Amritsar Reimagined: TEDx event inspires city’s future

TEDxBasant Nagar, an event based on the popular concept of having community leaders, experts from various fields make small, meaningful conversation, was hosted by city-based educators Rouble Tuli and Shikha Dutt Tuli, focused on precisely the fact that local communities, when empowered, contribute something bigger and better in terms of development.

The theme of the event was “Amritsar Reimagined” and over 19 speakers and several performers took the stage from diverse backgrounds — jewellers, educators, industrialists, students, dancers, designers and more, to deliver powerful conversation on technology, healthcare, art, activism, entrepreneurship, education and more.

Rouble Tuli, the co-convenor of the event, said, “It was extraordinary convergence of ideas, arts and innovation united visionaries, industry leaders, educators, artists, students and performers under the theme “Amritsar Reimagined.”

TEDxBasant Nagar was more than a single day — it was a three-month journey of community engagement and learning. Over 12 drives were organised, involving more than 100 young volunteers aged between seven and 17 and their families.

“We hosted heritage walks, capturing daily life in Amritsar, art drives where a public wall was decorated with graffiti art. A large textile mural made from fabric swatches and leftover cloth took nearly 1,992 hours to complete. We also hosted oral history lessons for children and interviewed marginalised community members, and industry leaders, capturing stories and wisdom. These drives connected the city’s history, culture, art, entrepreneurship, and youth into one shared experience,” he said. The idea, he added, was to capture the essence of Amritsar and translate it into the language of future.

The precursor events held include workshops taught public speaking, writing and thinking skills using the TEDxSpeaker model. As Shikha said, “TEDxBasant Nagar – Amritsar Reimagined was more than just a gathering; it was a movement that celebrated Amritsar’s traditions and innovations in harmony. Through its speakers, drives, volunteers and partners, the event sparked curiosity, pride and possibility —showing that the wisdom, creativity, and heart of Amritsar deserve to be heard around the world.”

The speakers at the main event included Padma Shree and pioneer woman entrepreneur, Dr Rajni Bector, Dominic Tomalin (Founding Headmaster, Shrewsbury International School, India), Dr Rishab & Dr Samiksha (EMC Hospitals), Gunisha Khurana, a renowned nutrition and wellness expert (Founder, Be Well Wellness & Eat Well Nutrition Centre), Shikha Sareen (entrepreneur), Dr Jasmeet Nayyar (litterateur & artist) and youth speakers: Ayaan Tuli, Zyan Soni, Zoravar Tuli, Porshea Tuli and others.

A book authored by Gurmeet Kaur, known for Punjabi folk tales, was also launched.