Time Efficiently Disbursed: TEDx

Inspiring ideas + enthralling evidence + splendid speakers = TEDx BITS Goa

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. TEDx was a conference which attracted many speakers from all over India who wanted to spread their ideas. It was an awesome experience to hear those prolific thinkers today. TEDx was preceded by TEDx University where a few speakers where given 4 minutes each to present their idea. The main speakers were given 18 minutes each.

Some of the impressive performances were of : engineer turned toymaker Arvind Gupta, world music band Shanti, structural engineer Himanshu Parikh, YES+ guy Khurshed Batliwala, Rubik cube prodigy Bernett Orlando, MIT artist Chris, entrepreneur Nikhil Velpanur, origami artist Shivaram Narayanan, founder of Blank Noise Jasmeen Patheja and film-maker Aparna Wilder. There were many other speakers, you can see the list @ http://www.tedxbitsgoa.com/speakers

Arvind Gupta has marvelous hands and an intuitive mind. He makes scientific toys out of household things including discarded materials. A cycle tyre tube and matchsticks were used to make various polygons with shape-shifting properties. A triangle is the only one which doesn't change shape, demonstrating that the shape is most fit for mechanical trusses. He showed an electrical motor, a sprinkler, a Velcro slate and wool pen for blind children among other things. His work is the kind of grassroots innovation India needs.

Another grassroots change is being brought about by Himanshu Parikh, a structural engineer who believes in Water and Sanitation as the tool to change millions of lives in India. He strongly believes that we don't need aid from abroad, just one-time investment by corporates, community and government can change the faces of Indian villages and slums. He presented data which was eye-opening. Though he said that an average investment of 6000 per family for drainage gave rise to about 75k of investment by families themselves. A fact that I find hard to digest despite his facts. But, if his movement can become widespread in India, it would have a much bigger impact than green and white revolution put together.

Jasmeen is a founder member of Blank Noise, a community initiative which raises the issue of eve-teasing. It is an issue which plagues Indian society and it was heartening to know that somebody is raising a voice. If you wish to know more about this vital issue, do visit her website http://www.blog.blanknoise.org/ Or join them at twitter @ http://twitter.com/blank_noise

Jessica Mayberry talked about community journalism which would focus on incidents and individuals ignored by the mainstream media. Her work can be another way of rural empowerment.

Shanti band's performance on melody based fusion music was beautifully rendered. It was a pleasure to listen to the symphony of sitar, tabla, keyboard and drums.

Bernett Orlando was a pleasure to watch. The kid is only 13 and can solve Rubik cubes in minutes single handed and even blind folded. It was amazing to watch the fast, nimble fingers of this 6 times national champion. The hand shadow puppetry show by Amar Kumar Sen was fun too. Another set of nimble fingers that served a feast for the eyes. Seeing origami by Shivaram Narayanan was a new experience. His pieces were almost lifelike. I thought of it as only an art, never crossed my mind that it would have so many applications. 

Two websites which I found worth checking out: Bharath Gyan and Bytes for All.

Bharath Gyan talks about the science lying undiscovered in the observations of ancient India. Khurshed Batliwala showed a few examples from here. One of them showing how we always knew that the earth is round भूगोल and it moves जगत. From his examples, I have a feeling that the site would be fascinating to read.

Bytes for All is a journalism initiative centred on IT innovations which affect daily life. It would be an interesting kind of news to keep ourselves abreast with.

This was a fruitful day spent listening to these wonderful people.

Applause and gratitude to Swetansu Mohapatra, the student who brought TEDx to our campus.