After months of huddles & quiet hustles; intense brainstorming; periods of great ecstasy and moments of intense despair—we are so delighted to announce our new start-up venture - @naav_ai NAAV AI that empowers languages with AI-Powered Content Transformation. Inspired by the Sanskrit, Pāli, and Hindi word Naav (meaning “boat”), we envision AI as a vessel — carrying content across linguistic shores, making knowledge more accessible, and connecting people through language. The spark was lit during one of the numerous endless conversations I have with my dear friend of several years and always a sounding board of sorts—Sandeep Singh Chauhan. Coming from a rich corporate experience of over 20 years and a sound technology background, Sandeep was the perfect person to ideate on a longstanding thought. Both of us felt an urgent need to democratize quality content, lifting it from the ‘English-only’ bubble into the multilingual heartbeat of India — with 22 official languages and countless dialects. Could the emergent AI technology help bridge this growing linguistic divide? Could it translate and transform content — text, audio, video — into the diverse languages of India without erasing the human voice and the cultural and linguistic nuances? Could it empower, not replace, creators? And thus, NAAV AI was co-founded by Sandeep and me in January 2025. In no time we had a third friend Sravan Kumar Aditya, a builder and enabler of several successful tech start-ups join hands with us. It was propitious to get early support for the company from friends @bhash (CEO of @Olacabs & @Krutrim) whose infectious energy makes every idea seem within reach and @ashajadeja (Silicon Valley based investor and philanthropist) who is always on the lookout to support every good idea. Our flagship product, TransLit, began its journey with @BluOneInk as our first publishing partner. Our team of brilliant developers, language experts, and professional translators are now translating books from English into 6 Indian languages: Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.— faster, better, and with human creativity and intervention at the core. The AI simply assists them, it can never replace them! Every AI translation is meticulously reviewed and refined by these professionals who are part of the founding team, who report faster turnarounds and greater reach. But this is just the beginning. NAAV AI is setting sail for an exciting journey ahead— and we’re inviting you aboard ! Let’s bridge languages. Let’s build together. For more details please visit our website naavai.com/ and follow us on our social-media handles! FB: bit.ly/43Ho5kX Insta: bit.ly/4kTAbi8 Linkedin bit.ly/43NhHsC X: nitter.net/naav_ai

Vikram ji points to the core of the issue here. 'Institutions' are not organizations, institutions create the conditions and constraints that organizations adopt. Organizations then create the path dependence for institutional evolution. Cultural production is the deliverable of the capital class and that is the deep lever that we are failing at. We've written about 'why the rich are different now' here. This needs to change. brhat.in/dhiti/the-civilizat…

An excellent & evocative piece by young researcher @mihir_keshari . A must-read to understand the cult of Ghazi miyan

Thank you & I'm glad you liked the podcast. Not sure if or why the non Left seeks the other side's validation. Atleast I don't 😊 sadly so far no corporate body has supported FIHCR efforts in any big way despite repeated requests & CSR entreaties. It's only @bhash & @foundation_ola that match rhetorical words with real action & support - atleast so far as we are concerned. Hopefully things change !

So again listening to @vikramsampath podcast there is a huge historical archive of Indian music & sound recordings on soundcloud.com which i am not sure how many are even aware & it's free. So for all history & music lovers do visit, listen & tell him.

Some days you end up signing books for your idols. :’) Big thank you to @sanjeevsanyal sir, @vikramsampath and @jsaideepak sir, without whose support it wouldn’t have been possible.

At the launch of my book “Land of the Eastern Light: Assam Before the Ahoms” by @sanjeevsanyal sir, @vikramsampath sir and @jsaideepak sir at @NMnewdelhi, organised in collaboration with @fihcr_info, @HarperCollinsIN and @OnRecordIndia.

An evening of history, ideas and conversation at the National Museum @NMnewdelhi , where Shri Sanjeev Sanyal @sanjeevsanyal, Sr. Adv. J. Sai Deepak @jsaideepak , Dr Vikram Sampath @vikramsampath and Nabaarun Barooah @BarooahNabaarun came together for the launch of Land of the Eastern Light: Assam Before the Ahoms, published by @HarperCollinsIN. The discussion explored Assam’s history from antiquity to the eve of the Ahom age, with Nabaarun sharing insights from his research. A Fellow of the inaugural cohort of FIHCR’s Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship for Indian History, Nabaarun’s book carries a foreword by Dr Vikram Sampath. Organised in partnership with @OnRecordIndia , the launch brought together an engaged audience at the National Museum for an evening of discussion and exchange around Assam’s history and scholarship. Here are some glimpses from the evening.

My bi-weekly column for @NewIndianXpress Sunday Magazine on the princely india of the maharajas @fihcr_info @etteth newindianexpress.com/magazin…

Electric atmosphere at #NationalMuseum for the launch of ‘Land of the Eastern Light: Assam Before the Ahoms’ by @BarooahNabaarun! 📖 A stellar discourse by @vikramsampath @sanjeevsanyal @jsaideepak @fihcr_info. Privileged to get my signed copy! ✨ #IndianHistory #Assam

At the launch of the talented @BarooahNabaarun ’s book. There is something powerful about rediscovering our roots and bringing forgotten chapters of our history to light. I’m sure your work will inspire many more to look back with pride. @HarperCollinsIN @vikramsampath

Congratulations @BarooahNabaarun for #LandOfEasternLight published by @HarperCollinsIN Foreword by @sanjeevsanyal Proud alum of @fihcr_info institution set by Dr @vikramsampath Shine on! Book launch today at @NMnewdelhi Best wishes! @ShivshankaMenon @jsaideepak

Rubbish, thousands of priests and devotees died sword in hand defending the temple. We even have on record that in 1026, the Head Priest Ganga Sarvajna died defending the Shiv Linga.

Always such a pleasure to be in conversation with @smitaprakash who brings the best out of her guests on podcasts. Here we talk about history & about solutions rather than whining - @fihcr_info , @naav_ai & @archive_indian Thanks Smita! @ANI piped.video/EevCzX_QC3k?si=MnBu…

It was a privilege discussing my new book at the Pondy Lit Fest today. My sincerest thanks to the festival Director Alo Pal Ma'am Also to Dr. Vikram Sampath and FIHCR for the award of the Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship which enabled me to write it. @AloPal @vikramsampath @fihcr_info

It is a privilege to be a part of the launch of this amazing book "Life changing Mahamantras: Living the Gita" by my spiritual mentor Sadguru Sakshi Shree. Honoured that @naav_ai has helped translate the English book in Hindi, Kannada Telugu and Marathi. All versions to be released on 27 Sept at Bharat Mandapam by Hon'ble Raksha mantri @rajnathsingh ji, alongwith @SudhanshuTrived ji & @VipulGoelBJP ji. Please do come for this significant occasion of launch of Living the Gita movement 🙏

Friends in Delhi, please drop by for the launch of my book “Land of the Eastern Light: Assam Before the Ahoms” at the National Museum, New Delhi tomorrow from 5 PM. @vikramsampath @sanjeevsanyal @jsaideepak @fihcr_info @NMnewdelhi @HarperCollinsIN @OnRecordIndia

📢 Join us with @sanjeevsanyal @jsaideepak @vikramsampath and @BarooahNabaarun for the book launch of ‘Land of the Eastern Light: Assam Before the Ahoms’ at the National Museum @NMnewdelhi, on 26 September. Written by Nabaarun Barooah, a Fellow of the inaugural cohort of the Sir Jadunath Sarkar Fellowship, the book explores Assam's history from antiquity to the eve of the Ahom age, with a foreword by Dr Vikram Sampath. 📅 26 September 2026 ⏰ 5 PM 📍 National Museum, New Delhi Published by @HarperCollinsIN In partnership with @OnRecordIndia

A moving tribute to Dr @SLBhyrappa by the Program Manager of YUVA at @fihcr_info - @BhaleRasika