Mumbai to Newcastle: Malvika’s Journey of Heritage and Heart
By Ellie Warnes
26 March 2025
Malvika’s journey from Newcastle to leading an oral history non-profit in India is a story of resilience and a passion for heritage. Guided by her love for history and a leap of faith that brought her to Newcastle University, she took on new challenges and earned her Master’s degree in Heritage, Education and Interpretation. Now she dedicates herself to uncovering untold stories and ensuring the voices of the past continue to resonate in the present.
Malvika spent her childhood in Mumbai, “there was 20 of us at home, it’s the best way to grow up” she says reminiscing her childhood, laughing.
Finding Newcastle
She completed her first degree at Mumbai University, studying History, which inspired her to study a Masters. As Malvika searched options for a master’s program, she struggled to find a course that matched her interests-until she stumbled upon Newcastle University. Her father, who had worked with Newcastle University through PwC, encouraged her to apply, “There’s just something about the place” he had told her. When looking through their options she came across the exact course she had been searching for.
“They taught Heritage, Education and Interpretation which was exactly what I wanted to study!” she says with an excited expression, shuffling forward in her chair like she was unlocking memories as we spoke.
However, beginning a new life in Newcastle came with its challenges. Malvika was living alone for the first time and navigating a new city with a completely different culture. A particularly memorable experience was when Myra, the Degree Programme Director, took the course to visit Beamish. Beamish is an open-air museum in the Northeast, which Malvika insists everyone should visit. “It’s amazing” she says, waving her hands in emphasis.
Myra Giesen, A Degree Programme Director, describes Malvika as ‘driven, compassionate and resilient’. Even 12 years on from Malvika’s graduation, Myra remembers her natural leadership skills and her empathy for others which became particularly memorable during a complex group project, where she went out of her way to make sure each team member felt valued and engaged.
Malvika comments that Myra is still encouraging to this day and was someone who helped her at her hardest points whilst studying at Newcastle. “She was more than a teacher, she would be sort of that almost ‘mum figure’, to say ‘what are you doing? Get it done!’” Malvika says, laughing like she was reliving the moment.
Returning to India
After completing her Master’s degree, Malvika moved back to India where she joined the India National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Although she was grateful for the experience, she found the job unfulfilling. She moved to a job at AudioCompass, where she developed audio guides for the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, she now considers this moment as a major turning point in her career. "I realised I loved my work," she says, describing how the younger environment reignited her passion for heritage.
The next chapter of her professional journey began with The Citizens Archive of India (CAI), a non-profit founded by Rohan Parikh. "He trusted you and gave you this freedom to do what you wanted as long as you showed results," she says. However, the COVID-19 pandemic plummeted resources as funding was redirected towards helping build an ICU for a hospital.
Rohan entrusted Malvika with the leadership of CAI, recognising how she had built the company from the ground up with him and wanted to see it keep succeeding.
"Running a non-profit is like a real uphill battle” she says. However, the archive’s materials have found diverse uses, from academic research to being featured in popular media, including Disney+ and Marvel’s Ms. Marvel.
‘History’ awaits
From Mumbai to Newcastle and back, she has not only discovered new opportunities but also helped preserve the stories of others, ensuring that history lives on for future generations. Her plans for the future focus on growing CAI: “With a bigger archive and a presence in multiple cities you get to do more and more interesting work” she says.
Myra shared: “I continue to be impressed by her ongoing efforts and achievements, which she actively shares on various online channels, showcasing her growth and commitment well beyond her time at Newcastle.”
Although Newcastle was a stepping stone into the career she loves, it still withholds a special place in her heart. “I wish I had stayed put in the UK; I’d love to move back”. Newcastle University’s impact on Malvika’s journey is clear and her plans for the next decade within Citizen’s Archive of India indicates the drive she has for oral histories.
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