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Leading voices within various fields share their thoughts on Norway-India.

  1. The Modern India Podcast #80-Playing Without Apology

    JAN 30

    The Modern India Podcast #80-Playing Without Apology

    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 — families to convince, institutions to educate, silence to push against. Our conversation makes one thing clear: resistance is systemic, not personal. This episode is not just about football. It’s about power, voice, and what it takes to claim space without apology — so that the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles alone.

    25 min
  2. The Modern India Podcast #79-From Barefoot drams to the Norway Cup

    12/23/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #79-From Barefoot drams to the Norway Cup

    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 academy, but for Indian grassroots football on a global stage. Beyond the win, this episode is about: What it takes to compete internationally at a young ageThe unseen discipline behind successFamily sacrifice, belief, and resilienceHow Indian youth football is finding its place globallyAs Chetan shares, his journey is inseparable from his older brother — who gave up his own dream so Chetan could live his.

    15 min
  3. The Modern India Podcast #78-Building Champions from the Villages of India

    11/29/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #78-Building Champions from the Villages of India

    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 opportunity, ambition, and the future of Indian football.

    20 min
  4. The Modern India Podcast #77-Women Leading the Green Transition: The Chempolis Story

    10/05/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #77-Women Leading the Green Transition: The Chempolis Story

    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 leader in a traditionally male-dominated green sector and explains why gender diversity is essential for driving innovation and sustainability.

    25 min
  5. The Modern India Podcast #76-Powering India’s Future: Renewables, Nuclear, and Global Energy Shifts.

    09/15/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #76-Powering India’s Future: Renewables, Nuclear, and Global Energy Shifts.

    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 explore the global geopolitics of energy - from India’s relationships with the US, China, and Russia to how Norway–India collaboration can drive innovation.

    23 min
  6. The Modern India Podcast #75 Norway–India Collaboration on Energy Security.

    08/28/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #75 Norway–India Collaboration on Energy Security.

    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, Det Moderne India), and Gjert Melsom (Associate Partner, EY). Together they discuss how Norway and India can work towards a secure and sustainable energy future. This is more than an energy conversation — it’s about building bridges, sharing knowledge, and shaping solutions that matter for both nations.

    53 min
  7. The Modern India Podcast #74-Leading in a Man’s World — with Sanjam Sahi Gupta.

    07/19/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #74-Leading in a Man’s World — with Sanjam Sahi Gupta.

    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 the global industry as a whole. We talk about breaking through old hierarchies, resisting the pressure to conform, and disrupting exclusionary systems without apology. Sanjam shares what kept her going when no one else had done it before, what invisible barriers still need dismantling, and what legacy she hopes to leave behind. This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt like the only one in the room—and decided to stay anyway.

    23 min
  8. The Modern India Podcast #73-Tech, Diversity and Change in the Nordics

    06/28/2025

    The Modern India Podcast #73-Tech, Diversity and Change in the Nordics

    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 to India, where many IT companies are setting ambitious gender targets. What can the Nordics learn from India's strategies? Mali offers a nuanced perspective on cross-cultural insights, mentorship programs, and the importance of policy and business alignment. Topics covered include: The state of gender diversity in Nordic ITLeadership development for women in techLessons from India’s gender balance initiativesThe role of mentorship and networkingCultural and policy differences impacting gender equityPotential for Nordic-Indian collaboration in tech Tune in for a candid and thoughtful conversation on how inclusive leadership can drive both innovation and equity in the global tech sector.

    53 min
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Leading voices within various fields share their thoughts on Norway-India.

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  • Creator
    The Modern India
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern India's Podcast
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    The Modern India's Podcast