Girlhood, Grief & the Power of Oversharing | Ankita Shah | TEDxGMCJammu
In this moving and reflective TEDx talk, Indian-Nepali writer and poet Ankita Shah opens up about the quiet, often overlooked moments of girlhood—grief, tenderness, and growth. Through her poetic storytelling, she explores the idea of oversharing—something that’s often criticized, but for many women, feels like a lifeline.
Women have been conditioned to believe that being “too much” — too emotional, too loud, too vulnerable — is something to tone down. But what if that “too much” is exactly what makes us human? Ankita shares how women are fluent in TMI not just because they’ve been told to stay small, but also because they trust that other women, with shared emotional intelligence, might just understand them best.
With raw honesty and lyrical insight, Ankita reclaims the act of oversharing as a form of connection and resistance — a way to heal, to be seen, and to remind others they’re not alone.
Her work has been featured in Anomaly, Soup Magazine, and Firstpost. As the co-founder of The Poetry Club (Mumbai, 2013–2019) and a curator at G5A Foundation, she’s built spaces where stories matter and vulnerability thrives. Ankita Shah is an Indian-Nepali writer whose poetry and essays delve into the intricate tapestry of human existence. Through her evocative words, she explores themes of girlhood, grief, and the fleeting moments caught in the web of time. Her work has been featured in esteemed publications such as *Anomaly*, *Soup Magazine*, and
Firstpost*, resonating with readers for its depth and emotional clarity.
A passionate advocate for the literary arts, Ankita co-founded The Poetry Club in Mumbai, a vibrant space that became a sanctuary for emerging poets between 2013 and 2019. Under her guidance, the club nurtured creativity, craft, and community, leaving a lasting impact on Mumbai's literary landscape.
Previously, Ankita served as a curator at the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture, where she championed interdisciplinary arts and narratives, bridging diverse artistic expressions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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