Claim OwnershipThe Modern India's Podcast
Subscribed: 28Played: 140
Subscribe
© 2026 The Modern India's Podcast
Description
Leading voices within various fields share their thoughts on Norway-India.
83 Episodes
Reverse
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 being seen differently across contexts, and what it means to live — and belong — between worlds.
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 women refuse to stay silent.Released on International Women’s Day – March 8.
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 takes to scale climate-tech solutions in a rapidly developing economy. We also explore leadership, res...
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 necessary? Sara works with girls who are fighting systems they should never have had to fight — famil...
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 tournament. Minerva Academy’s U14 team emerged as champions, marking a proud moment not just for the...
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 players, and what India must change to become a true football nation. A powerful conversation about ...
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 30,000 local families, many led by women. Heli also reflects on her personal journey as a woman le...
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 nuclear power, and why energy security is central to job creation and industry growth.They also explo...
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 Kataria (Co-Founder & CEO, Crown LNG), Tellef Thorleifsson (CEO, Norfund), Rina Sunder (Co-Founder...
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 changemaker and policy advocate, she’s redefining what leadership looks like—not just for women, but for ...
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 stories and innovative approaches that are reshaping the tech landscape. We also turn our focus ...
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 most about resilience and scaling impact? – How are rural women quietly driving climate action and ...
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 circles to building her own research and advocacy platforms, Sulagna shares what it means to be “the ...
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 has broken barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field—both in India and Scandinavia. To...
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 Coding Pro, to explore how AI-driven learning and innovative mobile applications are ensuring equal acc...
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 DEI initiatives, including the Women of Wipro platform. As a former Chair of NASSCOM’s Natio...
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 learn. With experience leading diversity and workforce transformation at Google Singapore...
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 on Leadership: Paving the Way as the First. We unpack the unique challenges women face in leadership roles a...
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 growth. The conversation will also explore strategies for fostering women's participation in the cir...
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. Sohini has over 15 years of wide experience in Brand Building & Management and direct ex...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States