About TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxIMIKolkataWomen, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxIMIKolkataWomen event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

Speakers at TEDxIMIKolkataLive

TEDxIMIKolkataLive will witness the presence of enthusiastic speakers sparking conversation across multidisciplinary topics catering to a blend of corporate and academic community. Each speaker will be delivering an 18-minute talk followed by a networking session for facilitating conversation.

Ashwika Kapur, Wildlife & Natural History Filmmaker

Time :- 1:30 PM
Ashwika Kapur is a qualified Science Communicator and an international award-winning Wildlife & Natural History Filmmaker. A few years ago, she was recognized for having become India’s youngest and only woman to win the Panda Award or The Green Oscar in a Global Category. She won Best Emerging Filmmaker for a quirky, rags-to- riches film about a celebrity Kakapo named Sirocco. In the last 6 years, Ash’s time projects have been split between India, UK and New Zealand, with her work seen on various networks such as BBC, Netflix, Animal Planet among others. Over the years, Ash has worn many hats: She has worked as a self shooting director/producer, a writer and researcher, a camera-operator and she’s recently made her debut as an International TV presenter for a conservation series on Children’s BBC. Previously, she’s been seen on Animal Planet’s Heroes of the Wild Frontiers and Discovery Channel’s Mysterious Wilds of India. Ash also takes time out to make conservation films on important regional, environmental stories in India. She is a professional public speaker and an educator, and regularly delivers wildlife and conservation talks in India and UK to inspire young minds towards conservation and a greener future.


Dibyajyoti Sarma, Mentor to new poets for publishing

Time  :- 2:00 PM
Topic :- “A Life Worthy of Poetry.”
Poet, writer and translator Dibyajyoti Sarma, who calls himself ‘an accidental publisher’, runs the independent poetry publishing outfit Red River from his bedroom in Delhi. Established in 2017, Red River has so far published 50+ titles to varying degrees of success. Red River believes that art cannot be commodified — we survive by being rare, being unique. He is also the author of three volumes of poetry and three books of translations.


Nitisha Sethia , Founder & Editor – outdoor sports company

Time  :- 2:45 PM
Topic :-“Lessons in Optimism”
A strategy consultant turned traveller, Nitisha lives for adventure and travel. She has spent her life’s free time learning and playing over 7 adventure sports and backpacking across 37 countries. Armed with an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a Master’s in Psychology from Delhi University, Nitisha loves to problem-solve and help build things. She is the founder of outdoor sports company AdventurePlay. When not adventuring, Nitisha can be found doing some yoga or playing her ukulele.


Mr. Manoj Kumar Tiwary , Indian cricketer and politician

Topic:- “Self Belief ”
Time :- 3:30 PM
Mr. Manoj Kumar Tiwary is an Indian cricketer and politician. He is a right-handed batsman who bowls occasional leg breaks. He has represented Bengal in domestic cricket and played for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League. He was selected as a candidate for the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from the Shibpur Vidhan Sabha constituency. After winning the seat, Tiwary joined All India Trinamool Congress Party in February 2021 as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal. In the third Ministry under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he was appointed as a Minister of State for Affairs of Sports and Youth.


Dr. Kunal Sakar, One of the leading Cardiac Surgeons of India

Topic :- Indian Health Care: Is it the darkness before dawn?
Time :- 4:00 PM
A past President of Indian Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS) .Leading exponent of Coronary Bypass surgery and complex adult cardiac operations.
Currently Senior Vice Chairman and Chief Cardiac Surgeon of Medica Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Kolkata and Chairman – Kolkata Heart Foundation(KHF).Vice-president and Chief Cardiac Surgeon of Narayana Hrudyalaya Group of Hospitals 2001-2012. Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of cardiac Sciences, Kolkata , India. He along with Dr. Devi Shetty , nurtured a start up into one of India’s largest Cardiac programs.Trained and worked in Cardiac Surgery in UK ( London, Liverpool , Hull) more than 10 years between 1986 to 1996. National scholar and recipient eleven medals in Surgery including the Gold medal.Avid debater since school and college days at St Xavier’s Collegiate School and Medical College, Calcutta.Founded the Calcutta Debating Circle (CDC), which hosts “Calcutta’s Festival of the Spoken Word”, which is the largest debating festival in India. Pursues healthcare concerns and policy discussions, Speaks across the country on these issues. Contributes to publications in English and Bengali.
Has been on the forefront of public awareness and the pandemic across Bengali and national media.
Just published his book on Indian healthcare ‘ The Sickness of Health’


Organising Team
Dr. Tirthankar Nag [Organiser & Licensee]
Ms. Ankita Majumdar & Ms. Amrita Datta [Event Management]