Short incisive speeches were made, ideas presented. Strangers discussed the proceedings over tea and coffee. Yes, the argumentative Indian was present at the venue. The fourth edition of TEDxPanaji, an independently organised TED event, ended on a high note with an audience-packed auditorium. The event showcased a powerful line up of stimulating speakers who presented their unique concepts, thought processes and ideas. There was an awe-inspiring rhythmic gymnast performance and an experimental music concert of traditional Goan folk music. An impactful special session was also held during the event, where a few selected attendees got the chance to share their unique ideas with the audience in a time-limited format.
The theme for this year’s TEDxPanaji was RUSH, signifying the
emotional unrest that precedes powerful action. Ten speakers took to the stage
and shared their story, encapsulating the emotions that led them to their
achievements. The talks covered the spheres of music, technology, science,
medicine, art, self-empowerment, fitness, sports and waste management.
Incidentally, the ideas shared by speakers let to a groundswell of discussion
between participants and speakers, during the various breaks of the event.
TEDxPanaji kicked off
with a stunning experimental music showcase comprising traditional folk
instruments of Goa, by Suraj Pinge and Group. The music encompassed various
genres and moved seamlessly across styles practised by different religious
groups in the state. It was an excellent start to the event and an eye opener
for everyone given that Goan folk music is not accessible on radio.
The troupe was
followed by Ruby Ahluwalia, a bureaucrat and author, who shared her unique
program that empowers cancer survivors and heals cancer warriors. Ruby has
managed to create a model where cancer survivors work towards rehabilitating
those patients currently battling the disease. She also spoke of her wellness
program that has shown positive results in patients. She pointed out that for
every seven people on the planet, one would suffer from cancer. She said the
food one consumed was very important. Also, the combination of food and the
time one ate it at was very important. The time between lunch and dinner was
also important and she said it would be advisable to eat before the sun set.
During her battle with cancer, she learned that the system was in place to
fight the disease, but to remain cancer free once one was out of the medical
system was an entirely different matter. She emphasised on the importance of
releasing negative toxins in the body. The seriousness of the topic lent to a
rather heavy atmosphere in the hall. That however was dissipated when the next
speaker walked on stage.
Ten-year-old
Saipranav Gandhi, a LEGO robotics prodigy, was the youngest speaker at the
event. His appeal to the audience was that robotics is not just for geeks and
that anyone with a little help from the internet and a child-like enthusiasm,
can be inventive and create.
Karishma Parker, an
orthodontist, single mother and Goa’s first bikini body builder spoke about how
taking up a passion could help one to battle through the tough times that would
inevitably come in life. Her message was that however broken one’s life might
be, eventually we can make it beautiful.
With Tedx being held
on International Women’s Day, it was apt for Varsha Upadhyay, India’s first
female coach to judge an international sporting event, Rhythmic gymnastics in
the Commonwealth Games, to come on stage. She shared her unique journey of
building a foundation for rhythmic gymnasts in the country and launching the
first academy dedicated to this ‘female-only’ Olympic sport. Varsha’s talk was
followed by a scintillating performance by her Mumbai based troupe made up of
young girls.
Speakers spoke on
various issues and when Dr Rajah Vijay Kumar revealed he broke his leg to prove
a point that those with broken legs could be healed through induced rapid
cellular healing, it induced a collective gasp from the audience, followed by a
full throated ovation. His talk amazed the audience as he revealed the journey
taken to build the USFDA approved breakthrough cancer treatment device called
Cytotron. He has 32 inventions to his credit and his calm, measured style of
speaking induced hope and a positive vision among the attendees.
The issue of garbage
has occupied much space in the Goan consciousness. Wilma Rodrigues of Sahas
Zero Waste based in Bengaluru talked about her journey in sustainable waste
management, which she started at forty years of age. Having built a successful
and scalable model for managing waste in large premises, Wilma expressed her
hope for a wide adaptation across the country.
She was followed by a
man who has tickled the funny bone of people all over the country and parts of
the world. Baadal Nanjundaswamy, the artist behind the viral video of the
astronaut walking on crater like pot-holes, shared his experiences on
protesting creatively through art. He revealed that authorities would
immediately move the system and sort out the problem. Baadal also revealed that
authorities in Bengaluru had the good humour to laugh at his public art which
highlighted their shortcomings. A reluctant speaker who prefers to let his art
do all the speaking, he admitted that it was the shortcomings in the system
that motivated him and he hoped it would not be like that in the future. His
works are now being showcased at rhe London Art gallery and the coronavirus
pandemic has resulted in him not being able to be present.
Later, Goa’s own
Vincent Toscano spoke of his journey in building and enabling rural IT
ecosystems in Goa; his version of living one’s dream. He spoke of the
frustrations of trying to make things better in Goa given the mindsets in
place. Bu it takes courage and conviction to run a global IT company from the
pristine backwater village of Chorao
Finally, the show
ended with the brilliant Chandana Bala Kalyan; the Carnatic music vocalist
spoke of how, by using her knowledge of Carnatic music, she could transcend
various musical genres such as western classical and jazz; to create beautiful fusions
of different styles. Chandana delighted the audience by singing in between her
talk to bolster the message she was driving in her speech.
DJ Ignatius Camilo
aka Iggy of Goa also took to stage and spoke on living sustainably.
Dattaprasad Shetkar, Organiser
& Curator of the event told Cafe “Through TEDxPanaji 2020 it was heartening
to see a Goa that is exciTED and passionate about ideas. The true success of
the event is in the conversations and actions that it leads to. I am sure there
will be plenty. The team is already looking forward to 2021. -
Meher. licensee and
Lead Organiser copncluded “In the last 4 years TEDxPanaji has slowly and
steadily made inroads into the hearts of Goans, as we have taken ideas from Goa
to the world and vice versa. In coming editions, we would strive to make a
significant impact in the Goan community through such ideas”
That indeed with be the X factor.