Knight of St. John of Jerusalem · KStJ
Scientist · Inventor · Visionary Leader
President & CEO, World Development Foundation
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava
New Delhi, India
Profile
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava is a Scientist in the fields of Broadcasting, IT, and Agriculture. He currently serves as President and CEO of the World Development Foundation, Faculty and Mentor at Thames International University, Paris, France, Adjunct Professor at YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad, Consultant to Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) — the New York-based world's leading B2B platform — and Consultant to VisasQ (VQ), an expert network service based in Japan.
Previously, he served as Additional Director General (HAG grade of IB(E)S, equivalent to Additional Secretary to the Government of India) in the Directorate General of All India Radio. He established the IT Division of All India Radio, conceptualised and piloted the proposal for BECIL — a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting — and founded AIR Resources, a strategic wing to share AIR and Doordarshan infrastructure with private broadcasters.
He was instrumental in shaping the policy framework for Community Radio Stations and led the signing of multiple MOUs including with IGNOU to establish 40 educational FM stations and 12 MOUs with private broadcasters for commercial FM stations. He joined the Indian Broadcasting Service in 1972 and superannuated in 2007. He served as Commonwealth Expert in 1991 and ITU Expert in 1992.
Guided by his belief that "Life is a waste if you have not served the people," Dr. Srivastava has made significant contributions to education, agriculture, and community development across India, Nepal, and Ethiopia.
Primary Author · Upcoming Publication
Smart Farming Meets Ancient Wisdom: Cultivating Knowledge Agriculture® for Global Hunger Solution is an upcoming book of Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava as primary author, co-authored with Aprajita Srivastava. The book presents Knowledge Agriculture® — a Government of India trademarked innovation pioneered by Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava — as a four-pillar framework to address global food insecurity and SDG-2 Zero Hunger.
Knowledge Agriculture® Series · Co-authored
With around 660 million people still projected to face hunger by 2030, this book presents a transformative, data-driven framework — Knowledge Agriculture® — built on four interconnected pillars to address global food insecurity at scale. Inspired by Modi's Vision for Global Trust and Shared Prosperity.
The book integrates IoT, UAVs, satellite systems, generative AI, cloud computing, and advanced analytics to guide precision decisions across the entire food chain — from seeding and irrigation to fertilisation and distribution.
Honours & Recognition
Bestowed with the Ecumenical Medical-Humanitarian Order Knights of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) in Colombo on 29 November 2017, along with a UN Gold Medal for exemplary contributions.
2017 · ColomboLifetime Achievement Award for the most significant contribution in the field of Broadcasting by the Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers, India.
IETE · IndiaThe only individual worldwide to receive the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Award six times consecutively from 1984 to 1990, showcasing consistent excellence in broadcasting.
1984–1990 · 6×Recognised among the top 10 Indian scientists by Indian Amino (38,000+ members globally) on 4 February 2021 for contributions to Information Systems, Digital Storage, and Multimedia Broadcasting.
2021 · Indian AminoDeclared Scientist of the Month by the Science Center, Surat, Gujarat, India in May 2020, cementing his reputation as a visionary scientific leader.
May 2020 · GujaratDoctor of Letters degree, Honoris Causa, awarded by KEISIE International University, South Korea in 2017 for lifetime contributions to science, technology, and education.
2017 · South KoreaAwarded the Exemplary Star Medallion for Leadership and Management at the Asian African Leadership Forum Summit, New Delhi, 23 March 2019, presented by Ambassadors of Zimbabwe and Malawi.
2019 · New DelhiDeclared Ghazipur Gaurav (Pride of the place of his birth) in 2009 for his exceptional contributions to science, technology, and social upliftment.
2009 · GhazipurServed as Commonwealth Expert (Malaysia, 1991) and ITU Expert (Malaysia, 1992) sharing expertise in audio-video archiving and computer-based inventory systems across Asia-Pacific. ITU Representative in Vietnam, 1995.
1991–1995 · InternationalDiscoveries & Innovation
Pioneered in 2018 to address global hunger. Knowledge Agriculture® integrates IoT, AI, UAVs, Robotics, Greenhouse systems, weather modelling, smart zone seeding, and fertiliser modelling. Officially trademarked under Scientific & Technological Innovation by the Government of India. The foundation of the upcoming book Smart Farming Meets Ancient Wisdom.
A hybrid community radio concept incorporating cloud technology, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic at institutes in West Bengal, India, enabling interactive education. Cloud Radio was trademarked under Scientific & Technological Innovation by the Government of India.
A language invented by Dr. Srivastava for digital broadcasting, interactive TV (ITV), and enhanced TV (ETV). Published in his book Interactive TV Technology and Markets (Artech House, Boston, 2001), which remarkably foresaw the rise of interactive TV two decades before it became commonplace.
Conceived in 1996 and published in IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics — a technology now widely used worldwide. Similarly, his 1997 theory on Online Broadcast Archives for Interactive Video, also in IEEE Transactions, underpins modern approaches to video archiving.
Career
Leading WDF's mission to use technology for social upliftment. Established community radio stations in India, Nepal, and Ethiopia. Pioneered Knowledge Agriculture® for global food security. Consults globally through GLG (New York) and VisasQ (Japan).
35-year career expanding national broadcast infrastructure. Established the IT Division of All India Radio (1982). Conceptualised BECIL — a public sector undertaking under MIB. Founded AIR Resources. Led signing of MOUs with IGNOU, private broadcasters, and community institutions. Shaped Community Radio Station policy framework for India.
Reformed electronics and telecommunication education and strengthened online learning via satellite systems during chairmanship.
Played a key role in establishing the online distance education system for IGNOU — the world's largest distance learning institution — covering four million students across India.
Shared expertise in audio-video archiving and computer-based inventory systems across Asia-Pacific. Contributed to the development of online learning systems in Vietnam.
Scholarship
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava has published over 150 articles and research papers on Broadcasting, Management, and IT in national and international journals including IEEE Transactions and IETE Technical Review, and has authored numerous books in Hindi and English.
Media Coverage
Global Recognition
Quick Reference
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava is a scientist, inventor of Knowledge Agriculture® and Cloud Radio, and widely known as the Father of Community Radio in India. He served as Additional Director General at All India Radio (equivalent to Additional Secretary to the Government of India) for 35 years and is currently President & CEO of World Development Foundation. He is ranked among the Top 10 Indian Scientists (Indian Amino, 2021).
Knowledge Agriculture® was pioneered by Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava in 2018 and is officially trademarked under Scientific & Technological Innovation by the Government of India. It integrates IoT, AI, UAVs, Robotics, cloud computing, and education to promote sustainable food production and address SDG-2 Zero Hunger globally.
He played a pivotal role in enacting the Government of India Act for Community Radio establishment in 2002, developed cost-effective solutions, and initiated community radio movements in India (2001–continuing), Nepal (2005), and Ethiopia (2015). He established seven community radio stations in Ethiopia under the MCIT Government of Ethiopia project in 2015.
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava is the primary author of Smart Farming Meets Ancient Wisdom: Cultivating Knowledge Agriculture® for Global Hunger Solution, co-authored with Aprajita Srivastava. The book presents Knowledge Agriculture® as a four-pillar framework — Farm to Fork Technology, Global Education Ecosystem, Fair Data Repository, and Collaborative Network — integrating IoT, UAVs, generative AI, and cloud computing to address global food insecurity.
Connect
Open to research collaborations, consulting, speaking engagements, and institutional partnerships.