MIT India Conference
India's Competitive Edge
16 February 2019
MIT India Conference
The theme of the 2019 conference is “India’s Competitive Edge”. The conference aims at reflecting on what unique factors have allowed India to thrive in science, sports, art, literature, and technology despite fewer resources at its disposal. We aim to answer the questions about what are the ills that ail us and prevent the advancements, and how can we overcome them. These questions are especially important in light of radically changing socio-economic and political space in the country.


MIT India Conference
The theme of the 2019 conference is “India’s Competitive Edge”. The conference aims at reflecting on what unique factors have allowed India to thrive in science, sports, art, literature, and technology despite fewer resources at its disposal. We aim to answer the questions about what are the ills that ail us and prevent the advancements, and how can we overcome them. These questions are important in light of radically changing socio-economic and political space in the country.
Speakers
Click on a speaker's name for more information
Anil Kumble and Dr. Subramanian Swamy would be joining us through video conferencing. Prakash Javadekar will deliver his message through a short pre-recorded video.
The conference speakers represent a variety of perspectives. A speaker's invitation to participate in the MIT India Conference is not an indication that MIT or the MIT India conference endorse the speaker's views or opinions.

Anil Kumble
Former Indian Cricketer

Subramanian Swamy
Politician

Prakash Javadekar
Politician

Priyamvada Natarajan
Astrophysicist, Science Educator, Professor at Yale University

Anil Kumar Gupta
Founder, the Honey Bee Network, Professor IIM-A

Arundhati Katju
Lawyer, LGBTQ+ Rights Movement in India

Satish K. Reddy
Chairman, Dr Reddy's Laboratories

Farhan Akhtar
Actor, Founder of Men Against Rape and Discrimination Campaign

Shereen Bhan
Journalist and Managing Editor

Indrani Medhi Thies
Scientist and Technologist at Microsoft Research

Anupam Kher
Actor and Former Chairman of Film and Television Institute

Ami Shroff
Director, Shrujan NGO in Kutch

Sanjiv Mehta
Chairman and Managing Director Hindustan Unilever Limited

Manasi Kirloskar
Executive Director and CEO, Kirloskar Systems Limited

D. R. Mehta
Founder, Patron Jaipur Foot and Former IAS

Preetish Nijhawan
Co-founder of Akamai Technologies
MIT Speakers
Click on a speaker's name for more information

Pooja Wagh
Director, Health Community, Solve at MIT

Melanie Mala Ghosh
Managing Director, MIT-India & MIT-South Asia

S.P. Kothari
Gordon Y Billard Professor of Accounting and Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management

Urmi Samadar
Director of Action Learning, MIT Sloan School of Management
Sponsor Speakers
Click on a speaker's name for more information

Shweta Aprameya
Founder, AU Welfare Foundation

Raju Goteti
Vice President, Co-Innovation Network (COIN), TCS
Schedule
Saturday, February 16
Registration and Breakfast
Opening Session
Co-Chairs Address
Aditi Shankar | Kritarth Yudhish | Neil S. Gaikwad
Honoring Professor S.P. Kothari
Remarks from Mala Ghosh | Fireside Chat with Mr. Vikram Kirloskar '81 & Professor S.P. Kothari

Conference Opening Remarks
S.P. Kothari
Session 1: Gearing India for the future through policy and institutions
MC: Kritarth Yudhish

India’s Economic Positioning in the Global Perspective
Subramanian Swamy
MC: Kritarth Yudhish | Dr. Swamy would be joining us through video conferencing
Session 2: Business frontiers: opportunities and challenges

India's Competitive Edge in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Satish K. Reddy
Fireside Chat with Satish K. Reddy & Sanjiv Mehta
MC: Kritarth Yudhish | The session will be moderated by Shereen Bhan

Introducing New Scholarship to Support Entrepreneurship for Social Impact
Shweta Aprameya
MC: Kritarth Yudhish
Lunch
Session 3: STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)
MC: Neil Gaikwad

Evolution of Indian Cinema. What's Next?
Anupam Kher
MC: Aditi Shankar | Fireside Chat with Prof. S.P. Kothari

Strengthening Human Rights: Breaking the Colonial Closet
Arundhati Katju
MC: Neil Gaikwad | Fireside Chat

Designing Technologies for Global Social Inclusion
Indrani Medhi Thies
MC: Neil Gaikwad | Fireside Chat
Tea
Session 4: Culture and Innovation
MC: Aditi Shankar

Education in Free India
Manasi Kirloskar
Fireside Chat with Manasi Kirloskar and Ami Shroff
MC: Aditi Shankar | The session will be moderated by Mala Ghosh

Creating Knowledge Networks to Fuel Grassroots Innovations
Anil Kumar Gupta
Fireside Chat with Anil Kumar Gupta and D.R. Mehta
MC: Kritarth Yudhish | The session will be moderated by Pooja Wagh
Closing Session
Thank you
Aditi Shankar | Kritarth Yudhish | Neil S. Gaikwad

Prakash Javadekar
MC: Aditi Shankar | Prakash Javadekar will deliver his message through a short pre-recorded video
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I reach the venue? Where can I park?
We strongly encourage those coming from within the Boston area to use public transportation, as MIT is conveniently located on both local bus lines and the Red Line (stop: Kendall/MIT). Please check out MBTA online planning tool http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/ to plan your trip.
If you do intend to drive, there are a limited number of spots available at 21 Amherst Street, which is a short walk away from the Media Lab. Please use the MIT campus map (https://whereis.mit.edu/) to locate E14 and other buildings at MIT.
How do I connect to a wireless network during the conference?
MIT provides a network service to campus guests. Please select MIT GUEST at wireless option, which does not require any registration. For any further question on connecting to MIT network, please visit our Information Systems and Technology page: https://ist.mit.edu/network/netguests
Will food be provided?
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks will be provided. There are many surrounding food places in Kendall and Central Square (Cambridge). Here are some options on Campus and nearby Cambridge. http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/visitor/eat.html
Useful Links to first-time visitors to MIT
Driving directions to MIT: http://whereis.mit.edu/directions.html
MIT Campus Map: https://whereis.mit.edu/
MIT Public parking Info: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/parking/visitors/public_parking.html
MIT Medical center parking (Free after 5:30 PM – 7:30 AM and on the weekends): http://bit.ly/MITMedicalParking
MIT Facts: http://web.mit.edu/facts/
MIT Campus Tour Guide: http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/events/tour.html
Where to eat at MIT: http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/visitor/eat.html
MIT guest wireless: https://ist.mit.edu/network/netguests
Useful Websites for first-time visitors to Boston
MBTA planning tool: http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/
Boston Weather: http://bit.ly/BOSWeather
Accommodations near Cambridge: http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/visitor/stay.html
Where to avoid: http://spotcrime.com/ma/boston
Boston Event Calendar: http://www.thebostoncalendar.com/
Where to Eat at Boston: http://www.thrillist.com/boston
Registration
Regular
$25-751 Person
- MIT Undergrad Students - $25
- MIT Grad Students - $30
- Other University Students - $45
- MIT Staff/Faculty - $55
- Professionals - $75
MIT Team
The MIT India Conference team includes 21 students that include 4 co-chairs and 17 VPs. One co-chair and two vice presidents chose to stay anonymous. Click to the team member's names to learn more.
Chairs
Vice Presidents
Conference Content Strategy
Lead: Neil S. Gaikwad
Conference Finance and Sponsorship
Lead: Kritarth Yudhish

Kushal Gohil
Executive MBA, 2020

Ashutosh Nayak
Executive MBA

Kushal Purie
MBA 2020

Ranobroto (Ron) Dutta
Executive MBA
Conference Operations
Lead: Aditi Shankar

Hari Bandi
Ph.D., Operations Research

Avinash Ghorpade
System Design and Management

Aditya Jeet
MBA 2019

Anshul Bhide
MBA 2020
Advisers

Melanie Mala Ghosh
Managing Director, MIT-India & MIT-South Asia

S.P. Kothari
Gordon Y Billard Professor of Accounting and Finance, MIT Sloan School of Management
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Cambridge, MA
02139