MARS (Masscom and Research Source) is a Hyderabad-based organisation dedicated to research, education, publishing, and the development of traditional and digital media projects across diverse domains. The promoters’ work is rooted in rigorous inquiry, responsible communication, and a commitment to public understanding.
The Document, a research-driven podcast that examines history and current affairs with clarity, depth, and integrity, is one of the flagship initiatives of the company.
Jayaprakash Reddy with 40 years of leadership across journalism, technology, infrastructure and strategic project management domains, and his wife Atika Amjad, also journalist, an author and an art educator, are the promoters of the company.
JP Reddy (Jayaprakash Reddy Banala) is the Principal Promoter of MARS, bringing over four decades of leadership experience across journalism, psephology, information technology, energy, construction, design, and project management. He has led teams and enterprises with complete strategic and operational responsibility throughout his career.
A postgraduate in Mass Communication & Journalism from Osmania University, JP began his professional journey with The Indian Express under the mentorship of veteran editors such as Saeed Naqvi, B.G. Verghese, G.S. Bhargava, and remotely Arun Shourie. His early career includes roles as Editorial Desk In-charge, investigative reporter, columnist in Indian Express, and later Resident Editor at Deccan Chronicle, where he focused on investigative journalism and electoral analysis. He had the opportunity of interviewing presidents, prime ministers, chief ministers, scientists and performing artists.
In the late 1990s, JP transitioned into internet publishing, managing global editorial operations for the US-based Tobacco Merchants Association (later Nicotine Resource Consortium). His professional portfolio further includes managing a successful Lok Sabha campaign for Lagadapati Rajagopal and serving as Vice-President (HR, IT & Infrastructure) at Rithwik Projects, where he oversaw major hydroelectric and nation-building initiatives.
JP has authored hundreds of articles and several notable investigative reports, and co-authored a bestselling book on Vaastu with S. Jeevananda Reddy of the World Meteorological Organisation. He served as the language editor for Fifty Years of Rural Development in India: Retrospect and Prospect, published by the National Institute of Rural Development to commemorate India’s Golden Jubilee of Independence. JP has lectured extensively across premier institutions and served as a visiting professor at Osmania University, the University of Hyderabad, and Bhavan’s College of Communication and Management. His speaking engagements include a session for the United States Information Service on the convergence of emerging technologies.
A widely travelled professional with a strong understanding of global cultures, JP is also an advocate for environmental conservation and social causes, including protection of the girl child and wildlife.
He lives in Hyderabad and leads MARS alongside his business partner Atika.
Atika,
Partner at MARS, brings over two and a half decades of experience across journalism, authorship, design, and arts management.
A postgraduate in both Commerce and Journalism, she began her career as a business journalist with Deccan Chronicle and went on to work with several print and digital publications, earning recognition for her sharp interviewing skills and strong business acumen. She was honoured with the
Best Entrepreneur Award by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India (COWE) in 2014.
A postgraduate in both Commerce and Journalism, she began her career as a business journalist with Deccan Chronicle and went on to work with several print and digital publications, earning recognition for her sharp interviewing skills and strong business acumen. She was honoured with the Best Entrepreneur Award by the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India (COWE) in 2014.
Guided by her journalistic insight, Atika identified significant gaps in children’s education that could be bridged through creativity. This vision led her to establish The Children’s Fine Art Gallery (CFAG) in Hyderabad in 2010—a pioneering initiative promoting child development through the integration of art in school curricula.
At CFAG’s inauguration, renowned danseuse and industrialist Dr. Mallika Sarabhai highlighted the gallery’s potential to shape young minds through art-driven learning—a sentiment echoed today by numerous partner teachers and students.
Atika has organized hundreds of art competitions, workshops, exhibitions, gallery tours, and teacher-training programs across India. The prestigious Annual Children’s Art Festival, led by her, has become a landmark event. CFAG’s beneficiaries include Teach For India-supported schools, and its collaborations with institutions such as the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) have enriched the learning journeys of thousands of students. Over the past 15 years, CFAG has impacted more than 100,000 students and 2,000 teachers through its programs.
Her extensive international travel in search of innovative teaching methodologies has helped her connect deeply with young learners and guide them toward artistic excellence. Her specialized training at the University of Maryland (USA) in Arts and Cultural Organization Management, and her certification in Museum Learning Strategies for the Classroom from MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), have significantly shaped her educational approach.
Atika aims to create meaningful cultural and educational exchange programs between Indian and international art institutions.
She brings her multifaceted experience in art, communication, and management to MARS, giving the organization a dynamic and creative edge.