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About VANI

(Introduction)
Voices and Narratives of India (VANI) is an initiative dedicated to preserving and revitalizing endangered languages by working closely with the communities that speak them. We believe that every language holds within it a world of memory, wisdom, and creativity — and that the people who speak these languages are the best custodians of their stories.
At VANI, we collaborate directly with community members to document and digitize their stories, oral traditions, songs, recipes, and everyday knowledge. Through this process, we co-create culturally grounded artefacts and archives that reflect local voices and worldviews. These materials not only help preserve language and culture but also serve as valuable resources for building inclusive and representative language technologies.
Our approach blends linguistic research, design, and technology with a deep respect for community autonomy. By developing language tools such as speech recognition, text-to-speech, and translation systems, we aim to empower communities to use their languages in digital spaces — to write, record, learn, and share on their own terms.
VANI is advised by Dr. Kalika Bali from Microsoft Research India, who provides guidance on language technology and supports the development of responsible, community-informed approaches to working with low-resource languages.
VANI's vision is to make every language visible, valuable, and usable in the digital world. We imagine a future where Indigenous and underrepresented voices shape not only cultural narratives but also the technologies that define communication and knowledge. Through collaboration, creativity, and care, we hope to ensure that these voices continue to resonate — strong, diverse, and alive — across generations.
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Dr. Pamir Gogoi
(Founder)

Project VANI is led by Dr. Pamir Gogoi, a linguist and researcher committed to the documentation and preservation of India's endangered languages. She has worked on several Indigenous and endangered languages across India and earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Florida, USA.

Originally from Assam, India, Pamir has spent years engaging closely with local communities — studying their speech patterns, stories, and worldviews.

Her fieldwork experience revealed a pressing need for community-led, technology-supported approaches to language preservation, inspiring her to establish Voices and Narratives of India (VANI).

Driven by a deep passion for language, culture, and inclusivity, Pamir envisions VANI as a space where communities can document their own knowledge, stories, and traditions — ensuring that these voices are not only preserved but continue to thrive and shape the digital future.