
- Assistant Manager (F&B) – Hilton Hotel, Singapore
Academic appointments
- Junior Lecturer – Academy of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Dehradun
- Senior Lecturer & Head of Department – Academy of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Dehradun
- Assistant Professor & Head of Department – Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur
- Associate Professor & Head of Department – Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur
He supports outcome-based education combined with ethical values and professional discipline.
Research and academic work
Dr. Raju has published research articles in peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus, Elsevier, and UGC-CARE databases. His research areas include tourism economics, hospitality workforce management, artificial intelligence applications, and sustainability practices.
Books
- Tourism in India – Status, Challenges and Opportunities
- Effect of Cultural Diversities in Business
- Performance Evaluation Techniques in Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Fibers and Fabrics: The Essentials for Beginners
- FAILHA – Haar Se Janmi Jeet Ki Zidd
Professional affiliations
- Editorial board member of academic journals listed under Scopus and UGC-CARE
- Member of:
- Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC)
- American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
- International Society for Development and Sustainability, Japan
- Institute of Scholars
Awards
- Rashtriya Gaurav Award – Education Sector (2021)
- Head of the Department of the Year – National Level Award (2022)
Academic service
Dr. Raju has worked as visiting faculty, external examiner, and academic committee member at universities including:
- NIMS University, Jaipur
- JNU Jaipur
- Graphic Era University, Dehradun
- Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur
- Jai Minesh Aadivashi University, Kota
Personal life
He is married to Pooja, an Assistant Professor. The couple has two children. Dr. Raju communicates professionally in Hindi and English.