Shivani Centre for the Nurture and Re-integration of Hindi and Other Indian Languages (OILs)
Shivani Centre was established through the generous support of the Micky and Vinita Pant Charitable Foundation. The Foundation was instituted by Mr. Muktesh Pant, a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Kanpur (BT/CHE/1976).
Mr. Pant has held prominent leadership roles across global food and consumer goods companies in China, the United States, and India. He served as the CEO of Yum China—China’s largest restaurant company with over 15,000 outlets—and successfully led its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. Prior to that, he was the Global CEO of KFC in the US and has also held senior positions at Unilever, PepsiCo, and Reebok.
The Centre was established in memory of his late mother, Padma Shri awardee and celebrated Hindi writer Smt. Gaura Pant, popularly known by her pen name ‘Shivani’. It aims to promote and reintegrate Hindi and other Indian languages into mainstream academia. The initiative focuses on making educational content available in regional languages to bridge language barriers, enhance employment opportunities, and support students in their academic and personal development.
Event Highlights
International Mother Language Day 2024
Inauguration of Shivani Memorial Hall
Gatha Mahotsav 2023
Akshar Literary Festival 2023
IIT Kanpur’s Akshar Literary Festival 2023 celebrated Hindi author Shivani’s birth centenary. The event was graced by the presence of Shri. Muktesh Pant, IIT Kanpur alumnus and son of the great author, and his wife Smt. Vinita Pant; Smt. Ira Pandey, daughter of Shivani, her husband Shri Amitabha Pandey and son Aditya Pandey. Several batchmates of Shri Muktesh Pant and former distinguished alumni of IIT Kanpur, notably Shri Sudhakar Kesavan and family, Shri Anupam Khanna, Shri Varun Sinha, Shri Rajesh Nandan Pandey and a few others also graced the occasion and shared their collective memories of Shivani.
Event Highlights
Gatha Mahotsav
Gatha Mahotsav 2024, held on July 21 at IIT Kanpur, marked its fifth edition with a vibrant celebration of literature, music, and culture. Organized by the Shivani Centre, Hindi Cell, and Gatha platform, the event featured the book launch of Ek Syah Firdaus, talks on UP tourism by Prof. M.K.Pandey, sessions with young authors, a tribute to Madan Mohan, a performance by Jyoti Mook Badhir Vidyalaya’s children,, and a Kavi Sammelan. Highlights included actor Rajendra Gupta’s reflections on his artistic journey and Cannes insights by Mr.Ashok Pathak. Co-founder Mr.Amit Tiwari commended the festival’s role in preserving India’s cultural heritage.
Dastan-e-Mehek
IIT Kanpur hosted Dastan-e-Mehek on August 1, 2024, a storytelling event organized by the Shivani Centre, Hindi Sahitya Sabha, and Rajbhasha Prakoshth, aimed at nurturing love for Hindi literature among the youth. The event featured acclaimed storyteller and writer Ms. Mehak Mirza Prabhu as the chief guest, known for her evocative narratives and distinctive storytelling style. Founder of the storytelling school Jhumritalaiya, Ms. Prabhu engaged the audience with stories such as Jhumka, Parle-G, and Keri Ka Achar, encouraging reflection and personal interpretation.
Akshar
Day 1 Akshar 2024, held from October 17–19 2024 at IIT Kanpur, opened with a session on the literary legacy of Shivani ji, followed by compelling dramatizations of her stories Siddhi Mai and Sati by the Katharang group. The festival celebrated young talent through Bachchon ka Kona and Aaj ke Ubharte Sitare. A captivating Dastangoi performance on Sahir Ludhianvi by Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya Sharma left a lasting impression. The day concluded with Ram Ki Shakti Pooja by Varanasi’s Rupwani group, directed by Vyomesh Shukla, earning a standing ovation.
Day 2 featured a panel discussion on Cinema: Mere Entertainment or a Tool for Social Change, exploring the medium’s societal impact. Cultural performances included an elegant Kathak recital by Sangeeta Srivastava and Amrita Bhushan, a semi-classical musical presentation by Kolkata-based artists, and Shyam-e-Qawwali by Yusuf Khan Nizami of the Sikandarabad Gharana. The evening concluded with a Hindustani classical concert by Padma Shri Dr. Soma Ghosh and a dynamic fusion act, Ragon ke Rang, led by pianist-composer Anirudh Verma.
Day 3 Akshar 2024 concluded the literary fest on a high note with Dr. Alok Bajpai’s insightful session Krishna Vachya, followed by a talk on Technological Innovations in Indian Languages by IIT Kanpur’s Prof. Nishith Srivastava and Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, highlighting the digital rise of Hindi and regional languages. The festival culminated in a grand Maha Kavi-Sammelan and Mushaira, featuring celebrated poets like Mr. Wasim Barelvi, Mr. Rajesh Reddy, Mr. Wasim Nadir, Mr. Abrar Kashif, Mr. Swayam Shrivastava, Ms. Manu Vaishali, Mr. Ekagra Sharma, and Mr. Siddharth Singh, who mesmerized the audience with their powerful verses and ghazals.
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav was celebrated at IIT Kanpur on 11th Dec 2024 to honour Shri C. Subramania Bharati. The event featured talks by Prof. Braj Bhushan, Prof. Shalabh, and Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya on language, fonts, and technology. An Open Mic showcased students’ vibrant performances in multiple Indian languages, celebrating India’s linguistic diversity.
Navankur
Shivani Centre and Hindi Sahitya Sabha jointly celebrated Vishwa Hindi Diwas with a vibrant two-day festival on January 4 and 5, 2025, featuring the Anantini Kavi Sammelan and Abhyuday Storytelling Session. On January 4, 2025, Anantini brought together renowned poets like Ekagra Sharma, Babusha Kohli, Varun Anand, and Gaurav 'Sakshi', who beautifully explored themes of love, life, and resilience through powerful verses. Abhyuday revived the magic of kahani with storytellers Mehek Mirza Prabhu and Amandeep Khyal, leaving the audience spellbound with tales like “Aaji Ki Coffee” and “Mere Haath Ki Chai.”
Workshop
On May 3, 2024, Shivani Centre hosted a Hindi poetry workshop led by renowned poet Ms. Shipra Singh. Her recitations and practical tips enriched the audience’s understanding of poetic techniques.
Competition on Creative Writing
To mark Munshi Premchand’s 144th birth anniversary, Shivani Centre and Hindi Sahitya Sabha organized a Creative Writing Competition at IIT Kanpur on 31st July 2024. Around 80 students participated, exploring themes like meeting Premchand, his characters, and women in his works. The event fostered creativity and deepened appreciation for Premchand’s literary legacy.
Hindi-Pakhwada
To mark Hindi Diwas 2024, Shivani Centre, Rajbhasha Prakoshth, and Hindi Sahitya Sabha organized a two-week Hindi Pakhwada at IIT Kanpur during 17-30 Sept. 2024. The celebration included dictation, essay and story writing, speech, and quiz competitions, encouraging students especially non-Hindi speakers to engage with the language creatively.
Activities Conducted
The PG Orientation at IIT Kanpur introduced new students to the Shivani Centre, highlighting its work in promoting Indian languages through events, workshops, and educational content development. Prof. Ark Verma and Ms. Maitreyi Agarwal explained the Centre’s initiatives and addressed student queries, making it an engaging and informative start to the academic year.
Visit of Mr. Rajeev Ranjan
Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, (BT/EE/1990) visited Shivani Centre and was welcomed by faculty, staff, and international students. He was briefed on the centre’s initiatives in literature, language training, and cultural programs. He appreciated the efforts in promoting Hindi and visited the Shivani Memorial Hall. His visit offered valuable insights for future activities.
Academic Content Creation by NSS Volunteers
Shivani Centre, with guidance from NSS Coordinator Prof. Niraj Mohan Chawake, is supporting non-English background students at IIT Kanpur by creating academic content in Hindi and regional languages. Twenty NSS volunteers are producing audio-video and translated materials for key courses. The Centre provides resources and space, fostering inclusive learning and social service.