These Are Must-See Top 10 Sessions by Indians At TED

There could hardly be a Web surfer who hasn’t heard of TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talks. And those are more than talks. Listening to the speakers is like walking into a history museum and falling in love with every archaeological object on display there.

Motivation has its moments. When you surf the Web for TED talks delivered by Indians and listen to their stories, you realise they took a path that wasn’t treaded upon. Much like an elephant that makes its own pathway, irrespective of what the ‘norm’ is.

Some of the Must-listen TED talks:


Arvind Gupta: Trash’s fun!

This IIT-Kharagpur graduate-turned-science teacher of sorts has been fuelling the fire in young minds through his innovative toys. “The best thing a child can do with a toy is break it,” he says with a sunny disposition and a mischievous smile.


Bunker Roy: A professional isn’t about education alone

He chose to look away from a cushy IAS posting to come face to face with the treasure trove of knowledge in villages. Decades later, he has established barefoot college where people ‘learn and serve’ with their indigenous knowledge, and not come in and leave with fancy degrees!


Devadutt Pattanaik: Deciphering the war of ideology

Devadutt Pattanaik is a gifted writer. His presentation of Indian mythology and beliefs has caught the attention of the young and the old alike. His words are as engaging as his books. He unravels the way east and west contradict each other in myths and beliefs about God, leading to misunderstanding (between each other).


Kiran Bedi: Bringing peace within unrest

Being an upright, honest and strict police chief wasn’t a bed of roses. But Kiran Bedi wasn’t expecting anything to be smoother. At this TED talk, she talks about the image makeover she gave to Tihar jail, which became a space for reform rather than a place of condemnation.


Nandan Nilekani: What an idea sir ji!

Spearheading the ‘Aadhar’ card process in India, a mammoth exercise to provide a unique identification number to every citizen, Nandan Nilekani could only dream big. In this talk, he elaborates on ideas that worked for India and the bright spots for future.


Vijay Kumar: ‘Sensing’ trouble

This scientist from Penn dreams of a day when small robots will be spread across the world to warn of an oncoming disaster. He and his team-members are busy working on models that can swarm and sense any activity. Robo soothsayers, anyone?


Arunachalam Muruganatham: Bringing sanity with sanitary pads

When this ‘house husband’ decided to do something about creating a revolution around sanitary pads, it cost him his marriage and family ties. Yet, he continued with his mission. Today, scores of women and girls thank him for having brought a very positive change in their lives.


Shukla Bose: Sowing seeds, one at a time

Shukla Bose set up Parikrma Foundation with a vision of teaching one kid at a time when schools are hoarding kids into classrooms. Her focus is on children from less fortunate background. We change their lives, we change the future of this nation, she says.


Shekhar Kapur: Panicking over creative juices

Shekhar Kapur, the award-winning director who gave some of the best films to Indian and international audiences, speaks of the stories that make us. And what caused the surge of creativity within him? Utter panic, he says!


Shashi Tharoor: Go soft on hard power!

A diplomat-turned-politician, Shashi Tharoor talks of an exchange between India and the rest of the world through culture and cuisine and music, than building army and stocking up on weapons and drones. He sure knows that butter chicken has conquered the world now!