From Curiosity to Creation: A Conversation with Manan Sharma

 Some people explore ideas. Others turn that curiosity into something that brings people together

Manan Sharma is an IBDP student at Indus International School Pune, where he is pursuing Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, CS, English and Hindi. Alongside academics, his interests have taken him across astronomy, technology, AI, entrepreneurship and leadership.

He is the Chairman of The ASTRA, a student-led initiative focused on astronomy and scientific inquiry, and the Founder of AstroBott, an AI-powered stargazing project. His journey also includes the Lodha Genius Program at Ashoka University, an internship at Blitzy, and work in school leadership as a House Captain and member of the Innovation Council.

His involvement with organisations such as Jyotirvidya Parisanstha, his work in science communication through The ASTRA's podcasts and newsletters, and his recognition through the Defence Minister Commendation Card reflect a profile that goes well beyond conventional academics.

In this conversation, we explore Manan's journey through education, science, entrepreneurship and leadership and how these different experiences have shaped the way he learns, builds, and thinks about the future.

1. In your TEDx talk, you introdufavoure idea of "Nexus Events ordinary moments that lead to extraordinary change. Looking back, what do you think determines whether someone recognizes a defining moment or simply lets it pass?

Honestly, it’s something that, at least early on, you don’t exactly recognize. Small questions, opportunities, and hobbies can converge to large things and it’s very easy to point while looking in retrospect and say, “Ah, that changed everything.” With experience, nexus events become easier to identify. One important thing to be able to identify or grab potential nexus events is to simply have a goal. At the NCC Camp, my goal was to be the best Cadet at every possible activity and play to my strengths. With that goal in mind, I was able to filter out the noise and focus on the signal/work.

2.You founded AstroBott and later expanded your vision through The ASTRA. At what point did your ambition shift from building innovative projects to creating opportunities for other young people to build alongside you?
Oftentimes, there isn’t a single point when people think, “Oh, what about others.” It’s usually something that comes naturally. Even for me, this came gradually. But, the catalyst behind this thought was Jyotirvidya Parisanstha—India’s oldest amateur astronomers’ club. I volunteered there for many activities over the years and the spirit of social service grew from there.

3.Many students chase achievements, while your journey seems centred around creating impact through science, leadership, and education. How do you ensure that recognition remains a by-product of meaningful work rather than the goal itself?
I think this ethic is best understood by leading a small team at a young age for a purpose. When you’re young, you do what you love, not what the world needs you to do. And once you can form a purpose out of that, you gradually internalize that impact is not about gaining external validation but empathizing someone’s present with your past. I was fortunate to have great mentors across my journey and to also be able to lead teams at the young age of 13 and mentoring new members of our Gavel Club, that had an enormous impact on how I think about service, empathy and purpose.

4. Your experiences span artificial intelligence, astronomy, robotics, public speaking, and community building. Have these diverse interests ever competed with one another, or do you believe interdisciplinary thinking is becoming essential for solving today's complex problems?
Interdisciplinary thinking is undoubtedly paramount in being able to solve the complex problems of today and tomorrow. Throughout my journey, I have combined my knowledge and skill in multiple domains to do incredible stuff.

5.You've spoken about young people living in "survival mode," where they rarely encounter the opportunities that can transform their lives. If you could redesign one aspect of the education system to create more of these "Nexus Events," what would you change first, and why?

I believe the Education System today needs an improvement in the approach made to teaching. For example, students in Physics try to learn different type of questions that might come in the exam. If instead, they were taught that learning the concepts is more important, they will not only score higher but also be able to apply those in real life. Another important change would be making the curriculum forward-facing. Most of the curriculum students study today in subjects like History and Computer Science is quite outdated and the world has moved way beyond just Java and Python. Most high school CS students cannot even make a simple web app without using an AI today. Making the curriculum forward-facing should build innovators and grow entrepreneurship in India.

6.Leading initiatives while still in school requires balancing ambition with responsibility. How has leadership changed your understanding of success, especially when your role shifts from achieving personal goals to enabling the growth of others?

Somewhat been answered before in q3.

7.With rapid advances in artificial intelligence, many students worry about whether their skills will remain relevant. What abilities do you believe technology can never replace, and how should young people prepare for that future?

Students need to understand that, as of today, AI is an excellent tool and learning to leverage it is to our utmost advantage. Today, AI is better than 99% coders, researchers, and writers. The differentiating factor is not going to be just having these skills in your skillset but using AI inter-disciplinarily across various domains. For example, I combined public speaking and Science, someone can combine design and coding and scope a product with AI. Basically, if someone is pursuing only one skill, or thinks narrowly about their work instead of understanding projects, academics, or corporate work as systems, then their skills will become irrelevant. Not just me, but even the world’s leading entrepreneurs believe that people skills, deep reasoning, judgement, and pattern recognition are the most important skills to develop today, especially with the advent of AI.

8. Imagine speaking to your ten-year-old self—the child who, as you shared, faced repeated failures before eventually becoming a leader. Beyond telling him that everything will work out, what lesson would you want him to understand much earlier?
I would advise my 10 year old self to not worry too much about the consequences of actions. For example, a younger me would have been very anxious about taking tests, taking a risk, or learning something new. I would want him to understand that in life, all that matters is that you give your 100% to whatever you put your mind to. The consequences will not favour him if he just sits and worries about them, but only if he gives it his best shot and continue learning from his mistakes.

About Conversations by Brains in You

Conversations by Brains in You is a curated interview series featuring students, professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, researchers, and changemakers whose journeys offer meaningful lessons beyond conventional achievements.

Rather than focusing solely on titles or milestones, each conversation explores the decisions, experiences, challenges, and perspectives that shaped the individual behind the profile. The aim is to create a growing repository of practical insights that help students and young professionals navigate their own careers with greater clarity, productivity, integrity, and purpose.

Every featured conversation is thoughtfully selected with the belief that authentic experiences can inspire informed decisions, lifelong learning, and better human development.