The Gyaan Project

In this enriching conversation, filmmaker and educator Mazhar Kamran shares his journey across fiction, documentary, cinematography, and teaching. He discusses storytelling as a way to make sense of the world, the impact of early influences like Herzog’s Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, and his work on films like Satya, Mohandas, Nilani, and Safar Mein Sheher. The dialogue explores the role of education, intuition, and responsibility in shaping cinema and storytellers.Watch video episode on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this eye-opening conversation, Vivek Kant shares insights from his interdisciplinary journey spanning electrical engineering, cognitive science, and human-centered design. He explores the critical intersection of humans and technology in complex systems, emphasizing the need for designers who can balance technical requirements with human capabilities. Perfect for young Indian designers seeking to expand beyond conventional design thinking, this episode offers practical wisdom on applying human-centered approaches to sectors like defense, government services, and infrastructure where thoughtful design can prevent accidents and improve lives.People MentionedRichard Buchanan - Design theorist who developed the concept of "orders of design"James Riesel (James Reason) - Psychologist who developed the "Swiss cheese model" of accident causationChristian von Ehrenfeld (Christian von Ehrenfels) - Austrian philosopher who conceptualized Gestalt qualitiesRam Mykala - Heads the musculoskeletal disorders lab at the National Safety Council in the USReference Links for Further ReadingConfederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Design Innovation Committee - Hosts Vivek's policy report on human-centered design in Indian defenseHuman Systems Integration in Defense - Concept of integrating human factors into defense systemsSwiss Cheese Model - Accident causation model referenced in the discussionHuman Factors and Ergonomics - Professional field discussed as essential for complex systemsCognitive Systems Engineering - Discipline that focuses on human cognition in complex work environmentsOrders of Design - Richard Buchanan's concept mentioned in the conversationDesign for Defense - Resources related to design in defense sectorGestalt Principles - Philosophy discussed regarding how humans perceive whole patternsJoin the new journeyYouTube Channel – Join 4K+ subscribers. 🎥TGP SamaChar – A newsletter with 4 curated finds across episodes.Instagram – Stay updated with episode updates and moreLinkedIn Page - A new dedicated page for TGPWhatsApp Channel – One-way episode updates for now. With your support, it could soon become a vibrant community.Recommend a guest - Have someone in mind who would be a great fit for The Gyaan Project? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this episode, philosopher Sundar Sarukkai explores what it truly means to learn—beyond exams, skills, and academic performance. We discuss curiosity, ego, indigenous knowledge, and why education often misses the point. A must-listen for students, parents, teachers, and anyone rethinking the purpose of learning in today’s world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryWhat does it really mean to learn in today’s world of reels, AI, and short attention spans? In today’s episode of “The Gyaan Project”, I’m joined by Prof. Dilip Menon. A global historian, Mellon Chair of Indian Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, and a Science Breakthrough winner—who’s spent years exploring how knowledge travels across time, oceans, and cultures. If you're a student, parent, or just curious about why our education feels broken, this episode will shift how you think about learning itself.Key Insights:Teacher-Student Dynamics: Menon invites us to invert the traditional hierarchical relationship between teachers and students, suggesting "a teacher paradoxically is willing to learn."Language & Colonial Legacy: How our ability to theorize in our native languages has been impacted by colonial histories, and why this matters for knowledge creation.Beyond Employability: Why our education systems remain trapped in industrial-era thinking while the world has moved far beyond those needs.Digital Learning: The transformative potential of digital media as active learning tools rather than passive consumption channels.Interdisciplinary Approach: The artificial divide between arts and sciences, and how meaningful education requires breaking down these barriers.Knowledge Creation: Envisioning a future where students actively generate knowledge rather than merely consuming information.Practical Advice: Strategies for focused learning in a distracted age, including deliberate disconnection from constant digital engagement.Prof. Menon's vision for education in 2047 centers on creativity, experimentation, and engagement with AI as partners in knowledge creation rather than threats to human learning.For all details: https://www.thegyaanproject.com/p/ep-306-learning-in-the-amrit-kaal This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this episode, historian Vinay Lal challenges our conventional ideas of learning—moving beyond schooling, exams, and rote memorization. He explores how history, politics, memory, and media shape what we learn and why. If you're a student, parent, educator, or simply someone questioning the purpose of education today, this conversation offers a refreshing and thought-provoking lens on how to truly learn, unlearn, and grow. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

What goes into making a book cover design? The secrets of book publishing include what goes into making a book, the future of physical books in the digital world, and a few tips if you wish to get into editorial design or publication.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

This is the first episode of a 10 Part series, "Designer’s Digest”. This series is about Design as a profession, it’s daily grind, the secrets to climbing the design career ladder and what edge we’ll need to thrive in the captivating world of design.We start with Ayaz Basrai. Ayaz has been on Audiogyan’s 104th Episode where we spoke about “Designing interiors for your city.”He is the founder of The Busride Studio based in Goa and Mumbai along with his brother Zameer. Ayaz Graduated in Industrial Design, specialising in Product Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad in 2003. Ayaz studio ‘The Busride’ as an independent Design Studio specialising in the design and creation of environments, ranging from Hospitality, Entertainment venues, Film and Production to Exhibitions and temporary installations, and more.Questions asked in the episodeWho according to you is a designer? You have been questioning this a lot.What according to you is a role of a designer when they mature in their practice. Do the lines blur with art and then things become political or social in nature?You have been engaging with very young talent like Prathmesh Jaju and others. Whats the reason for going so wide in our interest areas? How does it enrich your practice?Eliel Saarinen’s famous line, “Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan." What’s your take on it? Is it a pyramid kind of a thinking?You have been tinkering a lot with rizhomatic thinking? Tell us a little bit about it. Does the other node need to have equally good to understand the larger context context to pass it on?You talk about intergenerational kindness by giving the Oxford examples. What is it and how can that be practised by us who are future ancestors?What is India Futures Project? Why do you engage in speculative fiction from a designer’s lens? Why create these future looking narratives? Are there instances of this done in the past of which we, inadvertently, we are part of? How real these narratives were back then, if any?You have an article about placeless-ness. What provokes you to think of these future spaces while we are still having cows and camels on the road. Would you venture into these 15 minute cities or explore shapes and forms of cities in the meta-verse? On which principles of foundations these exploration happen?We are looking at how AI in the cradle is smiling at us. What kind of skills do Centaur Designers will need to have?How would designers of the future look like? Not just in the software and industrial realm but textile, graphics, interiors and so on…Reference readinghttps://www.architectandinteriorsindia.com/lists/ayaz-zameer-basrai-co-founders-the-busride-design-studiohttps://www.instagram.com/thebusride/https://www.thepracticecept.com/thebusridehttps://thehardcopy.co/in-conversation-with-ayaz-basrai/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEiJMVjMyrEhttps://issuu.com/thebusridehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQWAJBpfzp8https://www.stirworld.com/inspire-people-arthur-mamou-mani-x-ayaz-basrai-cross-border-conversationshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMEaLTat3wEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZJ4T50o95E  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this episode, we have Ganesh Devy with us. Ganesh is a thinker, cultural activist, institution builder, linguist, literary critic and a former professor of English who undertook the project of surveying Indian languages in 2010. You will find many of his work links on gndevy.in.Follow on Ganesh Devy Twitter -https://twitter.com/ganeshdevyFollow Kedar Nimkar on Twitter https://twitter.com/nimkarkedarFollow Audiogyan on Twitter- https://twitter.com/audiogyanYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/iosYou can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Daniel Kahneman in his book, "Thinking fast and slow", mentions that people are innately irrational when it comes to making decisions. Same goes with how they consume everyday products. In the book "Design of everyday things" Don Norman speaks about how people blame themselves if they are not able to pull the drawer rather than blaming the designer. Well, there definitely seems to be a pattern. Lets explore few of them and more importantly a designers role in this setup.Being a Digital product designer myself, I have few insights. But to know more, today I have Navneet Nair with us on Audiogyan. Navneet is Head of Design at PhonPe. For the last two decades, he has been a hands-on practitioner of design and user focussed creative arts. Navneet has worked in both individual contributor roles and in leadership positions at startups and established companies like Yahoo & Google.QuestionsHow big or small role does design play in today's Indian startup ecosystem?You have spoken about the irrational user. Tell us more about it. How have you translated those learnings in your projects, at Google, yahoo or even now in PhonePe?You speak about value centered design. Can you tell us in detail what do you mean? Are there any best practices which you have implemented at Phonepe? How effective it has been?If you had to teach designers, either economics or being a full stack designer - what would you choose and why?Know the rules to bend the rules - What has been your experience while dealing with budding designers who come from user centered school of thought? How can they develop value centered design approach?Reference Linkshttp://www.navneetnair.comhttps://thehardcopy.co/navneet-nair-director-of-product-design-phone-pe-makes-a-recommendation/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb_rOlMi4Po&feature=emb_titlehttps://navneetdesigns.medium.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Today I have Tarun Deep Girdher on Audiogyan. Tarun is a Activity chairperson at NID. He is passionate about and also teaches Type Design, Typography, Printing Technology, Illustration, Visual Narratives, and Environmental Perception. Tarun's professional projects include socially relevant communication projects, he has deep concerns about inclusive design, disability, gender sensitization, etc. He has designed more than two dozen publications. Apart from such a huge body of work, Tarun has also designed over thirty logos including Right to Information, and None of The Above (NOTA) for the Government of India - and that is the topic of our discussion today. Designing for the government.What is a logo? How has your definition of a logo changed over time and after designing more than 30 logos for the government? Any milestone logos which changed your perception of what a logo is?I saw the RTI logo and its guideline document. Can you tell us the process of arriving at the final logo? From brief to final approval? Using Bell Gothic, other language script renditions, the Pantone Blue which you recommended, usage, and overall brand guidelines.Similarly, can you briefly tell us about the NOTA logoWhat is the biggest reason you kept both the logos super simple - Easy to recall, easy to reproduce or thinking of the person lowest in the educational pyramid?A logo is the simplest way to associate with a brand. Traditionally speaking, it is always simple. What is special while designing for the government? What new dimensions get added?How sensitive is the government about design? From function to aesthetics? Not just the current government but over all?I am heavily influenced by the western school of thought - Do your user research, try out MVPs etc... But the actual act of designing most of the time happens solo and then we need teams to execute it. Generally, speaking, design by a community is not recommended. Do you agree and what were the 2 big challenges that you faced while designing for the world's biggest democracy - where everybody had an opinion?How can students and professionals contribute their skills to government institutions and projects to improve standards of design?What is one tip/suggestion you would like to give all students and designers who critic on new identities, logo or designs, without understanding the context or constraints? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Trust, privacy, security, and many such words have got a different meaning in the coming decades as we moved from chawls to high-rises. Well, to discuss more about chawls and urban culture and their design, Today I have Rupali Gupte with us on Audiogyan. Rupali is an architect and a co-founder of Bard Studio in Mumbai. Her works include research on Indian urbanism with focus on architecture, urban culture, urban economy, property, housing, urban form, entrepreneurial and tactical practices. Rupali is one of the founding members of the urban research network, CRIT (crit.in) and the School of Environment and Architecture (sea.edu.in).QuestionsThere seems to be 2 fascinating speculations about how did "Chawl" word originated. Can we start by that?How would you explain Porosity of rooms in chawls?Is chawl a public space or a private space? What is the reason behind it? Did it evolve because of the architecture or space evolved because of people? Or should i put it "Is chawl a concept or is it an architectural setup?"Does Mumbai’s chawl system lend any character to the city? I have this personal strong judgement about why Mumbai has been so tolerant and patient. Either people are oblivious to what’s happening around or then they have built patience by standing in front of common chawl toilets. What is your take?Can elites stay in chawl or it is designed for middle class?Can you share your insights about what does "privacy and security" mean in chawl context?If we envision Mumbai in 2050, what do you think; how chawls will be perceived if they remain in our memories... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this wide-ranging conversation, Appupen discusses the subtext in comics as a powerful tool of resistance. From his beginnings in advertising to his dark, ironic universe of Halahala, he critiques the manipulation of desire, hero worship, and media propaganda. Through works like Rashtraman and characters like Propagandhi, he reflects on India's obsession with godmen, political narratives, and the commodification of dreams. Appupen shares why art must disturb, why satire matters, and how comic art can gently push people to question dominant stories—even in an age of numbed outrage. The episode is a deep dive into the politics of visual storytelling, freedom of expression, and making dissent accessible. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

This episode is the 100th Episode of Audiogyan and I am super honored to have none other than Prof. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (Born in 1927). I decided to mark this 100th episode with a living legend of design and architecture. Doshi sir is considered to be an important figure in South Asian architecture and is noted for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India. His more noteworthy designs include the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in Indore which was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. In 2018, he became the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize.  I am completely aware of my limitations while conducting an interview of a person of this stature but a humble and genuine effort to document Prof Doshi’s thoughts on design. QuestionsWhat is your philosophy/ideology while designing? For eg. Laurie Baker worked on more cost-effective, energy-efficient architecture, And Charles Correa is celebrated for his sensitivity to the needs of the urban poor. In short, what does the word “Design" Mean to you? The Pritzker jury announced that you have "always created an architecture that is serious, never flashy or a follower of trends”. What is the secret behind it? What according to you is the reason that cities have started looking similar? Same flyovers, same glass and steel buildings? Have spaces become more inclusive as we are evolving? What is the role of architects in giving character to these structures? And has there been any innovation to improve the working style of the people lower in the pyramid? Do you think architects should address these concerns?How has RCC changed the lives of architects and designers? Has it become more challenging or less? How has the landscape changed because of RCCWhat are your thoughts on Vastu Shashtra when it comes to architecture?What according to you is the difference between good and great? As per my knowledge, an artist or a designer should ensure that he or she is consuming the right content, and be in an appropriate environment to nurture and grow artistic sensitivities. What is your take on it? How can one go about building their own style? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this episode, playwright Ramu Ramanathan delves into the layered world of theatre—discussing protagonists, subtext, and how plays reflect and influence society. He shares insights from Indian and Western traditions, the politics of storytelling, and the subtle power of performance to challenge authority, inspire change, and preserve memory. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Guru B. Bhanumati, Bharatanjali founder and revered Bharatanatyam guru, pioneered group choreography and abhinaya teaching, shaping generations with warmth, artistry, humility. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com