Soumitra Pathare trained as a psychiatrist at Seth G S Medical College & KEM Hospital Mumbai and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He has a doctoral degree from VU University, Amsterdam and is a Member of The Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kigdom.He is currently the Director of Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy at the Indian Law Society in Pune, India. Atmiyata, a rural community volunteer-led mental health service he pioneered in Mehsana, Gujarat was recently listed by World Health Organization as one of the 25 good practices for community outreach mental health services in the world.