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Four running for election to WW-P Board of Education By Bill SAnseRVinO
A photo of children playing on the beach near the slum district in Madras, (now known as Chennai) India, from West Windsor resident Hans Sandberg’s book, “A Swede on the Hippie Trail.”
Tales from the ‘Hippie Trail’ West Windsor resident chronicles his 1970s journey in new book
on an adventurous journey from Sweden to India, traveling the famous “Hippie Trail.” The trail was an overland route fromt he mid-1950s to the 1970s that was followed by Western By Bill SAnseRVinO travelers often seeking adventure and cultural exploration. A little more than 50 years ago, They hitchhiked or rode buses Hans Sandberg and a group of and trains to traverse landscapes other young Swedes embarked ranging from mountains to des-
erts in Europe, the middle East and Asia.. Although not hippies themselves, Sandberg (now a West Windsor resident) and his group trekked through Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, ultimately arriving in New Delhi, India. After a week in Srinagar, KashSee SANDBERG, Page 5
A total of four candidates are running for election to the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education, but only one race is contested. Three candidates are competing for two open Plainsboro seats on the school board—Pooja Bansal (an incumbent), Hanif Payak and Ajanta Shah. Board member Rachel Juliana, whose term ends on Dec. 31, opted not to run for re-election. In West Windsor, incumbent Elizabeth Cheniara is running uncontested for one open seat on the board. Because WW-P is a regional school district, elected representation is split on the board between the two towns—four from Plainsboro and five from West Windsor. Terms are for three years. The WWP News asked each of the candidates to provide biographical information about themselves and a statement regarding why they are running for reelection to the board. Their answers are presented in alphabetical order below and
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are separated by town. Each of the statements represents the candidate’s personal view and do not represent those of the West Windsor-Plainsboro School Board. *** Pooja Bansal has lived in Plainsboro since 2015 with her husband, Amit, who grew up Plainsboro and attended the WW-P schools. Their three children (ages 10, 8 and 5) attend WW-P schools. Bansal received a bachelor’s degree in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures from Barnard College, and then received her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School. She has been practicing law for 17 years and is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. She is currently a commercial contracts attorney with a focus on the technology, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Prior to moving to Plainsboro, Bansal worked in public service for the City of New York as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s office in the Domestic Violence See ELECTION, Page 7
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