Global IndianstoryAI Action Summit: Arvind and Vivekanand Pani leading Indo-French partnership in video localization

AI Action Summit: Arvind and Vivekanand Pani leading Indo-French partnership in video localization

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(February 13, 2025) The world’s AI landscape took a monumental leap forward at the AI Action Summit in Paris, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This global gathering, attended by key world leaders including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, marked a strategic milestone in AI development with far-reaching implications for digital inclusivity.

Among many big announcements, one partnership stood out—Reverie Language Technologies (India) and Mediawen (France) joined forces to revolutionize video accessibility through AI-driven language localization. This partnership aims to make videos more accessible by easily translating them into 11 Indian languages, helping reach a wider and more diverse audience.

Apart from enabling real-time transcription and translation of the Indian languages, this powerful synergy would also lead to advanced text-to-speech AI, ensuring seamless voice synthesis that enhances accessibility for regional content. By merging Europe’s cutting-edge video technologies with India’s vast multilingual ecosystem, collaboration between France’s Mediawen and India’s Reverie is set to create more inclusive, accessible, and impactful digital experiences, bridging language gaps and making content more universally engaging.

PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during AI Action Summit

A vision for future: AI empowering the next billion users

As India’s digital revolution accelerates, the demand for localized content continues to skyrocket. According to industry research, over two billion videos are shared daily in India, making AI-driven language accessibility a necessity rather than a luxury. Vivekananda Pani, Co-Founder of Reverie Language Technologies, emphasized, “As video formats continue to dominate digital communication, democratizing content for Indian audiences is essential. With our AI-driven integrations on we are excited to support the next generation of content creators and ensure wider accessibility across digital ecosystems.”

This partnership redefines video localization by integrating Reverie’s advanced AI technologies—Automated Translation, Speech-to-Text, and Text-to-Speech APIs into Mediawen’s cloud-based platform, MEDIAWEN•HUB. Together, they create an AI-powered video localization ecosystem designed specifically for diverse Indian audiences.

By combining European video quality with localized Indian language interfaces, the AI-driven system enables automatic transcription, translation, and speech synthesis in languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Telugu, Odia, Punjabi, Malayalam, and Gujarati.

Image Credit: Reverie Language Technologies

The digital divide: A challenge turned mission

In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and digital innovation, millions of Indians still find themselves left behind, not due to a lack of internet access, but because of a linguistic void. Despite being one of the world’s largest internet user bases, India’s digital landscape remains overwhelmingly English-centric. Two brothers, Arvind and Vivekananda Pani, recognized this disparity and took on a mission to bridge the linguistic divide through technology in their entrepreneurial journey.

Filled with perseverance, failures, and groundbreaking successes, their journey led the foundation of Reverie Language Technologies in 2010. Exactly after 15 years of its inception, the Bangalore based company stands at the forefront of India’s AI-driven language revolution. It’s not just making Indian languages more accessible online but also fostering global partnerships that are set to advance digital inclusivity. As AI becomes the next frontier, India is piloting this transformation, leading the way forward with organizations like Arvind and Vivekananda’s Reverie Language Technologies.

From setbacks to success: The birth of Reverie

Entrepreneurial journeys are rarely linear, and the Pani brothers’ story is no exception. Their first venture in mobile payments and commerce solutions in 2007 did not pan out as expected. Instead of retreating, they used this experience to refine their vision. By 2009, they set their sights on a new frontier: language technology.

Pani brothers at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey in 2013

“When we started Reverie, people told us languages in India had no commercial value. Many thought we were chasing an impossible dream,” recalled Arvind Pani, CEO of Reverie Language Technologies in an interview.

Fast forward 15 years, and their once-dismissed idea has transformed into an AI-powered platform impacting over 500 million Indians daily. From websites to virtual assistants, Reverie ensures that Indian users can navigate the digital world in their own languages.

Fighting for language equality in the digital age

Despite India having 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects, digital platforms remain biased towards English. According to Vivekananda, one of the biggest bottlenecks is the dependence on operating systems.

“Today, the ability to write or read in your language is entirely at the mercy of the operating system. If your phone doesn’t support your language, you simply cannot use it digitally,” he stated in an interview.

Another alarming concern is the slow disappearance of certain languages from the digital realm.

“People rejoice when Google adds a new language to Translate, but the reality is grim—many Indian languages might disappear in the next 10–15 years if they don’t go digital. These users will go online, but not in their mother tongue.”

Arvind and Vivekananda Pani with former Niti Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant

Reverie is tackling this issue head-on by developing speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and automated translation tools that integrate seamlessly across different platforms, ensuring Indian languages thrive in the digital era.

A vision for the future

Looking ahead, Reverie is focused on expanding its reach even further.

Some of their latest innovations include Prabandhak, a platform designed to revolutionize the Indian translation industry, making it more scalable and reliable. Anuvadak, a dynamic translation tool capable of real-time language conversion. Speech and Sentiment Analysis AI, a project aiming to refine how Indian languages are processed by AI-driven systems.

Their strategic alliance with Reliance Jio which started in 2019 further strengthens their impact. While Jio has revolutionized infrastructure and affordable mobile access, Reverie is ensuring that the content itself is accessible in local languages.

Arvind Pani

Beyond business: A mission for cultural preservation

For the Pani brothers who hail from Odisha, their mission is not just about business, it’s about preserving India’s linguistic heritage.

Vivekananda once shared on social media: “With the largest internet user base and three decades of internet, engagement in Indian languages is negligible. We must change this—not for business, but for the country and its people.”

Their work is a great example of how technology, when developed with inclusivity in mind, can empower millions and reshape the digital future of an entire nation.

The future is vernacular

As India moves deeper into its digital transformation, the need for vernacular inclusivity will only grow stronger. The Pani brothers have shown that true innovation lies in solving real-world problems, not just for those who already have access, but for the millions who have been left behind.

With partnerships like the Indo-French AI collaboration and a strong push towards policy changes, the dream of a truly inclusive digital India is becoming a reality. And at the heart of this transformation stand two brothers who dared to challenge the status quo and bring Indian languages to the forefront of the digital revolution.

Vivekananda Pani

The merging of European video expertise with Indian linguistic diversity at the AI Action Summit in Paris is expected to set new standards in AI-powered content localization. India’s leadership at the AI Action Summit sends a clear message: AI is not just about technological advancement but about shaping a more inclusive digital future. With the world watching, partnerships like Reverie and Mediawen highlight how AI-driven innovation can break linguistic barriers and empower global connectivity.

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Published on 13, Feb 2025

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Oorja to Log 9: Cleantech startups paving the way for a sustainable future in India

(October 4, 2023) By 2030, India aims to meet fifty percent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources, causing a tectonic shift in the global fight against climate change. With eight years left, certain cleantech startups have jumped the bandwagon to help the country inch closer to its goal by producing technologies that aim to reduce carbon print by producing eco-friendly products. Global Indian puts a spotlight on startup that are at the heart of transformation and sustainability. Karma Recycling What do you do with your old mobile phones? While most waste makes it to the landfills, not much has been thought about disposing of e-waste in India, and to tackle this problem, Aamir Jariwala and Akshat Ghiya launched Karma Recycling in 2013 - a company that buys mobile devices and sells refurbished ones at much cheaper rates. It was while studying electronic waste space in the US that the duo found that their learning could be applied to India. Aamir first chanced upon the idea of recycling and refurbishing while working for a private equity firm that was keen to invest in clean technology. That's when he decided to join hands with Akshat to launch their startup. [caption

m that was keen to invest in clean technology. That's when he decided to join hands with Akshat to launch their startup.

[caption id="attachment_31127" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Cleantech startup | Global Indian Aamir Jariwala and Akshat Ghiya co-founded the startup Karma Recycling[/caption]

"When we started looking at the ways people dispose of e-waste in India, we found that most of the market was owned by kabadiwalas (scrap dealers). There was very little emphasis on reuse. So, we knew there was a mountain of mobile devices lying in people’s homes and no one knew what to do with them," Akshat told Better India.

The company accepts phones in any condition, as Akshat revealed that most of them have small problems. So, they furbish almost 25 percent of them, and if they can't be repaired, they break them into working and non-working spare parts. "Working parts are used to repair other phones. And the parts that cannot be repaired are recycled responsibly according to our zero-landfill policy. We are also a Government of India authorised electronic waste collector and segregator," added Akshat, who grew up in Italy and went to college at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he met Aamir.

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Oorjan

Solar energy is the future, and India itself is witnessing a joining of forces and commitment from government, industry and entrepreneurs which has brought momentum to the sector. And IIT-Bombay graduate Gautam Das with his batchmates Roli Gupta and Hrishikesh Deshpande are one of the leading entrepreneurs in this space with Oorjan which they founded in 2014 to take solar energy to the maximum number of people.

[caption id="attachment_31128" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Cleantech startups | Global Indian Gautam Das is one of the founders of Oorjan[/caption]

"Our focus remains on distributed solar for end consumers - residential, commercial, and industrial. Our technology-enabled design tool offers solar proposals instantly in site so that customers can make purchase decisions faster," Roli told Mercom India in an interview, adding that the rooftop solar panels sector is growing at the rate of 60-70 percent every year. "There is an endless demand for 1 billion Indians and one is hard-pressed to find a company focused on delighting them. The industry, due to its lack of ideas and innovation on how to acquire customers economically, gravitates to larger projects," she added.

With operations across 14 Indian states, Oorjan is now planning to come up with solutions that will help recycle solar panel waste.

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Log 9

A year after Oorjan, Log 9 - a nanotechnology company - jumped the bandwagon of cleantech startups to revolutionise the energy sector with an innovative zero-emission and low-cost aluminium-air fuel cell. A brainchild of Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela, Log 9 Materials develops aluminium fuel cell technology for both stationary and automotive applications. It was in 2017 that they realised that energy storage or battery technologies will be important in the larger scheme of climate change, and that's when they started using material science competency to create battery technologies.

[caption id="attachment_31129" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Cleantech startup | Global Indian Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela are the co-founders of Log 9[/caption]

The startup, which raised $2 million in funding from Petronas Ventures in 2021, understood that none of the batteries were made keeping Indian climate conditions in mind. And it was the need of the hour to build a battery technology from the ground up in India. Talking about the seed funding, Akshay told ET, "enables us to accelerate our ongoing mission of introducing our breakthrough InstaCharge (rapid charging) battery technology to a plethora of end-users, and in positioning the startup as the largest Indian player in advanced cell chemistries."

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OxyGarden

In a post-covid world, hygiene has become of utmost importance as airborne transmission is considered one of the hazards in the spreading of viruses. To curb this, cleantech startup OxyGarden has found a solution by building air sanitizers that help improve the quality of indoor air. It was in January 2020 that OxyGreen launched its first product - Forest- after two years of prototyping and testing. The IoT-enabled garden, which produces 700 litres of oxygen per day and reduces carbon emission, purifies and humidifies indoor air naturally.

Launched in 2019 by Abhishek Gupta, the idea started growing in 2016 after he discovered that the then-existing electric air purifiers worked on only about 51 percent of pollutants. "I wanted 100 percent clean air in my room, but there was no product in the market that worked on the entire spectrum of pollutants," he told YourStory. That's when he chanced upon research from NASA that showed the role of plants in purifying the air and eliminating the chances of airborne infections.

[caption id="attachment_31130" align="aligncenter" width="523"] Cleantech startup | Global Indian Abhishek Gupta launched OxyGarden in 2019[/caption]

“It has been scientifically proven that the right IAQ index reduces airborne transmission of biological contaminants. Many viruses fail to infect people if the relative humidity level is maintained at around 40 percent. This not only increases the time and distance of the transmission but also reduces the percentage of people contracting the virus,” added Abhishek.

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After watching missiles fly by, Indian students in Sumy evacuated after 12 days

(March 11, 2022) For the most part of the day, Mohammed Mahtab Raza had his eyes fixated to the skies - sometimes peeping out of his hostel window or tiptoeing out into the open area. Once it turned dark, the 23-year-old, one among scores of Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine, turned into a “spotter” of sorts, tracking the path of each cruise missile illuminating the skies over the university town. “This one is coming towards us? Look close… everyone take shelter, quick, brace,” he yelled, pointing a finger at what appeared to be an incoming missile, dead in the night. Even as Raza and the other students brace for the attack inside the dingy basement of their hostel complex, luck once again favours them as the aerial bomb lands a few buildings away with a bang. Prayerful yet terrified, students stare at the huge ball of fire, and smoke billowing. It was just another day in the lives of the 600-odd students evacuated from the war zone of Sumy after 12 days of Russia’s brute force across Ukraine. Raza, who has been posting developments on his Twitter page, describes huge explosions heard from their dorm room, where the students have

where the students have been in hiding. On March 7, he tweeted that evacuation plans had fallen through, saying, "everyone is frightened,anxious.immediat evacuation. no light,no water, no ways to contact family..." (sic).

[embed]https://twitter.com/DudeMahtab/status/1499663037741031424[/embed]

Evacuation from Sumy had been stalled, however, and on March 8, a day after Mahtab’s final tweet, the Indian ministry of external affairs confirmed that all students had been shifted out. Seen as one of the most complex parts of the evacuation, 500 students were shifted out from Lviv, in specially arranged trains that will take them to Poland. They were seen off at the station in Lviv by Partha Satpathy, the Indian envoy in Ukraine.

Frustrated and tired after the most harrowing time, the near-death experiences faced by these Indian students in the Sumy war zone helped some emerge stronger, wiser as they perfected the art of survival. But there are others who showed signs of depression, requiring medical help for mental health issues once back in their homeland.

“The experiences of the past 12 days have taught us a lot. Throughout these most difficult and challenging times, we helped each other and stood by each other. We shared our problems, and laughed away our troubles, which kept our spirits high,” informs Mahtab, a fourth year MBBS student in Sumy Medical University, in an exclusive interview with Global Indian, hours before hopping onto a bus to Poltava, and onward by train to Western Ukraine.

From keeping track of assaults from air and ground, food and water was scarce, and the sub-zero temperatures were cruel – These MBBS students from different parts of India were on a mission impossible every day as death hovered across Sumy and Ukraine, especially during the nights when the eerie silence was punctured by the deafening air strikes and intermittent firing.

[caption id="attachment_21099" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Mohammed Mahtab Raza | Indian students in Sumy | Global Indian Raza was one among hundreds of Indian students in Sumy Medical University, Ukraine[/caption]

Hailing from Motihari, East Champaran district in Bihar, Mahtab became the most visible face among stranded students. His initiatives - making multiple videos of the deteriorating situation, as he articulated problems, forwarded to the authorities, the Indian embassy and government officials finally reacted. Desperate pleas for immediate evacuation were finally heard.

“There were massive air strikes around us. We heard two blasts at 5 am, which shook all of us. There were heavily armed people patrolling the streets. Once the air strikes started, there was no electricity or water, and a severe shortage of food. We wanted to flee but the railway tracks were damaged in the air strikes, there were no buses or taxis. We were scared and anxious,” informs the 23-year-old, who has been studying in Sumy since 2019. “We could see a missile hitting our university," he added.

The Sumy evacuation was the most complex for Indian authorities as both the warring nations stood their ground, delaying the operation. Though Russia announced a humanitarian corridor, it was not honoured, making it impossible for anyone to move out. Going by various reports, about 21 people died, and scores were injured in Sumy alone.

[embed]https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1499679895370170371[/embed]

Many students had lost hope. Some blamed government, others left on their own, even if it meant facing death. Students helped cheer each other during these tough days indulging in light hearted conversations, which helped lighten the tense atmosphere at the hostel.

“Some students will face PTSD for sure. The deafening sound of bomb blasts, intermittent gunfire was disturbing. Lack of sleep, unhygienic conditions in the washroom due to lack of water, no electricity, consuming stale food, contaminated water and fading hopes of evacuation plunged many into depression,” disclosed another Indian student in Sumy. She herself was unwell at the time of safe passage.

“Some students felt death was certain, and a painful one. This was just after the death of Naveen Shekharappa in Kharkiv,” she says, adding that many would cry inconsolably. Some even alleged that they were being used as human shields.

[embed]https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1501181872079990787[/embed]

In fact, 24 hours before they were finally taken to safety, many had hopped onto buses when the Indian embassy officials dropped the plan as the ceasefire had been violated through the humanitarian corridor, which led to great disappointment. They walked back to the death knell. Now, safe, they are desperate to return home. However, with efforts resuming smoothly, the 500-odd students in Sumy who went to Poland by train, were expected to arrive in India on March 10.

Follow Mohammed Mahtab Raza on Twitter

Reading Time: 6 min

Venkatesh Charloo: How a banker in Hong Kong returned to India to conserve marine life

(March 20, 2024) While the majority of his weekdays were spent working for a bank in Hong Kong, his weekends were all about binging on nature documentaries. Enamoured by marine life, Venkatesh Charloo decided to be a diving instructor. With this dream in his sights, he returned to India in 1995 and joined the Barracuda Diving Centre in Goa. A decade into diving in oceans, something strange happened in the summer of 2007 when Venkatesh was diving at the Grande beach in Goa and he found an angel fish caught in a ghost net. Seeing her struggling to get out, he spent the next few minutes untangling the net in an attempt to save her life. By that time, the fish was completely exhausted, and couldn't swim anymore and just lay on Venkatesh's palm for a while, recuperating. After regaining strength, it didn't dart away into the ocean, instead, it rubbed itself against his hand, as if thanking him. "Even after all these years, I can't believe I had this experience. I remember thinking that it was time to give back to the oceans," said Venkatesh, who is a marine conservationist and founder of Coastal Impact. Conserving marine life That

pact.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coastal Impact.

Venkatesh Charloo | Global Indian

Conserving marine life

That incident propelled Venkatesh towards marine conservation, and two years later, he ended up starting Coastal Impact, with the aim to study and monitor marine ecosystems and help build interest among local communities. "It dawned on me that there are so many marine beings dying around us and there's very little we are doing to save them," he said in an interview.

The voracious monsoon of 2009 led to the shutting down of the diving centre, owing to heavy rainfall. This presented Venkatesh with an opportunity to start working in the area of marine conservation - taking the first step in creating awareness. He began by doing presentations in schools and colleges, and educating local people about marine life, and realised that people were keen to know more. Moreover, he collaborated with marine biologists for underwater surveys. "We would do line transects for them, and even do underwater videography and photography which was a great learning experience. Slowly all of these experiences moved me towards conservation," he revealed.

Venkatesh Charloo | Global Indian

Why corals are important

This propelled him to start Coastal Impact in July 2009 with the aim to increase the coral cover in Goa - which is currently seen around three islands - Grande, St George Island, and Pequeno. As the marine world of Goa is home to 65 types of fish and 30 species of corals, Venkatesh wants people to know about the rich biodiversity that exists in the oceans. Calling corals the foundations of the oceans, Venkatesh added, "Corals act as a barrier between big waves, tsunamis, and helps the health of the oceans. Even if they form only 1 percent of the surface of the entire oceans, they support 25 percent of the biodiversity that exists." Moreover, oceans are responsible for producing up to 60-70 percent of the oxygen we breathe. In the years that he has been in Goa, he saw many corals dying due to fishing, plastic, water pollution, and climate change. "This is putting a lot of stress on the corals." He was called to take action through coral transplantation. "Our work in coral transplantation involves continuously monitoring and rescuing fragmented corals, and physically relocating them from inhospitable sites to favourable habitats where the coral is more likely to thrive," the Global Indian said.

The process of coral transplantation

With a grant of ₹20 lakh from the Habitats Trust, he along with volunteers embarked on a journey to transplant corals in Goa. It was while reading about Florida-based Mote Marine Labs, that he accidentally discovered the process of transplanting corals on land in aquariums, which is called micro fragmentation. "We pick up broken but alive pieces of coral. We cut the corals and then fix these fragments into the transplantation site. We measure and document the growth of the coral through photography," he revealed. Once the corals mature, they are then outplanted onto the reefs where they become one with nature. In the pilot project, 192 coral fragments were transplanted, and they have shown a growth rate of nearly 500 percent over the span of two years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3JsQkeOPzI

Moreover, he started Coral Crusaders, a coral adoption initiative by Coastal Impact in which they put corals up for adoption for ₹5500 and have already had 110 fragments of corals being adopted. The money is used towards future transplantation as well as monitoring and maintaining the existing corals. "I truly believe people want to do good in the world, one just has to give them a legitimate and right path where they see the value and want to associate with," he said. The progress is a bit slow and Venkatesh believes that marine conservation isn't getting the right attention. But he plans to continue his efforts in Goa and hopes that more people and companies work together towards collective impact.

Venkatesh began his career as a banker but he still likes to call himself "a banker who is now protecting a much greater wealth - marine biodiversity and the environment."

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Shweta Pahuja: Popularising Indian snacks in Germany through Just Nosh

(April 6, 2024) In the serene fields of Bihar, the journey of the fox nut, also known as makhana, unfolds like a dance between tradition and innovation. Each year from September, the skilled harvesters begin wading through the tranquil waters of the region's marshlands, delicately plucking the mature lotus seeds from the blooms. Once harvested, the fox nuts are carefully sun-dried on bamboo mats and then each delicate shell is meticulously hand peeled revealing the white kernels within. This superfood - which is a good source of protein and fiber along with micronutrients - has become a favourite among health-conscious people not just in India but in Germany too, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneur Shweta Pahuja, the founder of Just Nosh. "I bring snacks with Indian influence to Germany. Being a snack lover, it inspired me to bring a snack with a purpose and good nutrition to the European market." Fox nuts or makhana have been a part of Indian household kitchens for decades now. She remembers her mom sauteing makhana on the pan for her during her growing-up days. That's how integral it has been to her diet and food habits and she is glad that with more

remembers her mom sauteing makhana on the pan for her during her growing-up days. That's how integral it has been to her diet and food habits and she is glad that with more people becoming health conscious, it is found at almost every grocery store. So, when she moved to Berlin with her packets of makhana, her friends in Berlin instantly fell in love with the superfood. This paved the way for her entrepreneurial journey. "The entrepreneur in me thought - why not introduce these nutritious snacks to Germany! This thought led me to find Just Nosh. We aim to provide everyone with a healthy snacking experience with our range of delicious, healthy snacks rooted in nature and culture," the Global Indian said.

Being someone with a sensitive stomach, she launched a company that attributes free of allergens which can be enjoyed by anyone who has trouble finding a product. "Just Nosh brings healthy, vegan snacks with an Indian influence that is truly good for you. We introduce lotus seeds that are an all-time favourite in India," she added.

Bringing healthy snack to Europe

Originally from Mumbai, Shweta moved to Germany in 2016 for love. She met her husband while studying, and marriage brought her to Berlin. Coming from an entrepreneurial family - her dad owned a company in the jewellery business, and she always wanted to start her own company. Having worked in a startup in the beverage industry, she had a fair idea of how things worked. When she moved to Berlin, she brought with her a bag full of Indian snacks - something that her new friends in Berlin gorged on. This led to the formation of Just Nosh in 2020. "A healthy and delicious diet is very important to me personally and I am firmly convinced that this is both possible together. India offers rich and, above all, healthy options, and I'm sure that with the right brand, many Indian snacks can be a hit in Europe," she said in an interview.

However, starting a business in the midst of the pandemic came with its set of challenges. "The prices for shipping from India were very high, which ultimately affected the profit margin. In addition, I neither had the opportunity to meet my producer in person nor was I able to carry out product tests in Berlin," she revealed adding that the first batch that was shipped to Germany was tasted by her parents for flavours.

[caption id="attachment_50556" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Just Nosh[/caption]

Making fox nuts mainstream

Explaining the process of harvesting lotus seeds found in ponds and rivers in eastern India, she elaborated that farmers harvest the seeds once a year. "They collect the seeds from the bottom of the pond, and after the farmers are done popping the seeds, they are then taken to the factories where the producers roast and season the makhana. Once they are seasoned and packed, they are sent to Germany." For Shweta,

Just Nosh, which is currently available in three flavours - one sweet and two savoury - is a completely Indian brand that's shifting the snack market in Europe. Since the snack shelves in supermarkets are just full of potato chips, Shweta wanted to make new snacks known in Germany by offering a better alternative. "That's why we chose the Lotus Pops as our first snack. They are a delicious and healthy snack hit in India and are now available in Germany for the first time. This superfood consists exclusively of plant-based ingredients, contains no sugar or additives, and is 100 percent naturally delicious," she said. Since production takes place entirely in India, Just Nosh also makes a social contribution to the people there.

Shweta Pahuja | Global Indian

"We support the communities in India, the products are produced in India - it's a way for me to give back to my country."

Shweta, who loves spending time with her family, exercising, and watching movies, believes that starting a new venture can be exhausting but it is worth it. Belting out advice to forthcoming entrepreneurs, she said, "Continue towards your goals, be persistent. It's not about the destination but the journey. It will have many hurdles but don't give up because you will see light at the end of the tunnel."

Having become a market fit in Germany, Just Nosh is now planning to expand and bring in more snacks with good nutritional value and quality with Indian backgrounds. "It is important for us to bring the Indian culture in which I grew up closer to the people of Europe."

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Sanya Malik: Breaking barriers in Mumbai’s art world through Black Cube

(October 30, 2023) This November, curator Sanya Malik, founder of Black Cube, an alternative art gallery in Delhi, is about to make her mark on the Mumbai art scene. But her journey in the art world goes beyond the debut. It's a story of passion, determination, and a mission to make art accessible to all. In this article, we delve into Sanya Malik's fascinating journey and her unique approach to art, featuring celebrated artists like Jogen Chowdhury who will be part of the upcoming exhibition, and artworks in bronze and stainless steel. Art possesses the remarkable ability to establish deeply personal and subjective relationships with those who engage with it. It serves as a unique language that transcends words, often revealing the complexities of our contemporary world and the societal challenges we grapple with. Her early years were steeped in a profound connection to the art world. “My family's close associations with modern and contemporary artists exposed me to the vibrant tapestry of Indian paintings and sculpture from an early age. This enriching experience afforded me the unique opportunity to forge personal bonds with some of my most admired artists,” Malik tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_46384" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Sanya Malik[/caption]

Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_46384" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Sanya Malik[/caption]

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in London, Sanya decided to try curation. She went on to do a Master’s at the Royal College of Art, London. Her interest lies in understanding the visceral impact that art can have on people. “I am perpetually drawn to artworks that possess a multifaceted quality, ones that are intricately layered with the nuances of our era. These are the works that, to me, carry the echoes of not just the artist's creativity but also the resounding voice of our times, encapsulating the struggles, the aspirations, and the cultural zeitgeist,” she explains.

Creating a Platform

Black Cube's core ethos revolves around making art accessible to all and was born in 2017 out of a desire to break down the barriers that often intimidate visitors in traditional gallery spaces, where asking questions and engaging can be daunting. “We felt the need for a more inclusive approach. Our unique model doesn't rely on a fixed physical location. Instead, we adapt to the contextual demands of the art we showcase. This fluidity enables us to create spaces that align perfectly with the specific artworks on display, ensuring an engaging environment,” says Malik.

In the debut exhibition, Black Cube used an interiors-and-lighting studio in New Delhi has their canvas. At Art Mumbai this year, they will seamlessly transform into a ‘white cube space’. “Our commitment extends to working closely with artists, fostering collaboration, and supporting their creative processes. This approach results in fresh, innovative showcases that reflect our core values, making art accessible, engaging, and ever evolving,” she adds.

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A post shared by Black Cube Productions (@blackcubeproductions)

Art Sojourn

In her early twenties, Sanya encountered numerous challenges, particularly as a young woman trying to break into a tightly knit industry with pre-established relationships and norms. The need to constantly prove herself, whether working as an employee or as the director of Black Cube, has been a continuous journey and one that fuels her determination each day. “As a young woman in the industry, I have faced the ongoing need to prove myself at every turn, defending my age, experience, knowledge, and capabilities. This journey has required me to challenge norms and carve out my own space within the industry, and it has been both gratifying and demanding,” she says.

Sanya’s progress has been a gradual process and the most rewarding aspect, she says, is the relationships they have cultivated with the artists they represent. “Those connections have been the highlight of my journey.” She believes the key to overcoming challenges, both in the past and today, is to trust oneself, to identify areas of improvement and hone one’s skills and above all, never giving up. Recognizing that learning is an ongoing process and being aware of how much more there is to discover is crucial for navigating a competitive landscape.

Lessons learned

Sanya emphasises that women need to be passionate about addressing a specific barrier and can identify a gap in the market they are eager to fill. “Don't hesitate—take the plunge immediately. However, be prepared for a long and challenging journey that will evolve and compound over time. Perseverance is your greatest ally during the entire process of building your venture. If you're seeking short-term validation, entrepreneurship might not be the right path for you, but if you are committed to the long-term vision, the rewards can be incredibly fulfilling,” she avers.

Quiz her on what she has learned, and she says that she has learned to develop thick skin and not let setbacks demotivate but rather encourage her. Determination is crucial to moving forward. The second pertains to building relationships. In the art world, connecting with the right people is pivotal. This journey has taught me the importance of putting myself out there and actively seeking opportunities to engage with artists, peers, and industry professionals. It is a dynamic space that is constantly evolving, so staying open to new ideas and fresh perspectives is essential.

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Looking ahead

Black Cube collaborates with renowned modern and contemporary artists who are pushing boundaries in terms of themes, mediums, and scale. The dynamic Indian contemporary art scene is currently the most exciting space in the country. “Our debut at Art Mumbai’s inaugural edition in November is our first venture into the vibrant world of art fairs. We are thrilled about Art Mumbai, where we will present a diverse collection of sculptures, spanning from modern to contemporary, indoor to outdoor,” she says. The line-up includes celebrated artists like Himmat Shah, Thota Vaikuntam, Jogen Chowdhury, Krishen Khanna, Manu Parekh, Madhvi Parekh, Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi, Yashika Sugandh, Arunkumar HG, Valay Shende, and Dhananjay Singh.

Among these artists, there are sculptors and then painters who have ventured into the realm of sculpture, imbuing their paintings with a three-dimensional vitality. “Post Art Mumbai 2023, we are eagerly anticipating a thrilling year ahead in 2024 for Black Cube. We are working on a series of contemporary art exhibitions in New Delhi. We are also excited to participate in more art fairs, expanding our reach and engaging with diverse audiences. Looking ahead to 2025, we are setting our sights on international exhibitions. Our goal is to take Black Cube's distinctive approach to global audiences and promote India's rich contemporary art scene across borders. Our future is characterized by innovation, exploration, and a commitment to expanding the horizons of art in a rapidly evolving world,” she signs off.

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