Ranchi, Feb. 4: A scuba diver, a social worker, a journalist and an engineer will be among the 11 speakers to share their success stories at the fifth edition of TEDx to be held at Hotel Ranchi Ashok on February 12.
Organised by Indian Institute of Management-Ranchi (IIM-R), the event is being held since 2012 on the lines of TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design), a set of global talks run by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation under the slogan "Ideas Worth Spreading".
This year the theme is Square pegs in round holes that will throw light on ideas which were initially considered misfit but later transformed into successful stories.
"This year, the theme will bring together 11 speakers from diverse fields whose ideas have been successful in challenging existing beliefs and perceptions," said Umanidhi, a first-year student of IIM-R.
Russel Collins, Australian traveller-cum-innovator, who is fighting against deforestation and pollution in the Himalayas and Ignatious Orwin Noronha, managing director of Leowin Solutions Pvt. Ltd and inventor of innovative services like waterproof treatment and mosquito trap device, will be among the speakers.
Samina Bano and Aparna Saraogi, known for their contribution in the fields of education, women entrepreneurship and empowerment and Archana Sardana, the first woman master scuba diver of India and international trainer, will also share their ideas.
Among other speakers there will be journalist-turned-author Anurag Batra, script-writer Mahendra Jakhar, engineer-turned-motivational speaker of Iskon Gour Gopal Das, Stanford alumnus and entrepreneur Sarandeep Singh and former Google and Facebook employee Sanjay Mucharia, who is also working on gender violence and its prevention.
Sunil Barnwal, secretary to Jharkhand chief minister, will be the lone speaker from Jharkhand to grace the occasion.
"TEDx inspires to nourish, nurture and execute new ideas that aim at benefiting the society, particularly when we tend to forget the importance and implication of germination of ideas," said Sushovan Maity, a second-year PGDM student of IIM-R and a member of the organising committee, adding that TEDx is an integral part of IIM-R and they were trying to carry the legacy forward.
