The fourth edition of TEDxPanaji, an independently organized TED event is back this year with unique ideas that inspire. To be held on Sunday, 8 March 2020 from 3 pm to 8 pm, at Kala Academy AC hall in Panaji, the event promises to showcase stimulating ideas by speakers & performers from diverse fields, from across Goa & India. The event which is organized annually by a team of volunteers is a platform that believes in the power of ideas to change the world. Within 18 minutes, each speaker will present their unique idea, live, in front of an elite audience of Goa.
The theme for TEDxPanaji 2020 is ‘RUSH’, which signifies the emotional unrest that precedes powerful action. The event hopes to capture and spread the power of emotions that led to the impactful actions & achievements of the speakers, sparking deeper discussions and connections among the audience. This year, eleven speakers will deliver talks/performances on diverse topics such as ‘protest through art’, ‘cancer survivors’, ‘robotics’, ‘waste management’, ‘bodybuilding’, ‘rhythmic gymnastics’, ‘drones’ etc. The speakers for this year’s event are:
Baadal Nanjundaswamy : From the installation of a crocodile model in a pot-hole to walking over potholes, dressed as an astronaut- street artist and civic activist- Baadal Nanjundaswamy has multiple viral protest ideas to his name.
Dr. Rajah Vijay Kumar: A serial inventor with 32 plus inventions to his credit, Dr. Rajah Vijay Kumar invented the ‘Cytotron’ after 30 years of research. Acknowledged by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a breakthrough device in treating cancer of the liver, pancreas, and breast; the invention is on the threshold of redefining cancer treatment.
Karishma Parker: Dr. Karishma is not only an Orthodontist and a single mother to a 6-year-old but also a professional body-builder & sculptor. During a difficult phase in life, she discovered body-building and in her 4-year journey of using physical molding for mental strength, went on to win 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medals at national bodybuilding competitions.
Chandana Bala Kalyan: Garnering more than 2 million views in a matter of months, for her Indian classical take on the Jazz composition, “Take Five”, Chandana Bala Kalyan has redefined Carnatic music. Hailed as a vocal gymnast who traverses scales and moves between genres as diverse as Carnatic, Hindustani, Sufi, and Jazz; her signature style of music is earning her accolades the world over.
Wilma Rodrigues: Former journalist turned ‘socialpreneur’, Wilma Rodrigues is the Founder of Saahas Zero Waste, one of the top social enterprises in India. Saahas provides end-to-end waste management solutions and Wilma has been the driving force behind developing a unique model that is not only effective but also scalable. Wilma’s goal is to implement as many zero waste campuses as possible.
Ruby Ahluwalia: Ruby Ahluwalia is the founder of Sanjeevani- Life Beyond Cancer, an organization that works on cancer prevention, early detection, counseling, and rehabilitation. A cancer survivor herself, Ruby’s experiences led her to create a unique training module where cancer survivors can train to be cancer caregivers.
Prathap N.M: Be it saving a life in Africa or providing flood relief materials to areas in Karnataka, Prathap N M, known as the Drone Boy of India has a drone for every situation. Awarded the Albert Einstein Innovation Medal from CeBIT, the ‘Young Scientist’ title from multiple countries and many other accolades, this young scientist has been invited to over 87 countries to showcase his inventions.
Saipranav Gandhi: Saipranav Gandhi is a child prodigy in an unusual field- LEGO robotics. This ten-year-old conducted his first workshop on ‘learning from toys’ for kids, at the age of six and has never looked back since. Having won multiple awards at robotics competitions and LEGO leagues at the regional & national level, this young robotics enthusiast, is just beginning his exciting journey in the field of STEM.
DJ Ignatius Camilo: A champion of sustainable living, DJ Iggy, a self-taught hustler from Goa, went from his humble beginnings at beach shacks to playing his signature music across the world. After successfully playing at gigs in India, London, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Croatia; Iggy returned to his village in Goa and founded Cirrus, a community that combines the two unlikely worlds of partying and sustainable living.
Varsha Upadhye & Students: The first International rhythmic gymnastics judge from India, she has also set up the first rhythmic gymnastics academy in the country. Post the Commonwealth Games 2006, where she was a judge, Varsha vowed to fill the void of full-fledged early life training for the sport in India. Her students today have gone on to represent the country at world championships and Commonwealth Games. Students of Varsha will perform rhythmic gymnastics live for the first time ever in Goa.
TEDxPanaji is also set to feature unconventional music performances that complement the thought-provoking nature of the event.
This year ‘Suraj Pinge & Group’ will be putting up a special performance. Passionate about Ghumat aarti, a devotional folk music form in Goa, Suraj is a folk music mentor to more than 23 ghumat aarti & experimental music groups. They will be putting forth an amalgamation of folk & world music at the event. Additionally, speaker Chandana Bala Kalyan will be mesmerizing the audience with her unique style of music and there will be a special performance of rhythmic gymnastics by 12 students of Varsha Upadhye.
TEDxPanaji is being supported by Partners such as Dempo Group – Titanium Partner, Tangentia – Gold Partner, IFB – Silver Partner, NABARD – Bronze Partner, Goa State Biodiversity Board – Support Partner, Namaste Chai – Refreshment Partner, 91 Springboard – Community Partner, Herald Group – Support Partner, Team Inertia – Web Partner, 92.7 Big FM – Radio Partner, Goa.me – Outreach Partner, Stylewaali – Styling Partner, Tina Arts – Printing Partner & Funky Heads – Event Support.
The team of 80 plus volunteers is led by Dattaprasad Shetkar, who said “Watching TEDx talks live in a common space, along with hundreds of other curious minds, is a life-changing experience. We hope, people of Goa will make the best of this opportunity to be personally inspired by ground-breaking ideas.” The event is a public event, open to all and will be a half-day affair. The tickets to the event are available online, at www.townscript.com.