TEDxKathmandu, for ‘ideas worth spreading’

An annual conference held since 1984 in California, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) was started with a motto ‘ideas worth spreading’ and it brings together some of the world’s greatest scientists, businessmen, politicians, artists, engineers and thinkers together on one stage to share their visions. TEDx are independent TED conferences that are being held internationally since 2009. It is a program of socal, self-organized events that brings people together to share a TED-like experience in the spirit of ideas worth spreading.



TED talks video and live speakers combine to start deep discussion and connection in a small group during a TEDx event. These events have been organized in over sixty countries and about eight hundred cities until 2012. In Kathmandu, this self-organized particular local event is branded as TEDxKathmandu where ‘x’ stands for independently organized TED event.

Tedx kathmandu

The absolute obsession of Nepalese people with politics influence most of the discussion that could otherwise have been very useful and it is quite difficult to hold discussion on educational reform without bringing the issue of political interference in the sector or discuss development of contemporary music without expressing the current political scenario, thus, to talk about something beyond politics with those who are making actual change, it is essential to organize TEDx events in Kathmandu.

The TEDxKathmandu was held first in 2011 and was followed up by TEDxKathmandu 2012. TEDxKathmandu where the speakers that consist of respected and recognized businessmen, artists and entrepreneurs will share their innovative and ‘worth spreading’ ideas, has been set to meet the quality and ambition of TEDtalk series.

The team of TEDxKathmandu consists of Nimesh Ghimire, Shirish Pokharel, Mohammand Tajim, Alok Adhikari, Sabrina Singh and Yukta Bajracharya. Ghimire, an undergraduate student at Swarthmore College (USA), had co-led number of projects in Nepal and has travelled extensively to places outside Kathmandu. The Licensee for TEDxKathmandu, Ghimire is in Nepal for the summer (2012), interning with Government of Nepal’s National Planning Commission and is staring Nepal’s first Peace Innovation Lab in Lamjung.  Previously worked as a teacher reporter, student and an actor for several months after completing his high school Pokharel has traveled to western Nepal, East Asia, organized flashmobs, co-organized TEDx events and loves photography. Tajim is a freelance web developer living in Bhairahawa in southern part of Nepal. An aspiring filmmaker and a visual artist, Adhikari is a graphic designer designing publicity materials for various events. He has also edited few short documentaries and ran an online video news portal called Good News Nepal along with working as an Assistant Director in the Nepali movie Highway. Singh is a believer in the impact and influence a powerful speaker can have over people from a platform like TEDx as she has been involved in public speaking and debates during her academic career. A former writer, she aspires to work for women’s development and equality in Nepal. Bajracharya is a student pursuing her Bachelors in Development Studies and this passionate aspiring poet is also a member of a Kathmandu-based Slam Poetry group called Word Warriors. She has worked as a radio jockey with Hits FM and as a feature writer with ECS Media.