Miniatures, Metrics & Mental Health: A Conversation with Zarin Maraikayar

When you meet someone who blends art with analytics—and sprinkles in life lessons—you know you’re in for an inspiring conversation. That’s exactly what happened when I sat down with Zarin Maraikayar for Remira Talks.

I first knew Jareen as a storyteller—a puppeteer who could make characters dance to life. But as I followed her journey, I discovered a world beyond stories: a world of miniatures. Tiny chapatis, bite-sized gulab jamuns, even miniature paniyarams—all crafted with such precision that scrolling through her Instagram feels like stepping into a parallel universe.

How does an IT Project Manager find time for this? Her answer was simple yet powerful:

“Work is a survival skill. Creativity is a life skill. If we don’t make time for life skills, stress will never leave us.”

For Jareen, these miniatures aren’t just cute—they’re tools for awareness. She started making them for her kids so they could learn what they were eating. And then came her big idea: connecting miniatures to data storytelling.

“In IT, we talk about Digital Twins. But without understanding the real world, you can’t survive in the virtual one,” she explained.

Her PhD in Data Analytics and love for storytelling now help businesses and students understand how data flows—from a simple café bill to patterns that predict customer behavior. And she dreams of taking this to home-based businesses and street vendors, making analytics accessible for all.

Before we wrapped up, we spoke about her first love—puppetry. For Zarin, puppets aren’t just for kids; they’re tools for therapy, education, and even freedom—used during India’s independence movement to spread messages safely.

Finally, our chat turned to parenting and stories. For Zarin, storytelling isn’t an activity; it’s a way of life. She weaves childhood memories into tales for her children, teaching values without lectures. “Stories keep us connected. They bridge gaps—between generations, between technology and life” she said.

Her closing thought stayed with me: “We invest in mental health today. Soon, we’ll realize we need to invest in human connection too. Stories are where that begins.”

Takeaway? In a world obsessed with speed and screens, Zarin reminds us to slow down, create, and connect. When creativity meets data, the possibilities are endless

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👉 Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/nvJVOslc8Oc?si=w8fPHOENtsxDtR6t