The Modern India Podcast #82-Women Who Refused Silence: The Gulabi Gang Story

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 TruthGuest: Tanya Singhal – Founder, SolarArise | ClimateTech & Renewable Energy ExpertAir 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, responsibility, and why the Global South must be central to climate action.A focused and timely conversation on energy, impact, and the future we are building.🎧 Now streaming on Spotify.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Founder of Maritime SheEO and Director at Sitara Shipping LtdOur 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.