Unveiling the Illustrious Panel: Meet the Jury Members of The Telegraph Online Edugraph 18 under 18 Awards 2024

The Telegraph Online Edugraph 18 under 18 Awards 2024 presented by NSHM Knowledge Campus, with iTech as the associate sponsor is here to celebrate and honour young talents across Eastern India. Excited to know our panel of jury members for this year? Well, the wait is over! Like the earlier editions, we are proud to announce our Jury Members who will make up the formidable panel. This celebrated group of professionals will surely bring wealth of experience, expertise and a passion for excellence to the table.

The 18 winners will be announced at The Telegraph 18 under 18 2024 award ceremony, which will be held in Kolkata in the third week of January 2024.

Meet our Jury Members below!

1. Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury

Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury rose to prominence through her captivating vocals in Bengali films and solo albums, notably through songs like “Tumi Ashbey Bole” and “Jagorane Jay Bibhabori”. Alongside her successful music career, she is a guest lecturer of psychology at Asutosh College, Kolkata.

2. Swastika Mukherjee

Actress Swastika Mukherjee has become a household name with her diverse roles in Bengali and Hindi cinema, and now OTT series. From Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! to Paatal Lok, Qala to Criminal Justice, her nuanced portrayals have marked her out as a generational talent showcasing her dynamic range and depth as a performer.

3. Bickram Ghosh

Bickram Ghosh, an Indian percussionist renowned for his skills with the tabla, leads the Rhythmscape group and has collaborated with legendary artistes such as Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan and Zakir Hussain. His diverse discography as well as his portfolio of Bengali and Hindi films as music director reflect his multifaceted contributions to Indian music.

4. Tanusree Shankar

Danseuse Tanusree Shankar amalgamates traditional Indian dance with modern ballet at the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts. She received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2011 and has performed all over the world. Thanks to her tireless efforts, the Ananda Shankar Centre has been a cradle for talent through the decades.

5. Ranadeep Moitra

Ranadeep Moitra keeps several key Calcuttans fit as the founder of Endorphins Corrective Exercise Studio. This former Bengal cricketer has devoted his life to rehabilitation and fitness and was the first Indian to get an internationally recognised Strength and Conditioning degree.

6. Indrajit Bhalotia

Indrajit Bhalotia, who held the title of India’s youngest professional golfer (at 17), is now the golfing guru of the city. He is the founder of Protouch Sports, passionately training youngsters in golf, advocating the expansion of golf accessibility across India and the introduction of sporting activities in schools.

7. Paul Walsh

Paul Walsh gave up a diplomatic career to work with underprivileged children in Kolkata. Jungle Crows, the rugby club he founded, promotes sport for development under their Khelo Rugby programme. In 2015, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for making a positive impact in his line of work.

8. Debanjan Chakrabarti

Debanjan Chakrabarti is director, East and Northeast India, at British Council and the UK lead for G20's culture track in 2023. Chakrabarti has fostered pioneering research leading to UNESCO recognition of Durga Puja besides influencing India's National Education Policy.

9. Dr JR Ram

Dr. Jai Ranjan Ram is a leading psychiatrist with an MD in psychiatry from NIMHANS, Bangalore, an MRCPsych from the UK and CCST in child and adolescent psychiatry. He is also the co-founder of the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) Kolkata.

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