The Modern India's Podcast

What does it mean to belong when your life spans cultures, countries, and identities in motion? In this episode, we speak with Arvinn Gadgil, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. With roots in Maharashtra and a childhood in Pune, his return to India raises a deeper question: does a place ever stop being home? We explore identity beyond nationality, the experience of...

In rural India, Sampat Pal Devi refused to accept violence and injustice against women. She founded the Gulabi Gang, a movement of women dressed in pink who stand together to challenge abuse, corruption, and oppression. In this episode, she shares the story behind one of the most powerful grassroots women’s movements in the world. A conversation about courage, solidarity, and what happens when wom...

When the Air Tells the Truth Guest: Tanya Singhal – Founder, SolarArise | ClimateTech & Renewable Energy Expert Air pollution tells the truth about the cost of growth. In this episode of The First and Only , I speak with Tanya Singhal, founder of SolarArise and a leading force in India’s renewable energy transition. We discuss India’s clean energy momentum, climate leadership, and what it take...

In this episode of The First and Only , I speak with Sara Abdullah Pilot , co-founder of Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN) , about what it truly costs for girls to play — especially when they are the first and only in their families. Before the pitch, there is permission. Before ambition, there is justification. Before talent, there is negotiation: Is it safe? Is it respectable? Is it neces...

In this episode, we travel into the world of elite youth football with Minerva Academy — one of India’s most respected football academies, known for developing young talent through discipline, belief, and world-class training. We meet Chetan Tiwari (14) from Minerva Academy U14, whose journey recently reached an international milestone at the Norway Cup — the world’s largest youth football tournam...

In this episode of The First and Only , Ranjit Bajaj — founder of Minerva Academy — shares how he’s transforming Indian football from the grassroots. With 183,000 annual applications and no government or corporate backing, Minerva has produced champions who’ve won the Norway Cup, Dana Cup, and World Youth Cup. Ranjit talks about spotting raw rural talent, building discipline and belief in young pl...

In this episode, Women Leading the Green Transition: The Chempolis Story , Heli Antila , Chief Technology Officer at Fortum, shares how bamboo — deeply rooted in Indian tradition — is now driving one of the world’s most innovative biorefineries in Assam. She discusses how Nordic innovation and Indian scale are coming together to create circular economy solutions with real social impact, empowering...

India’s demand for energy is growing faster than almost anywhere else in the world. How will the country balance renewables, nuclear, and natural gas to fuel its future? In this episode of The Modern India Podcast, Erik Solheim, Former Executive Director of UNEP, speaks with Swapan Kataria, CEO of Crown LNG, about India’s bold ambitions for solar and offshore wind, the promise of thorium-based nuc...

On August 12, Det Moderne India hosted Norway–India Collaboration on Energy Security at Arendalsuka, bringing together leaders from both countries — including our special guest Smriti Irani, Chairperson of the Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality. In this podcast, you’ll hear the full debate with Henrik Inadomi (Executive Vice President, New Energies, Aker Solutions), Swapan Katar...

Founder of Maritime SheEO and Director at Sitara Shipping Ltd Our newly released book The First and Only celebrates bold trailblazers across industries—those who’ve chosen the harder path of leading without precedent. Sanjam Sahi Gupta is one of them. In this powerful episode, Sanjam opens up about what it means to lead in one of the world’s most traditionally male domains: maritime. As a changema...

In this episode, we speak with Mali Holde Skogen, a leading voice on digitalization and sustainability in Norway, to explore the current state of gender diversity in the Nordic IT sector. We delve into the progress and persistent challenges in achieving gender balance, comparing Norway’s efforts to other Nordic countries, and examining what’s working—and what’s not. Mali highlights key success sto...

From New York to rural India, Ajaita Shah’s journey is anything but typical. In this episode, we dive into the founding of Frontier Markets and her bold goal: to empower 100 million women through She-Leads Bharat by 2030. We ask: – What sparked her commitment to rural women’s leadership? – How did she challenge social norms and win trust in male-dominated systems? – What setbacks taught her the mo...

In this episode of the Det Moderne India Podcast , we speak with Dr. Sulagna Chattopadhyay — a pioneer in climate journalism, environmental advocacy, and polar policy. As the Founder-Editor of Geography and You and the driving force behind the SaGAA think tank, Sulagna has spent over two decades shaping India’s climate discourse. Her journey has not been easy. From facing exclusion in academic cir...

Welcome to a new episode of Det Moderne India, where we explore leadership, diversity, and the evolving role of women in STEM across borders. This episode delves into the intersection of Indian and Nordic leadership through the lens of lived experience. Our guest is Vidya Basarkod, former Director of Ramboll in India. With over four decades of experience in civil and structural engineering, Vidya...

India has one of the largest youth populations in the world, yet digital accessibility remains a challenge—only 54% of households have computers, and nearly 40% lack access to one. However, with 88% of the population using smartphones, mobile technology presents an opportunity to bridge this gap. In this episode, The Rise of Gen Z Girls in Tech , we sit down with Mayank , the visionary behind Codi...

In this episode, we sit down with Sunita R. Cherian, Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources at Wipro Limited, to explore how the company is leading the way in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the tech industry.   With over two decades of expertise in Human Capital Strategy, Sustainability, and Diversity & Inclusion, Sunita has played a key role in shaping Wipro’s DE...

India has built one of the world’s strongest pipelines for women in STEM and technology, yet in the Nordics, where gender equality is a global benchmark, female representation in IT and tech leadership remains a challenge.   In this episode, Sunita Mohanty, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Invest India, shares insights on what’s driving India’s success and what the Nordics can...

Welcome to Challenges in Recruiting Women in India , a podcast series where we explore the barriers, cultural nuances, and innovative solutions shaping women's participation in India's workforce. In each episode, we hear from industry leaders, policymakers, and changemakers who are driving efforts to create more inclusive workplaces and advance gender equality. In this episode, we focus...

The podcast with Parul Soni will explore the multifaceted role of women in India’s evolving socio-economic landscape, focusing on their contributions to sustainability, leadership, and innovation. As a renowned advocate for gender equality and empowerment, Parul will share insights into the challenges and opportunities for women in India and globally, offering a compelling vision for inclusive gro...

In this episode of our Podcast series on Challenges in Recruiting Women in India, we have with us Sohini Mishra who is the founder of Women in the Hood. Sohini is enthusiastic, performance-driven self-starter and team player. She has passion  for creating fun, compelling and addictive consumer engagement platforms. Mishra has Strong organizational and analytical skills & attention to detail. S...

Trailblazer in Sustainability and Gender Diversity: Seema Arora Seema Arora serves as the Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where she has been a driving force in championing sustainable business practices and enhancing gender diversity within the workforce.   Since joining CII in 1991, she has led transformative initiatives, pioneering services focused on susta...

We're excited to announce our podcast series on Challenges of recruiting Women in India. This episode is on HR Practices and Company-level Challenges, featuring Ritu Kumar, Head of P&O EDC (Global People Services) at COWI India! With her vast expertise in HR and organizational development, Ritu has been a driving force behind people-centric initiatives, fostering inclusivity, and empoweri...

In this episode, we’ll dive into 'India's role in the Arctic' and its growing significance. We have with us President of SaGAA and Editor in Chief at Geography and You, Sulagna Chattopadhyay. She shares her insights on India's role in the Arctic and activities done by india in the last several decades. Also, our second guest is the Senior researcher/Associate Professor in Inter...

Samfundet i Trondheim inviterer til møte om India.  India er et av verdens mest mangfoldige og multietniske land. Når du tenker på India, tenker du kanskje på Tikka Masala og Butter Chicken. Det er kanskje ikke så rart, for vi hører generelt lite om India i media. Men visste du at India blir omtalt som verdens største demokrati? At India har passert Kina i befolkningstall? Og at landet har vært st...

Arendalsuka is over for this year! We are excited to share with our beloved listners our engaging debate at Arendalsuka through our podcast. The Nordic countries are renowned for their pristine nature and pure water, with Cleantech being a cornerstone of our societies. By combining advanced technology with effective water management, the Nordics have managed to maintain and restore some of the wor...