It’s not just about one big idea but about making it happen. That was the theme of the TEDx event organised by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur here.
This year’s theme — “The Next Big Idea” focused on the sparks created by the ideas that fuelled inspiration. Speakers discussed the myriad of moments about what the next big idea today in the world is for women, an institute press release issued here on Sunday stated.
The event kicked off with a beautiful mime performance by students of IIM Raipur which very vividly narrated the life of a woman, the roles played by her from a daughter to a wife.
The first speaker Seema Azharuddin, actor-activist-consultant, started with a quote from Mother Teresa that, “Power comes from within, not from the mind”.
Women empowerment is not something which a woman should learn at 25 rather having learnt this in school, a women should execute empowerment by the age of 25.
It’s not about holding a placard saying that we are women, it’s about motivating and valuing who you are and what you are doing. I’m my best investment and no one else can take the onus of this, she said.
Archana Sadanna, India’s first Building Aerial Spanning Earth (B.A.S.E.) jumper said : ‘Coming from a small city of Jammu and brought up in a conservative family, her life changed when she married a man from the Indian Navy, who helped her realize her true potential. It’s not about the obstacles which you encounter but about the attitude with which we face them. If you have to achieve something one has to come out of their comfort zone and keep pushing yourself to achieve new things.’
Dr Rachna Jain, Founding member, Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), talked about the condition of women in rural India and the need for immediate attention. With barely any specialized services available, she along with her husband and a team of 7 other doctors decided to give back to the society and initiate a wave of change.
The organization has brought upon a new awareness among the villagers, which results in early diagnosis of severe problems and prevents labour pain deaths. The idea of empowerment is not about reaching out to masses but about being able to think and execute a change in oneself, she said.
Nilima Achwal, a Social entrepreneur, started her talk with a question- What it means to empower womenIJ Is it giving her more money or providing her safety or giving her the right to speak up. No amount of these things can improve the situation as we need to work for the causes and not the symptoms.
Smita Nair Jain, COO – Barclays Technology Centre India focused on India and Corporate India and chalked out the definition of empowerment as the power and freedom to choose opportunities and enhance one’s ability and skill to do what one wants to do.
She also highlighted the fact that how the norm of mandatory women board member in listed companies received significant lobbying against it and also these positions being primarily being occupied by members from promoter's family.
Manisha Gulyani, an ICCR Kathak Artiste, exclaimed that art is the supreme form of human expression and an artist sees the real world and then turns that into poetry, music and dance.
Hema Balakrishnan, Founder - Color D Earth, a social entrepreneur who works towards the sustainable and economic growth of the Terracotta Artisan community, started with a group of 6 artisan groups, today constitutes of a group of 200 artisan groups. She said her mantra is to identify, collate and then empower, and she believes sustainable growth of the whole system.
